Chapter 3: Courage of the Dead.

The gang has been split up. Rei, Yoshino and Takashi are being watched by Saki in the clothing store. Saeko and Hirano in the Food Court with Hibiki. And Arisu and Shizuka are with Kamui in the toy shop, while Setsuna watches the remaining survivors.

"So what are we going to do Takashi?" Rei asked.

"Your guess is as good as mine. They have our guns, so all we have to is wait and think."

"Well….we could distract them or something." Saki suggested.

"WIth what?" Yoshino said irritated by the dumb suggestion. "We're empty handed, they have guns, all you have is a bat. What are we going to do to distract them?"

Saki glared at him. "If you would let me finish. I was going to out and see who all has what weapon. I know Kamui has your gun Rei, Hibiki has a pistol and the shotgun. and Setsuna has a pistol."

"What are you getting at?" Rei asked.

"No one left with the swords…"

"Come to think of it…." Takashi said thinking about it. "The other three didn't have the swords. So she might have something."

"So you're gonna grab one of the swords?" Yoshino said. "How? Setsuna will see you. So….yeah." He said shaking his head.

"He's right. There is no point." Rei said. "She might see you and you might get in trouble."

Yoshino thought for a second…the medicine bag! "Hang on. I got an idea." Yoshino grabbed his medicine bag.

"What's your plan?" Saki asked.

Yoshino pulled out 3 syringes. "Remember the man's daughter? Who also has the Stigma?"

"Yeah…Oooooh!" Saki said nodding her head understanding.

"What?" Takashi asked.

"Saki and I go out, i take care of the young girl. But, what I'm going to do besides that….is tell her father to try his best and get the swords and bring it to us."

"Ooooh ok!" Rei said smiling. "That's a good plan."

"But wait…" Takashi interrupted. "What about Setsuna? And what is Saki gonna do?"

"Saki can tell the man where the swords are and….I guess engage in small talk with Setsuna who still thinks she's on her side. Like give her fake updates on what we're doing."

"Hmmm….that could work. Wanna give it a shot?" Takashi asked. The other three nodded. "Ok…but I'm guessing we have on shot. So please you two….don't mess up."

Saki and Yoshino nodded and they both stood up.

"Be careful you two." Rei said.

"We'll try." Saki said. "Ready?" She looked at Yoshino and he nodded. They began walking out.

They entered the main lobby with Setsuna noticing. Her feet was up on the help desk like she ran the place.

"What are you doing?" She said angrily.

Saki pointed to the man and his daughter. "He's just giving her the medicine….that's all."

Setsuna, having a sense of kindness, allows it. "Go ahead."

Yoshino walked over to the man and his sleeping daughter.

"Hey mister….." Yoshino said.

The man looked at him smiling of relief. "Thank you young man."

"You're welcome. Listen can you do us a favor?"

"Sure."

Yoshino began whispering to him the plan, the man nodded and agreed.

"As long as my little girl and I are safe with you guys."

"Don't worry, if we didn't want to help, I wouldn't be helping your daughter." Yoshino looked over to Saki and Setsuna, they were having a conversation.

"How are they?" Setsuna asked.

"They've been quiet actually." Saki replied. "Nothing out of the ordinary." She looked around with her eyes so Setsuna would not notice. She couldn't see the swords around the help desk. Damn, she thought. Maybe under? She sat in the chair next to Setsuna with her arms folded and legs crossed.

"Hmph. They're gonna have to get used to it like this then if they're gonna stay here." Setsuna said smiling

"Right." Saki said. She moved her eyes under the desk. Two sword were under there. Yes! She thought. She put her hands on the desk as if she was bored and started beating on it to get Yoshino's attention. Yoshino heard and looked up. Saki mouthed, Under the Desk. Yoshino winked and continued with the man's daughter.

"Ok." Yoshino said. "The swords are under the help desk. When you see a chance try to sneak one of them here to clothing department "

"Alright. Let's hope I don't get caught."

After giving his daughter the shot, Yoshino and Saki went back to the clothing department and told Rei and Takashi that the plan worked and the man agreed to help.

A couple hours pass. Its now 6:00 PM.

The other three had came back to the lobby to tell each other's statuses and they had the gang in the food court to eat.

"Both the girl and fat kid were glaring at6 me crazy the entire time." Hibiki said. "The fat one wants to murder me cause I have his gun." Hibiki laughed.

"These two are annoying." Kamui said. "They constantly ignored me. They played rock paper scissors like 20 times and they played a bunch of other games. The little girl is asleep now."

"Ok.' Setsuna said stretching and then standing up. "I'm ready to eat." she raised her voice. "Is anyone else hungry?" Most of the survivors raised their hands except the man.

"You're not hungry?" Saki asked.

"My daughter, if anything will bring some food back for me. I'll be fine." He replied.

"Alright. Let's go eat." Setsuna and her gang including Saki and the survivors went to the food court while the gang came back downstairs. Takagi bumped into Setsuna on purpose.

"Oops I'm sorry." She said in a smart tone.

"Hey watch it!" Kamui said.

"Just go Kamui. She can't do anything." Setsuna said smiling as she went up the stairs. As the gang went down the stairs to the main lobby, they saw the man with a few of their weapons.

"Here you guys go." He said smiling. "Luckily they left most of them here." He gave them each their guns and swords, Except the handguns that belonged to Hirano and Takashi.

"Where's mine?" Hirano asked.

"There were two pistols right? The girl and the guy has those probably. Sorry."

"Dammit." Takashi said. "Thank you though.

"Now….hide those weapons. Cause they don't know you guys have them. In a good spot too. When they scramble for them, they'll be lost and confused."

"But what about you?" Rei asked.

"I'll be fine." The man said smiling. "I'm going upstairs because I 'Changed my mind'."

"Ah smart." Takagi said smiling.

"Ok I'm gonna go." He began heading upstairs.

"Be safe mister!" Yoshino said.

"It's Makoto by the way." He said going up the stairs.

"Alright guys." Takashi said. Hide these in a place where only you guys can find them!" Everyone nodded and went back to their rooms except Saeko and Hirano.

In the food court, the survivors and the four were eating silently when Makoto walked in.

Saki looked. "I guess you were hungry?"

"Yeah sorry." Scratching his head.

"Dad I have your things over here with me." His daughter said close by. He walked over and began eating.

After 10 minutes pass. They all went downstairs when they see a smiling Saeko and Hirano. The survivors paid no mind and went back to sit down, while the others looked confused.

"Why are you so happy?" Hibiki said. He walked up closer to them and realized that both of their hands were free. "Wait how did your…." He was cut off by a tackling Hirano. They both fell to the steps, and Hirano tried to get the gun from his pants.

"Hibiki!" Kamui said. She ran over to the help desk and didn't find the gun with the Bayonet. "What the hell!?" She turned around and saw a sword dangerously close to her face.

"Don't move." Saeko said intimidating her. Kamui didn't move an inch.

Setsuna now angry. "Grr…. How did this happen!?" She thought about it and looked to Makoto. "You!" She pulled out Hirano's DE.50 and pointed it at him.

"Hey That's my gun!" Hirano said taking his focus off Hibiki, who then punched him the face knocking him down.

"No!" Saki took action. Saki tackled Setsuna making her drop the gun.

"Argh! What are doing!?" Setsuna said angrily. Saki had her pinned down. "Don't tell me….you're sided with them!?"

"You're not gonna kill innocent people Setsuna!" Saki replied.

"Get off of me!" Setsuna began straining to break free, but Saki held her down.

The others came out to the lobby and saw what was happening. Takagi ran to Saki with the bat.

"I'll keep her company." Saki got up and Takagi looked over to Hirano…..Hibiki had the gun out ready to fire. "Hirano!" She ran over to Hibiki quickly and hit him in the head with the bat, knocking him out cold.

Setsuna, using the opportunity, rolls over and grabs the dropped gun. She stands up and turns around with the gun pointed….with Rei's gun in her face. Now….everything was at a standstill. One wrong move….someone could die.

"Drop the gun Setsuna!" Takashi said. "It's over!"

"No!" She said not taking her eyes off Rei.

"You're outnumbered. You can't win."

Setsuna began breathing heavily and looked to Saki. "I thought you were my friend…." Saki looked the other way. Setsuna looked back to Rei, who had backed up a little. Setsuna began looking….at Saki and Makoto. She looked back at Rei and chuckled a bit.

"What's funny?" Rei said.

"This…." She said menacingly. She turned her gun towards Makoto.

"Nooooo!" Saki said. Then as if slow motion…Saki ran to Setsuna before she fired and pushed her to the ground and then…..gunshot.

"SAKI!" Rei yelled. They ran over to them…..blood on the floor. Saki was on top of Setsuna face down. They couldn't tell who had got hit, or if the bullet missed the both. Then suddenly, Saki rolled over to her right, with blood on her shirt. But Setsuna also has blood on her shirt as well. Rei checked Setsuna's pulse….none. "She's dead…." Rei feared the same for Saki, but checked her pulse. before she could even touch her, Saki's eyes opened and she began breathing heavy.

"Saki!" Rei dropped her gun and hugged her while she on the ground. "Please don't do that ever again…." Rei began tearing up.

Saki was still amazed at the stunt she pulled. "I….I…I….killed my friend…"

"But saved an innocent one." Yoshino said. "I'm sorry Saki, but you're friend was crazy and power hungry." Saki said nothing.

"Now about these two….." Saeko said looking at Kamui and an unconscious Hibiki.

Shortly after, Kmaui and Hibiki were sent out of the Mall. Kamui had Hibiki on her shoulder.

"You can't throw us out like this! *THEY'll* Kill us!* Kamui said frightened.

"Should've thought about that before taking our shit." Hirano said.

Yoshino had Setsuna's lifeless body and Threw it out to the closely zombies. "You have a running start now….Go."

Kamui ran ,with Hibiki on her back now, as fast as she could across the street until she couldn't be seen. Yoshino and Hirano barricaded the doors again and they were safe from harm.

"We don't know how long these doors will last Takashi." Hirano said.

"Especially with the noise we made today. I think about a week or so we should leave this place. And use it as a checkpoint." Takashi said. "Something to keep coming back to whenever we have too."

"That could work." Takagi said. "So we have one more week to stay here."

"I guess so. So lets all get some rest. Today has been rough for everyone." Takashi then looked over to Saki, who was with Saeko. "Especially her."

Yoshino and Rei had made their stay in the clothing store, Miss Shizuka, Arisu and Saki were in the Toy store,and Takagi and Takashi had the Main lobby with the rest of the survivors, and to also keep watch if any infected come in.

So far the gang has yet again, even though there was a loss of a life, endured a terrifying and heart racing experience. They gained a new member…no friend. Saki Norino, who will join them in the attempt to escape the city.

Chapter 3: Courage of the Dead