I do not own Highschool of the dead I make no money from this it is a fanfiction and not for profit.
You Can Sleep When You're Dead
I was stood next to the main gate to wish James and Saeko good luck, as they readied themselves to go to her house. I had asked if I could go with them, but Saya asked me to stay with her and this put me in a bit of a predicament.
On one hand I had my friend about to go to war and on the other my first love, asking me to stay with her.
It was a very hard choice to make. but I choses the latter, as we were still just fooling around with each other at the moment and the temptation of something more serious was too good to give up.
As James went to leave us, we bumped fists and he said. "Next time you're coming I promise Brother."
I told him "gokouun o oinorishimasu.*" he looked at me oddly for a second then answered
"Sorry don't know what that means"
I laughed at him for a second forgetting that his Japanese was not perfect. "It means good luck "I told him.
"Ok I get it, then… well… Tapadh leat bhràthar *" it was my turn to look confused
"It means thank you brother in Scottish Gaelic my first language."
"How many languages do you speak?" I had to ask this was amazing me.
"Four Gaelic, English, German and Japanese although my German sucks as it was compulsory in school to take a langue. Also my reading in kanji is bad but I'm learning thanks to Saeko and Saya."
I was about to ask more when Saeko huffed "We should be going we only have 5 more hours of light"
She was stood staring at us with a frown looking impatient at us prattling on.
"Ah yes sorry well see you all later" Was my last words to them, I fist bumped James ageing and watched them leave. After closing and locking the gate, I ran up to the look out to provide an over watch for as long as I could see them.
As I watched them leave my sight I felt the presence of someone near me on turning round it was Saya "You ok Kohta-kun?" she asked me.
To be honest I was not, It did not feel right that they two had helped us a lot. Then when it came to return the favour, Takashi decided that we would wait here while they went out alone.
"Saya-chan you surprised me… but I'm ok." no point worrying her about me and my selfish thoughts. Or about her friend Saeko, I Know she had grown quite attached to her.
She waked over to me taking the chair next to mine "Mind if I sit with you a while?" she asked me.
I looked up to her amber eyes "Yes you may I could do with the company." how could I say no she is the reason for me not going.
After some silence Saya spoke again. "You have been getting on very well with James-san haven't you." I was not surprised that she asked this, but was by the forwardness of the question. I knew it was coming and I knew how she feels about him.
"Yes we have a lot of shared interests, not just the guns, but his whole work ethic. He has also been teaching me more about CQC (close quarters combat) so as to help me."
Saya cut me off "Why would you want to know about that sort of stuff?" I thought that would be obvious to her, maybe it was but I will entertain her this time. "I swore to protect two girls and if he can further me in that goal, then all the better."
She looked me up and down then scolded "Baka who else did you swear to?"
I face palmed "You know for a genius you do miss some things… you and Alice… I see Alice as my own daughter and I know you do as well."
She scowled at me for a few seconds, then did something I had seldom seen she smiled a genuine smile. "So long as that is the only girls in your eyes." She then came over to me siting on my lap, putting her arms around me and resting her head on my shoulder then whispered into my ear "Thank you for bettering yourself for us." I was shocked it was the second time she had thanked me.
Placing my own arm around her and pulling her in closer. "For you and Alice anything."
0000
It took us the better part of two hours to work our way to my house. This was because, we had to change direction and take another road many times. At one point working our way through, some back gardens climbing over wall after wall. The roads and streets that we tried to take were blocked by them at almost every turn. It looked like they were making their way into the centre of the city to where the sound of a large battle that was taking place, with explosions and gunfire. It seemed some survivors where putting up a fight the only problem with that was it drew in more of them and with most of the city turned those are bad odds. I was however thankful as it meant less for us to deal with. Eventually however we made to my home.
My father's house was in a suburb of the city, surrounded by an 8 foot white wall.
Inside the grounds was the modern looking home with a traditional dojo to one side. Inside the home was older looking than the outside, with things like sliding paper and wood doors, a large central area that was used for entertaining and meetings and out in the back garden was my koi pond that I spent many hours meditating next to.
We entered the grounds through the large red wooden gates to James making a whistling noise "Nice place you have."
I looked back to him, as I went and looked for the hidden spare key to the house under part of the Zen rock garden, to the south of the grounds a little away from the porch of the dojo.
"Thank you. I worked most of the garden myself." I was happy that he was impressed with my work. After retrieving the key and without thinking I repaired the footprints I made in the gravel. much to James's confused looks. "It's bad luck to leave it in a bad way. So as not to disturb the waves." he just nodded
The pair of us then made our way to my home only for him to stop at the door.
He bowed to me then asked. "May I come into your home?"
I looked at him a bit odd and said "Of course you may." smiling he then said "thank you and please take care of me." I was surprised by this he was actually being cultural "I did not teach you this" I asked him quizzically
"Nope Saya did she said that I should ask first then use this as a thank you did I get it right?"
Smiling even more I responded "Yes you did" I then kissed him afterward he responded "See I am trying"
On entering my home James caught me unaware again by removing his boots the first time I had seen him do so "You are learning."
I made my way straight to my father's study and looked at the answer machine on his desk. I sighed it was not working, James put a hand on my shoulder seeing my disappointment then he started to look through the draws. "what are you doing?" I gasped seeing his intrusion.
"Looking for a Dictaphone it's an old tape type answer machine and that can play the tape." he found one that I did not know my father and tested it to see if it worked.
He took the tape from the answer machine and placed it into the Dictaphone rewinding the tape and handed it to me. I took it from him and pressed play and listened to my father's voice.
Daughter… no Saeko…it is my greatest regret that I cannot stand with you right now… as the darkness surrounds us all. It is a father's job to fight the monsters in his daughter's life and on this I regret that I have failed you… know that I am safe and I will try everything to get home to you my daughter….Use the training I gave you well… help protect those that cannot protect themselves…before I go know this my daughter… my Saeko… you are my joy in my heart the light in my life and that a fathers love is never-ending….
0000
Saeko was now crying at the loss of her father or what passed for her crying siting straight hands on knees with small tears falling down her pail cheeks. It was not in that he had lost his life but at the miserable and imposable in the new world distance apart from him. I was pretty much useless, I could not relate. Being an orphan, I would not know this kind of pain, to have a parent out there somewhere that you may never see again. Well not yet anyway but that is another story for another time.
She must have replayed the message 3 or 4 times by the time I reacted.
I pulled her onto my lap as she now cried openly onto my shoulder and sat there for some time until she said "You can stop rocking me you know."
I did not even realise I was doing it as I suddenly stopped the motion. "You going to be ok" I asked her.
She looked up to me with wet puffy sapphire eyes "I will be… at least I know he is alive. Then I have you and our child so I will be anata*"
We stayed like that for about an hour, when Saeko suddenly got up.
"I need to leave a letter would you mind lighting the hearth out the back of the kitchen so I may cook us something." Looking back at her, I was about to say, no I can wait for you. but this is something private between a girls first love, her father and me the idiot. Never going to win that one. Was my thought as I got up kissing her on the cheek then moving off to find the hearth?
I had lit the fire in the large 3 ring hearth getting it hot and smokeless, so as not to gain any unwanted attention. I made my way back in to find Saeko opening some canned vegetables and fish.
"Sorry but it looks like the only fresh vegetables to survive are potatoes and an onion." She told me somewhat down cast.
I did not like seeing her like this all depressed and upset so I moved in behind her placing my hands on her hips "Would you like me to cook for you?"
She looked back at me surprised at my request mouth flopping open then shut "Its woman's work to cook for her man."
I returned with "And it a man's job to insure his woman's happiness" she then smiled some more.
"I'm not eating haggis!"
I had to laugh at this fining insult "Oi it's not that bad."
She elbowed me in the side then said "if you want to help open the other cans or peel the potatoes" so I took the knife and started peeling "So what we having" I asked her out of curiosity
"My specialty a fish stew, then in the morning miso soup."
It was strangely cold that night, but then remembering that it was still early spring not that surprising. As we made our way over to the siting room, with our bowls of stew each. "It's cold?" I said to Saeko, she just laughed "You won't be soon…. I thought you Scottish men liked the cold."
Well she has cheered up enough to fuck with me again. "No that's a lie." as we came into the main room, I could see something that was not there before a squire table with a blanket coming out from under it. "What is that contraption?" I asked her. It looks like someone has made a tent to play in but a little too small for us both.
She placed her bowl on the table and put her legs under the covers. "Get in and find out." she all but order me.
Well I'm not one, to not try new thing so I got down beside her, placing my legs under the covers. The moment my legs got in heat radiated through me. Holy shit this is good. The look of bewilderment, made her laugh out loud as she tried to cover her mouth to stifle it. "It's a Kotatsu a traditional form of heating in Japanese homes. In the middle there is a charcoal pit that is lit those then heats under the blanket. It heats you but it works better with a kimono on though."
I sat there with a big grin eating my fish stew "its figging lovely just like you"
"I'm glad you approve anata" she said in-between mouthfuls reddening slightly from my compliment.
0000
After the pair finished Their stew and sat drinking tea. James tuned to Saeko realising something that over the last few weeks he had told her almost everything about him including some thing's he would take to his grave before telling others. Yet she had not spoken much about herself "Saeko… can you tell me about you?"
She stared at his ice blue eyes scrunching up her eyebrows a little. "What would you like to know?" it was not like she had not said much to him. In all truth she was a very uncomplicated person, beside the demon within her there was not much to know, what you see is what you got.
Feeling a bit dumb now he inquired again. "Well what are your interests other than kendo and cooking you must have other things that you do in your free time?"
Thinking a little as she ordered her thoughts she answered in her trademark calm. "My garden is my passion also drawing, painting and most things from Japanese culture as well." she looked down for a moment as she suddenly realised something.
This did not go unnoticed "What's the matter Saeko?"
"Er nothing its ok" she lied as she tried to discount the thought.
James again noticed the lie "Saeko I know many things about you, Including that you are a bad lire so just come out with it"
Huffing and still looking down she began to fidget a little "Well its er you're not Japanese."
As the words hit his ears he suddenly thought oh here we go "And what has that got to do with anything."
"Well this morning I was thinking about my father. You see I'm supposed to be getting an arranged marriage, to another house like mine. My father had started the preparations for it and on his return he was going to do the introductions."
James listened intently as she finished the silence descended. As his anger started to boil up he finally commented much to her relief "And!"
Hearing the hurt and anger in his voice she quickly replyed to him "And nothing… I chose you and I will always chose you… as much as it may causes problems later in life. But you are not Japanese the thing is though you learned the language and you are learning our customs for me. So I am trying to say thank you."
"Saeko." he did not quite understand what she was getting at all he heard was marriage, father and arranged "So where does that leave us."
It hit her like a train when he asked that as she remembered her words "If you let me finish I will explain." all he did was nod to encourage her "In the same position we have always been. That is I will follow you into the mouth of hell itself and always be at your side, no matter what and that I will stand like that with no other. I am just warning you that not everyone will like that."
Sighing some relief he held her hand then looked at her "Well I best marry you fir…st…. oh shit…" the second his words left his lips he instantly regretted it as she turned her head to him lightning fast.
"Did you just propose to me?" she giggled.
"Er… um… maybe a little… but… er… well fuck" He flustered out, as yet again his mind abandoned him this time with a slow clap and a comment of well done Einstein well done.
Covering her mouth, as Saeko struggled to supress the laughter building up in her. "Why James aren't you full of surprises."
Shaking his head to try and regain his senses. "Saeko can I take a rain check on this and ask you properly later."
Mocking hurt, Saeko still chuckling to her lover's obvious discomfort. Her shoulders jiggling, as she fought in vain to stop the giggling. "Take your time James and I will hold you to that promise."
Later on James broached the subject "So what are we going to have?" she looked at him confused for a moment until he pointed towards her abdomen.
"Oh well your son would be nice first, then a daughter and then another son."
Looking back and almost chocking on his tea. "You have planned this out. haven't you?"
Saeko shyly looked away for a second then looked back serious as always "Yes I promised my father three grandchildren and that is what we will have… what do you want?"
Thinking for a moment, he realised it had never crossed his mind, since the day at the estate when she had told him maybe. "A healthy." was all he said.
"So you have no idea then. Or it does not matter?" Saeko asked James a bit peeved .
"No it matters… but it matters more that it is healthy and so are you." She just nodded her head her eyes twinkling in the candle light.
After some more talk about baby things Saeko stood up and started to the door motioning to James to follow. following on he asked genuinely confused as to what she was up to "what you up to?"
"You will see." was the curt reply as she led him into a room with a bed "This is my bedroom and I have a gift for you now close your eyes." It was a simple room, with a single futon for a bed, a chest of draws with some cosmetics, a mirror and some books on top. Then a wardrobe in one corner and various drawings and paintings on the walls from landscapes to living persons.
"You paint and draw this Saeko"
looking a bit embarrassed she turnd to look at him to try and gauge if he liked her work "yes."
"There actually very good."
"Thank you… Now close your eyes."
Doing as he was told James closed his eyes as instructed and waited patiently as he heard some movement then a scratching noise. "Ok hold out your hand." she told me as him.
Putting his hand out she placed something in it the object felt like slippery paper.
Giggling she then said "Open your eyes."
On opening his eyes he could see she had given him a photograph of herself. She was dressed in some traditional kendo gear a white top without the chest armour she was stood outdoors she was not looking directly at the camera as her violet tresses fluttered in the wind . "Thank you I shall keep it close to me." he started until she said "Read the back."
On turning it over there was an inscription written in English with Kenji underneath.
James.
My heart will be your shelter/my arms shall be your home.
For I found love.
Saeko.
Looking back up to her to see she was smiling. "I haven't got you anything." James said a bit disappointed that He had not got her a gift.
"But you have my love you gifted me acceptance and a child. I could never repay that. Not to mention a pistol, found me a Katana and looked after my wounds. Allow me this once to do something for you." she then pushed herself into my arms.
"Ok then thank you Saeko." he did not know what else to say about that.
Saeko looked up at him from her embrace. "We will stay in the guest room and go first thing in the morning and no playing tonight I will not disrespect my father's home." She slowly said the last part. Like he was the one that started most of those shenanigans "I kind of knew that." was James short if somewhat disappointed reply to her.
0000
The next morning we started our routine shower, stretch and I had a much needed shave. I was starting to look a bit grizzly and Saeko was complaining that my stubble was tickling her. silently I took a mental note. "Going to have to scavenge up some grooming kit to and keep up with the manscaping."
After that it was off to a breakfast of tined fish and miso soup. After breakfast it was time to give thanks to Saeko's ancestors at the shrine in the main room of the house.
This was a strange thing to witness she knelt down offered a cup of tea and small bowl of soup said some prayers. She then offered me to do the same "They are your ancestors too now… you know."
"What do you mean?" as I looked on a bit dumbfounded.
Patting her stomach and scalding me again. "We are related by blood and kin now if I am to have our child. Then there is what you have promised me."
"I know… I just did not expect that and I'm not very religious. But if it is to make you happy than I will." I came over to her side and knelt beside her.
"Thank you James."
We were about to leave and took our time sorting ourselves out. Saeko had packed a large day sack filled with clothing and more food supplies and handed it to me. While she took my pack, with some spare kit, ammo and medical equipment in it. Huffing as I put on the heavy pack I thought to myself there better be some nice underwear in this thing it feels a fucking ton.
As we leave her home Saeko grabs my hand. "Tell me we will come back here one day?" I look her in Her Sapphire eyes studding their expression; it is one of sadness and expectation.
"One day!" Is all I can say to her not knowing what the future brings. We leave the home closing and locking the door, place the key back under its rock and she closes the heavy red gates. As Saeko leaves her home for all that she knows will be her last time, I catch her as she tries hides a lone tear, for all the calm and strength that she shows outside. She is still a young woman trying to find her way in this changing world.
We took another route back having been diverted again as we walked side by side in silence until we stumbled across what looked like an abandoned check point the reality thought as we slowly made our way up to it though was it had been overrun by them.
Taking off the day sacks we inched our way closer looking for any sign of life. The only thing we had seen though, was a few of them that used to be JGSDF still in helmets and body armour. But that is not what interested me as I shot the first one gaining some attention from the others. As they lumbered towards the noise of my weapons report.
Turning to Saeko I said to her "leave the soldiers to me as there armour will fuck your sword up, you get any that don't have armour on." She was about to turn and leave when I grabbed her placing my forehead on hers saying my prayer.
She smiled her twisted grin at me letting the demon out of its box. "Time to cut loose." and with that I heard her sword click, as it was freed slightly in its sheath.
The next thing I seen was a flash of metal and violet hair, as she sprang into action decapitating the first two of them and piercing the chest of the next, there black stinking blood spraying to form its own cloud.
Turning to my own affairs I started to drop the zombie soldiers as the advanced towards the commotion that Saeko was making.
It did not take long to kill them all there was not that many of then maybe a dozen or so. Most fell to Saeko's blade with precise well aimed cuts and jabs to the head and neck.
When she was satisfied, she jogged back up to my side "So anata what do we win"
I looked back to her with a wide grin "In Kohtas own words the fucking jackpot."
We had salvaged 3 type 89 assault rifles, 3 Granades he, 2 smoke grenades, 1 FN MINIME and about 5000 rounds of 5.56 in magazines, belts or ammunition box's.
But the icing on the cake was a choice of 2 vehicles the first was a [Toyota mega cruiser] a sort of JSDF Humvee the other a [Komatsu LAV] (light armored vehicle). That's if any of them worked? However being military they should be shielded from the effects of EMP.
Starting first on the lav, I tried opening the doors to find them solid, then climbed on top to check inside. "Well I'll be fucked it's open up here" I sound out as I climb into the lav. But as lady luck would have it, the batteries are dead. The master switch is on but it won't start, nor will any lights come on. Turns out that the radio gear in the back must have killed them.
I get back out and tell her my findings sending a little frustrated "Nope this one is dead" I sound disappointed and well I was, we could have had a mini tank to get out of the city. Still can if it's here when we leave but I will need some jumper cables or battery's for it probably from the mega cruiser if only I had some tools with me.
We walk over to the open cruiser, to find an undead still strapped into the driver's seat.
I wonder how long that bastard had been there, until I got a flash of the hanging man, from the parts store. Shuddering at that thought I quickly shake it from my head, and then a shot as Saeko next to me sends it on to better places. "James try not to dwell too much on the past. I can't have you like that again."
Getting angry at myself for the momentary slip I answer her. "Your right I won't."
After pulling out the body I get in giving the starter a try nothing. I grown until I see a master battery switch is off, I reach over turning the red switch lights come on all over the vehicle.
Then with a smile of anticipation I try the starter again the 4.1L engine coughed into life "fucking yes it lives" I shout punching the roof I turn to see a Saeko starring with a large grin. "Would you like a lift my lady?"
She jumps up on to my lap. "Yes I would very much so." then with a kiss she slides over into the passenger's seat giving me an excellent view of her new pink lace hot pants as her short skirt fails to cover them. She turns her head as if reading my thoughts and catches me looking.
"You like?"
I answer this as diplomatically as possible "I am a man that finds you very attractive… asking that question, is like asking if a polar bear shits in the snow."
She starts to blush then punches me hard giving me a dead arm "You could of just said yes."
I grin even more "But that would not be me now would it."
She sighs a little "This is true and I do not know if I want to change that"
This time it was my turn to pout "oi"
She just laugh's then says "Home James."
"So I'm the bloody chuffer now?" I chuckle out.
"Yes you are." was her reply with her shining sapphire eyes fluttering at me.
"You're lucky I love you."
* gokouun o oinorishimasu translation I wish you (or pray for your) good luck.
* Tapadh leat bhràthar ( TAH-puh LAHT Bh-raa-thar) Translation Thank you my brother in Scottish Galic
*Anata あなた one of the very few Japanese terms of endearment used by women means "darling" or a very polite way of saying "you" that is used mostly between lovers.