Sup people. I know I've been gone for a while but in order to make it up to you I shall make this a double whammy. That's right, two chapters in one day because I feel bad for being gone for so long. Oh, I don't own High School Of The Dead or the Assassin's Creed franchise, just Raijin and Masaaki Snyder, my two OCs.
Chapter 4
Z-Day + 2
Raijin heard the distant singing but he refused to open his eyes. It sounded like the girl he took a part in rescuing last night was singing Row Your Boat. 'Cute kid, innocent voice.', he thought with a gentle smile.
Then Kohta began to sing and the alcohol he had consumed to numb the pain of cleaning and stitching his cut hit him and he frowned. 'So it's gonna be like that eh? You'll numb the pain for the time being but hit me with a monster headache.', he thought sourly. Rai cleared his head in time to hear Saya scolding, more like threatening, Kohta. Something about 'bastardizing Mother Goose'.
Then Rai noticed his head was elevated, and it wasn't on his arm. 'Must've leaned on some bag when I fell asleep last night, or this early morning.'. But this bag was warm and then someone's hands began massaging his temples. Raijin relaxed at the touch of those hands, it was doing wonders for his headache.
"Thank you.", Rai finally spoke as he opened his eyes. He came face to face with Saeko, or more accurately, her breasts. His eyes fully widened at the sight and he felt a bit of disappointment when the owner of said breasts shifted to look down at him.
"You're awake. How are you feeling?", she inquired with a sweet smile as she looked down on him.
"Pretty good despite the life threatening situation I voluntarily put myself in last night." Raijin said. Immediately, Saeko's face fell and Rai knew he had, unintentionally, hit a nerve. "Not this little thing here.", he said gesturing with his right hand to his stitches. "I meant the driving like a maniac and walking on fences within an arm's reach of Them. It seems like it isn't much but my heart was pounding a mile a minute.", Rai quickly amended and Saeko's face seemed to ease a little. 'Good.'.
They stayed like that for a few seconds. Raijin's head held in Saeko's lap like a little child's, until Rai broke the comfortable silence. "Sorry for falling asleep on you. I can't remember much after taking a few swigs of the bottle last night."
Saeko took on a confused expression, then realized what he meant. "Oh, I put your head on my lap, you didn't fall asleep like this. Figured it was the least I could do so you wouldn't roll over to your bad side.", She explained with a light smile. At this Rai smiled sincerely.
"Thank you Miss…..Busujima is it?", Rai smiled sheepishly at that point. Slightly embarrassed at not being completely sure what her name was despite having met her a little over twelve hours ago. Of course, what had transpired in those twelve hours wasn't exactly typical either.
"I prefer if my friends call Saeko.", She answered unfazed. Then she took on her own sheepish smile, "Snyder, is it?".
"I prefer if my friends to call me Raijin, or Rai for short.", Raijin answered with a grin.
"Wake up everyone. We're almost there.", called out the nurse. With that Rai got up from his comfortable position and started stretching.
'Wait, where's Masaaki?', Rai mentally questioned himself. Then he saw him on the Humvee's hood along with Kohta and the girl they had rescued the night before. He seemed to be enjoying himself, singing along with Kohta and the girl. A smile broke out on Rai's face.
When the Humvee hit the shore everyone exited it. Rai set out to the back to open the back hatch/trunk and opened his bag, while everyone else stretched their sore muscles and got something to eat from their scavenged supplies. Rai looked at the contents of his bag and decided upon replacing his torn shirt with a dark green shirt and a grey hoodie, taking care not pull his stitches too much. He would hate to have to get re-sown by Shizuka. He also took out his black single shoulder backpack that was meant for school. (Think of the backpack Desmond from Assassin's Creed Brotherhood wears) Now it would serve as his emergency bag.
Raijin proceeded to throw in a couple bottles of water, a box of tissue, and the map he'd taken from the Mega-store. Next were three cans of fruit along with two granola bars. He also threw in a switchblade that used to be his father's, a lighter (Shizuka's friend seemed to have a lot in her home, possibly was a smoker), and last but not least, the second wakizashi he had taken from his grandparent's home.
Rai then picked out the clothes he had laid out for Masaaki the night before so he could put them on now that it wasn't bedtime. He rounded the edge of the Humvee to see Rei snatch the little girl from Takashi's arms in order to change her.
"Here, now you can't tell me it's bedtime.", Rai said to his brother with a smirk as he handed him the clothes. Masaaki stuck out his tongue at Rai and went inside the Humvee to change. When he reemerged, Masaaki had also opted to sling his backpack on and had his doll Rex in his arms. Rai got his weapons and pads from the back seat while the girls were changing. He strapped on his elbow and knee pads once more and slung his swords.
'I remember taking off the elbow pads to remove my shirt for the stitches but not my knee pads. Must've been Saeko.', Rai thought as he made a mental note to thank her for it. Rai continued to get a can of mixed fruit and started eating them. He also got a couple of candy bars and stuffed them in his backpack. Finally content, he slung his backpack so that the single strap went from his left shoulder across to his right ridcage. The katana was slung the other way, both slings essentially forming an X across his chest. The katana was between his back and the backpack.
He then approached the other guys in their group and saw Kohta raise his thumb and wink.
"A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!", Kohta practically shouted at his fellow teen males. Takashi answered about not wanting to die just yet.
'Must want to peek on the girls changing.', Rai thought with a chuckle as he closed his eyes. "I wouldn't recommend it either.", Rai vocalized his agreement with Takashi. "So who is that girl anyway?"
"Alice Maresato, her father was a columnist for a newspaper.", Kohta answered with a sad tone in his voice.
"Hmm.", Rai nodded. "Great man and father."
"Yeah." Takashi said. "Crazy night last night right?", he asked turning towards Rai.
"Oh yeah, ran over a good number of Them, saved Alice, almost feel into a sea of Them, got saved by the girls, saved Saeko,", here Takashi reddened with embarrassment. "got cut, got my own gun pointed at my face,", now Kohta reddened. "got tipsy so I couldn't really feel these", Rai lifted his shirt and pointed to his stitches. "and passed out in the back of a military Humvee.", Rai finally finished recalling the previous night as he put a finger on his cheek and looked towards the sky with a comical thoughtful look. "Yep, counts as crazy in my book."
"Sorry about my landing mishap.", Takashi mumbled as he put his hand behind his head.
"No worries.", Rai said as he put his hand up as to dismiss the action.
"Sorry about aiming your gun at you.", Kohta put in shamefully.
"It's alright, I would've done the same if I were in your position.", Rai said forgivingly. Then Kohta pulled out the Magnum from his vest and handed it, grip first, to Raijin. Rai shook his head and pushed back towards Kohta. Kohta was about to ask why when Rai answered his impending question. "You seem to be gifted with guns and will use it better than I can. Keep it.". Kohta nodded understandingly.
"What about your shotgun and 9mm?", Kohta asked. Rai pondered for a moment.
"Give the 9mm along with the extra magazines to Masaaki, he knows how to use it and Saya, Alice, and Shizuka have nothing to protect themselves with, he might end up being their salvation if the situation calls for it.", Rai answered. "Just leave the shotgun in the Humvee as a backup.". Kohta nodded.
Then Kohta took the Ithaca slung on his shoulder and handed it to Komuro. "Use this.", he said as he then began to explain how to fire and reload it. But Takashi dismissed him and said he'd use it as a club and Kohta looked dejected.
'What's up with him?', Rai wondered as Masaaki appeared next to him. Looking down as his brother with a smile he asked, "So? How are you getting along with Alice?".
"Awesome!", Masaaki replied earnestly and Rai ruffled his hair.
"Brothers!", called Alice from behind them and Rai and Masaaki turned around. Rai was at a loss for words. Takashi and Kohta turned and were dumbfounded at the sight as well.
The nurse, Saya, and Alice had just changed into fresh clothes as did Rei and Saeko. But Rei and Saeko had suited up.
Rei wore white fingerless gloves and her freshly cleaned school uniform. Now she donned combat webbing, elbow and knee pads not unlike Rai's, and held one of the rifles that they had essentially stolen from the Humvee's owner. She now seemed fit for urban combat.
Saeko had also undergone a wardrobe change, she had changed out of Rai's borrowed sweats and tank top to a new attire. While Rei looked more akin to a soldier than student, Saeko seemed like a cross between urban samurai and a lingerie model. She had her school uniform on, except the skirt was cut to be the same size as the other girls'. She slung her katana loosely at her left side, wore heeled combat boots, and now wore lace underneath. Said lace reached up to her thong, which was visible due a tear in her skirt.
Kohta stood there literally drooling at the girls, which caused Saya to yell at him, thus shaking him out of his stupor. However, there was no one to yell at Takashi nor Raijin, which kept staring at Rei and Saeko, respectively. Said girls noticed the stares they were receiving and acted differently.
Rei blushed and looked down to avoid Takashi's gaze. She even made a futile attempt to hide herself behind her rifle by putting it in front of her with the barrel aiming at the clouds.
Saeko, however, did the opposite thing when she noticed Rai trying to avert his eyes. She stood to the side and put her hand on her thigh. Then she slowly dragged it up towards her katana's handle, along with her skirt, showing off more of her flawless skin to Raijin. Rai just gulped and blushed.
At this point Saya became annoyed at the current situation and smacked both remaining teen males upside the back of their heads. Both teens looked embarrassed and were rubbing the back of their heads with a sheepish smile. Rei blushed even more and Saeko giggled at Rai's reaction. Even Zeke, the puppy that was rescued with Alice , barked at the teens.
The girls approached the guys. Alice and Masaaki began playing with Zeke, laughing like the children they were supposed to be. Shizuka got inside the Humvee in the drivers' seat along with Saya. Rei walked towards Takashi and Kohta.
"What? Got a problem?", Rei asked Takashi smirking.
"No, it just suits you….Do you even know how to shoot that thing?", Takashi replied with a hint of doubt in his voice.
"Hirano can show me how. If not then I'll just use it a spear.", Rei answered smugly. Kohta immediately threw his hand up and exclaimed.
"Ah I know I know I know. The Army puts bayonets on those weapons and we happen to have one over here.", Kohta explained as he went to the Humvee to pull out said bayonet and attached it underneath the rifle's barrel. "Here Masaaki, Saya.", Kohta said as he handed them the 9mm and shotgun Raijin had in his possession.
"You know what to do right?", Rai asked his brother. Masaaki clicked the safety on and stuck it in his pocket along with the extra clips in his other pocket, Alice and the rest of the girls looked at him in shock. Takashi and Kohta had known of his knowledge of firearms so they weren't fazed by the act.
"Yup, got it.", answered Masaaki cheerfully as he put in his backpack.
'They wouldn't be surprised if they knew our background before Them…and before our parents' death.', Rai thought glumly as memories of their parents rushed his head. 'I'll tell the group our story once we find another safe area…..if we do.'
"Here Saya.", Kohta said as he handed the Remington to her. Saya looked surprised.
"What's this for?", She asked as she cocked an eyebrow.
"To protect yourselves in case any of Them get past us.", Kohta explained. "Courtesy of Rai.".
"Well enough standing around. Let's get up that hill.", Takashi said after an awkward silence had overcome the group when Saya received the shotgun from Kohta. "Rai, Kohta. Let's go.".
"Got it.".
"Sure."
The trio went up the hill as everyone else piled into the Humvee. Takashi took the left, Kohta took center, and Rai took right. Takashi and Kohta aimed down their sights and checked their areas. Rai was out of place as he had no long range weapons, instead having his hands on his sheaths, ready to draw in an instant.
The area was, surprisingly, clear of Them.
The guys looked at each other with surprised looks and then shrugged.
"Best to not question it and just get on our way before They do show up.", Takashi voiced their thoughts. Kohta and Raijin nodded. Then Takashi shouted, "All clear!".
A distinct rumbling was heard from the bottom of the slope and it grew as the Humvee went up the slope. The rumbling of the motor was the only indicator of where it was going to come from, and the rumbling was getting closer to Raijin and Kohta than Takashi. This garnered the two's attention and they turned just in time to see the Humvee roar over the slope and get some air. Said boys were amazed a split second until they realized that the Humvee would crush them when it finally met the ground again. Then their expressions turned from amazed to wide eyed fear.
"Oh my God….", Kohta squeaked. Raijin couldn't form a coherent word. Then they both dived away from the landing zone between them and the Humvee skidded to a halt after a few feet. Both teens were laying crumpled on the pavement, shocked motionless as they realized how close they had come to death, from their own 'group' as well.
Shizuka and everyone else stepped out to survey the landscape for themselves. Shizuka took notice of both guys twitching on the floor.
"Why are you two on the floor?", asked the ditzy nurse.
"Yeah, get up you lazy bums!", added the ever polite Saya.
'This girl doesn't really give a shit, spoiled brat.', Raijin inwardly said.
"You almost ran us over!", Kohta shouted at Shizuka who, in turn, blushed from embarrassment. Raijin stood up, albeit shaking. He calmed himself down and walked up to Takashi who was monitoring their surroundings a couple meters from the rest of their group.
Takashi looked at the landscape with a grim expression. "Something wrong?", Rai asked.
"I wonder if there are any survivors on this side of the river. I mean there is no noise. The police, survivors, and even They make some sort of noise.", Takashi answered without tearing his gaze from their group's surroundings.
Raijin cocked an eyebrow. 'He's right. The other side is apocalyptic as hell with screams, gunshots, and sirens. Corpses litter the streets only to rise as Them. Maybe there are no humans on this side.' Raijin closed his eyes and drowned out the Humvee's engine and heard nothing else. 'That can't be the case since even They make noise as they groan and shuffle around.' Then Rai was hit with a theory.
"You know, maybe there is a source of noise besides us further inland.", Rai said, drawing Takashi's attention. "They are attracted to noise and cause some Themselves. So there must be something causing Them to move away from the riverbank." By now Saya had stopped assuring Rei about the police as she had caught on to Rai's theory and had figured out what he was thinking.
"There must be survivors on this side of the river!", Saya exclaimed, just barely beating Rai to saying those same words.
"We can look for survivors later,", Takashi said with a firm voice, earning the attention of the full group. "We need to make sure our own families are alright first." A collective nod went throughout the group. "Takagi, your house is the closest from right here. So we should probably head there first. After that, we'll search for everyone else's families."
No one opposed the plan laid out by Takashi and in two minutes the group was well on their way to Saya's house through the empty streets.
Another thud resounded from the front of the Humvee. Blood spattered on the windshield once more, the windshield had acquired a red tint from all the blood. The group had been driving towards Saya's house when suddenly They appeared. And not just in little groups of two or three as one would guess. But a horde of Them on every street.
Raijin held Masaaki's head to his chest in an effort to blot out the images of Them being mutilated as they were run over. Kohta was doing the same to Alice. Shizuka was driving with Saya riding shotgun. Kohta, Alice, and Saeko were in the back seats, while Rai and Masaaki were in the trunk once more. Rei and Takashi were on the roof holding on for dear life as Shizuka sped through the infested streets.
"Left! Turn left there!", Saya shouted out directions to Shizuka.
'Seems the closer we get, the more there are.', Raijin noted mentally as he covered Masaaki's eyes from the carnage. Masaaki had curled up into a ball, hugging his knees to his chest as Rai covered his view of the blood spattered windows.
Saeko suddenly went to the front of the Humvee in between Saya and Shizuka. "There are wires stretched across the road! Turn the car!", she shouted. Shizuka obliged immediately, turning the Humvee harshly to the left. Bad move.
By now the tires were slick with blood, making the Humvee a lot less maneuverable. The Humvee skidded into the wires, pushing several of Them against the wires. The wires didn't snap, instead they served as blades as the few of Them who were pushed up against the wires managed to get to the other side…..diced up that is.
The sudden turn caused everyone to slam up against the right side of the Humvee. Kohta and Raijin braced and took the brunt of the impact for the kids in their arms. Saya, Shizuka, and Saeko were only slightly less disoriented than the boys.
Shizuka held her foot on the brakes, only to have the Humvee continue sliding along the wires. "Stop! Why won't it stop?", she shouted in desperation.
"All of the people's- N-No. All of Their guts are making us slide!", Saya shouted back.
"Sensei! The tires are locked!", Kohta said. "Let go of the brakes and hit the gas!".
"Ok!", the nurse responded. The Humvee started to go forward. It worked.
'Oh shit.', went through Raijin's mind as he foresaw what would happen. The Humvee was close to the edge of the road. Too close. Shizuka had to hit the brakes anew to avoid hit the wall that was four meters in front of them. And hit the brakes she did.
The vehicle stopped, and Rei tumbled forward and fell off the hood. Landing squarely on her back, injured and stunned with Them starting to go toward her. In the next few seconds, the fighters mobilized.
Takashi was the first to reach Rei. He simply jumped down from atop the Humvee's hood and started unloading shells into Them. That would've helped a lot, but he missed the first few shots completely.
Saeko and Raijin were the next to get into the fight. Each brandishing their weapons. Rai took the undead situated near the Humvee's trunk, Saeko took those near the front.
Kohta was the last to join, opting to shoot Them from the hatch atop the Humvee. Every shot was a kill.
'Kohta is dead on with that rifle but there are too many of Them!', Rai thought. 'Marksmanship isn't going to do much here, wish we had some grenades right about now!', he thought as he decapitated another one of Them that got within slashing distance.
"Takashi! The recoil will point the barrel upwards a bit. Aim for the chest to compensate for that!", Kohta instructed as he reloaded. Takashi followed his directions and was knocking Them down two or three at a time now. Even Saya had joined the fight, having grabbed the shotgun Rai had designated as a backup weapon, and was shooting into the Horde. Corpses fell by the second, but it still wasn't enough.
Saeko and Rai were doing their best to keep Them away. Takashi had opted for Rei's rifle when he had to reload his shotgun and dropped the shells. 'We gotta do something fast! A distraction!', thought Rai. As he was assessing their situation, he noticed something.
They were on the street, and on the street were light poles. Just as well there was a weak spot in the ranks of the undead. While it seemed that there was no way of getting through Them, it was possible. The reason They seemed to never end was because when They reached the Humvee They were bunched up. But once someone made it out of the Humvee's immediate vicinity, all they would really have to deal with were a few of Them as They were scattered.
'Alright, I can do this. I just need to sprint through Them and get to that pole. Getting through the ones bunched up here might be a problem though. I wonder-', his train of thought stopped as he saw Kohta atop the Humvee.
"Perfect!", Rai shouted out as he ran atop the Humvee and sheathed his swords.
"Pefect! What about this seems perfect to you!", Saya immediately reprimanded as she reloaded her shotgun.
"You'll see.", Rai said with a smirk as he walked back towards the edge of the Humvee. Then he took off in a running start and jumped into the Horde. Everyone looked on in shock as they thought he had decided to end his life. Only to see him reappear after landing on top of one of the undead, swords in his hands. Rai then took off into the horde, cutting and dodging through Them to get to the light pole about 30 meters from the group. He turned back in time to see Saeko along with everyone look at him like he was a madman. Rage consumed Saya's features as she thought Raijin was abandoning them, while Masaaki eyes teared up. Shizuka and Alice looked on in horror as they thought he was about to be devoured. Kohta nodded his head in understanding and mouthed thanks as he saw what he was about to do. Takashi looked on in shock as did Rei. But Saeko was fazed, caught completely off guard by his sudden rush into the sea of Them. She was about to speak when Raijin put a finger to his lips, signaling everyone to remain quiet. And they did.
'Hope this works and I still survive.', Rai thought as he raised his weapons, He then struck the pole with both handles, emitting a loud noise, almost like a bell, from the hollow pole. The resulting sound attracted the undead towards him in the absence of the gunfire and shouts the group had previously emitted. The undead then began to slowly but surely make their way towards Raijin.
'Shit! I didn't think of an escape plan.', Raijin mentally cursed himself as he saw Them advancing upon him. 'Come on, come on, think Rai think!', he thought as he looked around. Then his eyes landed upon set of stairs about 15 meters from his position in the opposite direction of the group. The stairs themselves were nearly devoid of Them, only two of the undead lingering nearby. 'That'll do!', he thought as he banged the pole a couple of more times and then took off towards the stairs.
When he reached the top, Raijin looked out at the scene below. The undead were shuffling towards the pole and the group was relatively safe given the predicament they were in earlier. The Humvee was still stuck but at least it wasn't surrounded by Them, the closest ones were a good 15 meters away. Raijin then took another look at the Humvee and saw the group.
Takashi was carrying Rei bridal style towards the Humvee's cargo hold as Shizuka stepped out of the driver's seat with her med kit in hand. Saya was in the backseat of the Humvee holding Alice close with Zeke in Alice's arms. Kohta kept an eye on Them from his position in the top hatch with his rifle at the ready. Lastly, Saeko and Masaaki were standing side by side right outside the Humvee, looking straight at him. Masaaki had Rex in his left arm clutched to his chest and held onto Saeko's skirt with his right. Saeko had sheathed her katana and looked straight into his eyes and mouthed her thanks. Rai responded with a smirk and a thumbs up. It seemed that the group was safe as Rai's actions had lured Them away. Until Zeke started barking at a few of Them who started wandering towards the Humvee once more.
'What!', Raijin mentally questioned. 'Why are They moving towards them!'. Then it hit him. 'Guess They move around aimlessly when there isn't any noise to attract Them. Damnit!'
Raijin turned once more towards the group. He saw Masaaki, Alice, Shizuka, and an injured Rei inside the Humvee once more. Saeko, Saya, Takashi, and Kohta readied their weapons once more to face Them. Just as the undead were about to be within Saeko's range, water gushed out from the wires, pushing the undead away!
Several more streams of water pushed Them away. Rai then saw people in firefighter suits manning fire hoses and putting a ladder up against the wire to help the group over to safety. But he himself couldn't make it over there, not with that many of Them still between him and the wires.
"Thank you for helping us.", Takashi said with a bow to the person who seemed to be in charge of the firefighter suit clad unit who rescued them.
"Of course, how could I leave my daughter and her friends to fend for themselves?", said the woman-it seemed- in charge. She then took off her helmet and showed her face to them. She had the same eyes and hair color as Saya. Said girl then proceeded to run and jump into her mother's arms.
"Mama!", Saya screamed as she embraced her mother. It was a sweet moment that was cut short by Saeko and Masaaki.
"Excuse me Ms. Takagi?", started Masaaki. "Could you help us get my brother here too?" Said question was met by a quizzical look from Saya's mother.
"There's more of you? Why is he not with you? Did he abandon you?"
"Yes, there's more of us. But we were being overrun and his brother used himself as bait to lure Them away from us.", answered Saeko. "His brother is the reason we are still alive. He has helped if not directly saved the lives of everyone of us twice within the last twenty four hours. We would greatly appreciate it if you could help us save his for once.", Saeko finished with a bow.
"He sounds like an exceptional young man and I would gladly help you if I could.", Ms. Takagi started. "But I'm afraid that we have no means of doing so. We have no more water in our tanks to push them away and clear a path for him. And these wires will not hold for much longer after stopping your vehicle. I'm sorry to say that he will have to survive on his own.", she finished regretfully.
"Please ma'am", continued Masaki. "He's all I have left. I can't lose my big brother! He's right there too!", Masaaki started crying as he pointed towards Raijin on the top of the stairs not fifty meters away from the wires. Ms. Takagi only shook her head sadly and Masaaki started bawling and held onto the locket that hung around his neck and onto Saeko.
"Masaaki! Don't worry I'll make it to you guys!", shouted Raijin from atop the stairs, not caring that it would draw Them.
"Raijin! Come to my house! It's the big one on the top of the hill!", Saya shouted as the rest of the group reluctantly began to leave for fear of the wires snapping loose at any time. Raijin nodded and waved goodbye to the group as the undead who began to climb the stairs. He then took off running away from Them and disappeared over a railing and between the buildings until he was finally out of sight.
"Please make it.", Saeko whispered as they began to move towards safety.