A/N: Hi everyone, this is my first ff, so please be gentle! I don't have much to say at the moment, so I hope you enjoy!

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Ground Zero

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Chapter One: Beginning

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Agent Hayato Busujima glared intensely at the immense web pinned on the corkboard in his office. Thousands of outbreaks, thousands of deaths, and he still could not find one suspect. There had to be something he was missing, something crucial. Outbreaks such as this don't just happen naturally.

"Someone always pulls the trigger," he muttered to himself. Hayato took a sip from his coffee and continued to study his web carefully.

Though he would never admit it, the sleepless nights and the seemingly endless amounts of work were beginning to take their toll. He could not stop now, though, not when he hadn't even started.

For the fortieth time, Hayato tried retracing the events chronologically, hoping to find some sort of clue he had overlooked. "The outbreak began in the states, Manhattan specifically," he began, placing his finger accordingly on the map, "then similar outbreaks occurred across the rest of the country soon after. Airports were locked down, as well as all docks and borders."

Hayato dragged his finger towards Europe and continued out loud. "Outbreaks then occurred in most major cities in Europe, even though the U.S. had already isolated itself. Europe soon followed suite and attempted to contain the disease."

He stepped back from the map and moved his attention to the Far East, clenching his fist angrily. "This was no accident, it couldn't have been. With this many cities hit in such rapid succession, there has to be another explanation."

Interpol agents, such as Hayato, had been working day and night to try and control this sudden apocalyptic turn of events. Many were out fighting off hoards of the undead, risking their lives for the sake of others. This was a chance many agents dreamed of, a time to prove their worth and climb the ranks as a hero.

However, when Hayato was offered the opportunity, he had polite fully declined. It wasn't that he was unwilling to risk his life for others, contrary to popular belief. If things came down to it, Agent Busujima would have gladly given his life if it meant saving others. But, Hayato was a tactician at heart, and, when confronted, told his fellow agents, "I refuse to throw my life away in a war we simply do not understand."

Hayato strongly believed that it would be impossible to win a war when no one knew who the enemy even was. There had to be someone behind these outbreaks, and the sickness wouldn't stop unless that person was brought into the light.

But, after days of researching, studying patterns, and throwing back black coffee as if his life depended on it, Agent Busujima was yet to produce a shred of evidence leading to a trail.

For him, the most frustrating part was that he knew exactly where his problem lay. No one knew for sure where and who the disease started out in. The sick suddenly just appeared, as if over night. There was no recorded patient zero, nor a ground zero for him to begin his investigation.

"Started out in Manhattan, spread to Europe, and then went global," he repeated to himself, tracing the string lines over and over again. He had memorized every face, every person who was first recorded as infected, but none of them stood out as suspicious people. They came from every class of society; none of their backgrounds were outstanding or suspicious in any way. None had connections to any sort of company or organization that could create such a deadly bio-weapon, from what he could see at least. Interpol had kept most information on first recorded victims top secret.

"Damn board," he cursed, throwing his useless files to the floor, "Don't they know that I can't find them any suspects without detailed profiles?" Hayato dumped the rest of his coffee in the sink and stormed out of his office to get some fresh air.

Reports kept coming in and none of them were containing welcomed news. To make things worse, Agent Busujima still could not make any progress and Interpol was growing increasingly irritated with Hayato's insistence on a mastermind behind the outbreaks.

Eventually, the higher ups called him in for a "review of his record". Anyone with a badge knew that meant one of two things: either you were getting fired or you were in danger of getting fired. But, Agent Bushujima needed the victim's profiles, and knew that accepting the board's invitation was the only way he'd get a chance to ask. So, he begrudgingly conformed when the director's personal assistant pulled him out of his office to throw him to the wolves.

"We need you to help us contain these outbreaks," the director barked at him, "If you haven't noticed, thousands of people are dying right now! We can't afford to have one of interpol's greatest minds chasing some pipe dream!"

Agent Busujima merely smiled at the director's red face and let out a small chuckle. "With all due respect, sir," he spoke the title, more as an insult than a compliment, "have you even read the reports?"

"Of course I have! That's why I'm telling you that we need you where the real fight is," the director shouted indignantly.

Hayato tutted condescendingly and shook his head, "Well if you had, you would realize that we're fighting a losing battle. For each one we've managed to kill, about ten replace it. They don't stop coming. Tell me, Saburo-dono, what do you do to get rid of a weed?"

The director gave him a confused look, along with the other members of the board. He then asked, "How does this have to do with our problem?"

"Just humor me," Hayato insisted, his lips pursued in a tight smile.

"Fine," Director Saburo huffed, "I would pull it out by the root. Otherwise, it would grow back."

Agent Busujima nodded. "Exactly. This situation is no different. If we don't find the source, the ones behind these terrible outbreaks, we can never truly stop them. Say that, through some miracle, we are able to stop this one. Whose to say they won't release a new strand of the virus, possibly even worse then the last."

The room suddenly came alive with scared whispers between board members. Even the director himself seemed troubled by Hayato's hypothesis. "So, you propose that there is, in fact, some one behind these events? Where's your proof?"

Hayato knew he had no physical proof, which was the one thing that mattered above all else. "I don't have any proof, not yet at least. You see, a proper investigation cannot even begin if you hold back the facts."

"Not a chance," one of the older members said almost immediately, "That information is highly classified! Even in your position, which I am starting to wonder if you even deserve, you have no right to those kinds of files!"

Agent Busujima gritted his teeth in frustration. It was unbelievable how stubborn these old politicians were. "Then how do you expect me to find you a criminal? Without knowing the victims, I won't even know where to start!" Hayato stood from his desk and slammed his fist down angrily. "You incompetent fools are allowing possibly the most dangerous and diabolical human being since Adolf Hitler to roam free! Try going to sleep with that weighing down on your conscious!"

The room went silent after Hayato's outburst. Director and board members alike all stared at Hayato in disbelief. The only sound that could be heard was the aggravated agent's heavy breathing. A couple seconds after, Hayato took one last deep breath and exhaled slowly, sitting back on his chair.

Calmly, he stated, "I apologize for losing my temper. There's not much that can rile me up in such a way, but nothing infuriates me more than a criminal who has escaped justice. Please, I am asking you, give me those files and a month or so. After that, whoever did this, I'll have their hands in cuffs and their head on a plate."

The board began to whisper amongst each other again, much to Hayato's frustration. It seemed that, even faced with the downfall of humanity, the ones in charge were still incapable of making quick, decisive decisions.

Once the board had finished discussing the issue, Director Saburo stood from his seat and addressed Agent Busujima. "I've known your track record long enough to know that you're one of the most efficient agents we have. After your investigation and apprehension of an infamous Yakuza wakagashira, I have no doubt in your abilities. If you feel that you will be able to track down the origin of the outbreaks, we will allow you access to those files."

Hayato smiled victoriously, now the investigation could officially begin. Saburo motioned to his secretary, who handed him a yellow folder riddled with red 'CLASSIFIED' stamps. The director quickly checked the contents and then slid it down the table.

Catching the folder at the end, Hayato opened it up and began to scan the documents. As he read through, his mind raced, connecting the new information with the facts he already knew.

After only five minutes of examination, Hayato chuckled. "And here I was, thinking this would be difficult."

The director's eyes widened in disbelief. "Already? But, how is that possible?"

"I'm shocked you all weren't able to connect the dots yourselves. Maybe you all have gone senile," Hayato teased, enjoying the perturbed looks the board members were giving him. Agent Busujima pointed to one of the profiles and proclaimed, "Mr. Dallas Jones is our patient zero."

"How could you possibly make such a wild claim," another member of the board blurted out.

Hayato, as if hopefully anticipating such a question, quickly explained, "If you look at all the profiles of the first recorded victims, none of them could have ever come into contact with the disease. All of them are extremely average people whose time in the United States has been accounted for, all except Mr. Jones." Pointing lower on the sheet, Hayato continued, "Take a look at this. Dallas Jones arrived in the U.S. on a flight from Japan exactly five days ago, the very day of the outbreak in New York."

"So someone maybe slipped a device in his bag while he wasn't paying attention?" Saburo suggested

Hayato shook his head, though. "In an American airport? There would be at least twenty different security cameras to catch him on tape, no criminal mastermind is that stupid. I suspect whoever our culprit is planted some time release device on him while he was in Japan, just before he boarded the plane."

"Are you saying that the disease did not, in fact, originate in the states?"

"That, I know for a fact, sir," Agent Busujima answered confidently, closing the folder and sliding it back to Saburo. "I'd like permission to continue my investigation there. This important new information has brought a new suspect to light."

At this point, the entire board, with the exception of Director Saburo, was completely lost. Some simply stared at the detective, trying to figure out if his entire theory was mere conjecture. Others murmured to themselves silently, trying to catch up with his train of thought.

"Mr. Busujima, who exactly do you have enough evidence to accuse at this moment?" the director questioned skeptically.

"It's simple, one of the only people with the resources to create such a bio-weapon, Souichiro Takagi."

"Souichiro Takagi," Director Saburo bit his bottom lip nervously, "You are accusing Souichiro Takagi of being responsible for the outbreaks. Mr. Busujima, you must be absolutely sure if you are to make such a claim."

"You mistake my Saburo-dono, I do not accuse Mr. Takagi of being responsible for the outbreaks. If he were, Japan would be completely untouched by the sickness. But I do, however, think that he knows something about what's truly behind this epidemic."

Director Saburo was the only one satisfied with Hayato's answer. The rest bustled with protests and threats to his job. "This is ridiculous! If you think we'll give you the go ahead to investigate such a high profile person, then you're sadly mistaken!"

"Mr. Takagi has been nothing but generous to Interpol!"

"We can't offend someone that donates as much as him!"

"One more crazed suggestion and we'll have your badge, Mr. Busujima!"

Hayato rolled his eyes. They responded exactly how he expected they would. Luckily, their words weren't final, and the only one holding any real power was Director Saburo. Hayato looked at the director, who was obviously deep in thought at the moment. "Saburo-dono, the safety of civilians is much more important than potentially offending a wealthy nationalist."

"Fine. Mr. Busujima, you leave in three days for Japan. Make sure you are fully prepared to survive on your own, because once you're there, you're on your own."

The members of the board lowered their heads in defeat, while Hayato smirked, satisfied with Saburo's answer. "A wise decision, Saburo-dono. I will prepare for the departure."

"Don't thank me, Mr. Busujima. I'm afraid I've just thrown you into hell."

A/N: I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter! Please leave a review!