Alright I'm back with the next chapter. This chapter is a bit slow on the action (as in there is none), and focuses primarily on Saeko and Raijin interacting in a environment where they don't always have to be on guard. As you know, I don't own anything except my OCs, Raijin and Masaaki Snyder.

Chapter 6

Z-Day +3 8:01 a.m.

Saeko watched as Shizuka tended to Raijin. As soon as Raijin had lost consciousness, guards brought him into the Estate and put him in a spare bedroom. Saeko had told the guards to wake Shizuka and inform her of the situation. The nurse was at Raijin's side in less than five minutes. Shizuka then took a moment to listen to Rai's breathing.

"He's still breathing, shallowly but he's still here.", She had said. Shizuka had then gone ahead and prepped Raijin. She had the guards lift him while she took off his weapons and backpack and took off his hoodie along with his jeans. Shizuka then used a pair of scissors and cut his shirt off of him and unwound his bandages, leaving Raijin in only his boxers. The nurse then proceeded to wash his body as clean as she could given the circumstances which, in this case, was with a sponge and rags.

Shizuka's cleansing revealed that the only injury that broke the skin was the cut he had gained while saving Saeko. The knowledge that the worst injury that Raijin had was the one she had inflicted caused Saeko's chest to tighten with guilt. However, the cut had doubled in length and deepened by a centimeter or so. Shizuka went about cleaning it and stitching him once more, this time adding a sort of cream to the wound. "That will help it close and heal faster.", Shizuka explained to Saeko. Then the rest of the group had started coming in. Takashi, followed by Kohta, Saya and Alice, and finally, Rei with Masaaki. Masaaki held on tightly to Rei's shirt as he watched his brother unconscious, watching intently with a look of worry.

"Seems like all he needs is rest. He checks out fine in everything else. His heartbeat and breathing is steady, no other wounds to report, looks like he was pushed to the brink of total collapse getting here.", Shizuka explained as she gathered her equipment.

"Doesn't seem surprising. Getting here was hard enough for us, and we had an escort. Wonder how he pulled it off, and so quickly too.", Takashi mused with his hand on his chin.

"Just glad he made it. We've made it this far because of him, wouldn't have been the same if he didn't make it too.", Rei said honestly.

"Isn't that the truth? He gave me a gun when I was in a jam on Onbetsu Bridge.", Kohta remembered.

"He gave me the shotgun that helped save our lives.", Saya said.

"Big Brother Raijin is the part of the reason I'm here, isn't he?", Alice wondered.

"He saved us on Onbetsu Bridge and gave me a katana.", Saeko put in.

"Raijin is the reason I'm still alive.", Masaaki said.

"It's good to have him back.", Shizuka finished. "But all we can do is wait until he wakes. Now, let's get some breakfast.". And with that everyone began to leave, except Saeko and Masaaki. The two stayed there seated next to the bed for a good five minutes in silence until Saeko broke it.

"Masaaki, go get something to eat. I'll keep an eye on your brother and let you know when he wakes.", Saeko told Masaaki gently.

"Ok, but what about you? Aren't you going to eat? Should I bring you something?", Masaaki asked Saeko as he made his way to the door.

"No, I already ate this morning when I woke up. But thank you, now go on. Or your brother will scold you for not eating when he wakes.", Saeko teased from her seat. Masaaki responded by sticking out his tongue and then went off to join the rest, closing the door as he left. Saeko then turned towards Raijin's unconscious form.

Saeko had lied. She hadn't eaten that morning, or the evening before. She hadn't eaten since the morning before, when the group stopped on the river's bank to change and eat. Even then, she had eaten very little. Why? The feeling of guilt at wounding Raijin didn't leave her mind, and with a troubled mind, one could barely focus on anything else.

Z-Day + 3 5:17 p.m.

Saeko watched as Rai's chest rose and fell with each breath he took. She hadn't left the room he was situated in. She felt that it was her fault Rai had gone through what he did. Sure he was going to be fine, but that didn't ease Saeko's conscience.

The rest of the group had come back after they had eaten breakfast and, later, lunch. They each sat down with her and offered to let her rest, but she refused. Each one of them left with a look pity of their faces, but Saeko didn't know if it was for her or Rai. Her because she blamed herself for what Rai went through to get to the Estate, or Rai for the hardship he endured. But it didn't matter, Saeko didn't care, she just wanted to apologize to Raijin. And she would wait until he woke to do so, no matter how long the wait would be.

Z-Day + 4 5:53 a.m.

Saeko awoke from her, surprisingly, peaceful slumber as her internal clock roused her and saw the world through blurred vision only to close her eyes again. She felt her head elevated on something soft. 'That's weird. It's much too hard to be a pillow, but still comfortable..', she thought drowsily. She then shifted her body so she was laying face up and felt that she was covered by a blanket. 'Don't remember that being here. I wonder who-', her train of thought was stopped by someone gently running their fingers through her hair.

"Smooth as silk.", Saeko heard a masculine voice say. By now a bit of the drowsiness that accompanied waking up had evaporated, and Saeko began to run through the possibilities in her still clouded mind.

'Can't be one of the girls, that's for sure.', Saeko crossed Saya, Alice, Rei, and Shizuka out. 'Can't be Masaaki, too deep for him.', that possible group member was ruled out. 'Definitely not an adult, the voice is still not that deep.', that ruled out any one of the perverted guards Saeko had caught staring at her "assets" when she first arrived. 'Besides, don't they have to be on watch duty? That only leaves the other guys in our group.', Saeko concluded as she felt the person who was running their fingers through her hair start massaging her temples, she let out a sigh of relaxation.

'Takashi is infatuated with Rei and vice versa, so he has no business doing this. And Kohta, although sweet, is much too intimidated by me or any girl. Besides, it's obvious he likes Saya. That leaves Rai, but he's unconscious.', Saeko's mind concluded. Then she realized 'Unconscious people wake up.', and with that she opened her eyes slowly as her body was still a bit drowsy.

Saeko was greeted by the sight of Raijin, well his upper body, looking down at her with a gentle smile. "Good morning Saeko.", he greeted.

"Morning Rai.", she returned.

He then teased, "Sleep well?". Saeko blushed at his tone and slowly nodded her head. Then he stopped his massage and Saeko's face fell before she could stop herself. Raijin's eyes glinted mischievously. "Liked that, did you?", he teased once more.

'Is he really trying to tease me? I'll show him his place', Saeko thought playfully. "Yes, yes I did.", she then said seductively. "Although, I wish you had massaged somewhere else. Somewhere more sensitive.", As she said this, Saeko had grabbed Rai's right hand and was slowly pulling it towards her right breast. It nearly reached her breast when Raijin pulled it away, and she felt a bit of disappointment but didn't show it.

"Nuh uh uh. That's comes after our third date.", Raijin said trying to look like he was teasing her. The teasing look failed when he started blushing.

'There's no teasing the master of the art.', Saeko thought triumphantly with a smirk.

"Now, honestly, did you sleep well?", Rai asked Saeko.

"Yes, thank you.", she answered.

"Umm how long was I out?", Rai asked sheepishly. Saeko turned to look at the clock on the wall.

"Hmm, I'd say a bit short of 24 hours.", Saeko replied. Rai looked dumbfounded.

"Twenty-four hours? How long have you been here?", he asked surprised.

"Just as long.", Saeko answered. Rai looked at a loss for words.

"Thank you for keeping watch over me Saeko.", he managed after a while with a smile. He then saw her confused. "Yes?"

"May I ask you a question?", Saeko asked hesitantly.

'Something's up. As far as I can tell, it isn't like her to be shy.', Rai thought. "Go ahead."

"When did you wake and how did I wind up laying in your lap?", she asked.

"Are you complaining?", he teased. "Fair enough. I woke up at around 3:00 a.m. and saw you asleep in those chairs.", Rai pointed to the chairs next to the bed. "So I got up, changed into my now clean clothes that were set out on the bedside table, and tucked you in this bed as I was no longer using it, and I went off to search for food. I ran into a couple of guards and asked for directions to the kitchen."

"When I got there, I met Mrs. Takagi.", here Saeko raised a questioning eyebrow to which Rai responded by shrugging. "Guess she was worried and couldn't sleep and decided to grab a midnight snack. Anyway, we both ate and talked and she showed me to a shower room and to where our bags were at my request. Very polite woman.", Raijin remarked off handedly. "So I grabbed some toiletry and showered. Can you smell the freshness?", Raijin joked as he raised his arms. "After that, I came back here at around- hmm, I'd say 4:00 a.m., and saw you. You were turning in your sleep, so I tried to soothe you. Figured it was the least I could do since you kept watch over me, which I'm grateful for by the way.", Saeko smiled at this. "I tried to fluff your pillows, took off blankets because you were sweating bullets, anything. Then I remembered how relaxed I felt when you massaged my temples the other day. So I got into bed and put your head in my lap and did just that. And you relaxed and here I am.", Raijin smiled.

Saeko smiled sweetly at Rai. "Thank you Raijin.", she said gratefully.

"No worries.", he said with a wink. After a few seconds, Saeko broke the silence.

"Not to be rude or ungrateful or anything. But why did you stay here with me? That happened about two hours ago, I thought you'd be looking for Masaaki and the rest by now.", Saeko inquired.

"That was my original plan. But it's still early morning, everyone except us and the night watch is still asleep. I didn't want to go around knocking on doors and waking people up until I found the rest. And, I also wanted to say thanks, Saeko.", Rai finished.

"For what?", Saeko asked curiously.

"For bringing me inside. I remember blacking out right outside the Estate's walls, and you being there by my side calling for help. Though I wonder why it was only you.", Rai pondered.

"Are you complaining that it was me? I could go throw you outside the walls and leave you there until someone else brings you in you know.", Saeko joked. Rai raised and waved his hands in comical apology.

"No, I'm liking being safe. Well, safer than on the outside. We're never truly safe anymore.", Rai said darkly. Then he lit back up to his usual gentle politeness. "The time at which you found me was early morning, why were you up? I thought you'd be tired from fighting for your life these last few days.", Rai asked. Saeko shifted to better see him in the eyes, without lifting her head from his lap. "You're really liking this aren't you?", Rai teased about the position they were in.

"You're comfy ok?", Saeko said coolly. "But the reason I was up was because I don't regularly sleep in. Well, I didn't before The Outbreak. I was up practicing my katas.", Saeko lied. "Can't really afford to lose my touch now, can I?", she added. Raijin seemed to buy it. 'The reason I was out there was because I was worried about you and couldn't get a good night's sleep because of it.', Saeko added silently.

"No one can anymore.", Raijin agreed. Then the rays of the sun began to pour over the walls and through the window to fill the room. "I believe I have taken enough of your time Saeko. I shall let you return to your sleep.", Rai said. Then he gently lifted Saeko's head from his lap and got out from under her, to place pillows under her, much to Saeko's displeasure.

'Too soft. He really is comfy.', Saeko thought but her face didn't betray her thoughts. Rai then closed the curtains so the sun wouldn't penetrate the room as much, and turned to gather his gear.

"Is it ok if we wander the grounds? The guards won't give me any trouble will they?", Rai asked Saeko without turning around. While he asked her, Rai slung his katana and backpack how he had them before, and slung his wakizashi so the hilt was at his right side. Saeko rose from the bed and looked at him confused.

"No, the guards won't give you trouble. Why are you taking your things? The undead aren't as much of a threat here.", Saeko explained. Rai looked up from strapping on his knee pads.

"Maybe not, but still a threat nonetheless. Call me crazy-", Rai stopped abruptly as he took on a thoughtful expression. "Actually I am crazy. I mean I did jump into a horde of Them and then made a run for it here with sleep deprivation.", Rai stated laughing. "I'll admit my little adventure getting here left me a bit paranoid.", Raijin said as he grabbed his elbow pads and began to strap them on. Saeko stared at him, motioning him to explain the reason for his feeling. Rai shrugged his shoulders and began, "How many of Them did you see on your way here after we got separated?"

"A couple hundred I suppose, but that was over a span of 6 or 7 kilometers.", Saeko said. Rai cocked an eyebrow.

"Six or 7 kilometers? What the? Did you guys enter through the main gate?", Rai asked. Saeko looked down in concentration.

"Come to think of it, no we didn't. We came in through the other entrance, a smaller one. We went behind the Estate."

"Seems about right. You must've gone behind the barricade they have up. These people are quite industrious.", Rai remarked. "Well, on my adventure I saw hundreds of Them, if not over a thousand, in a single square kilometer.", he said as if there wasn't anything alarming about that. Saeko stood up in alarm.

"What?", she asked with eyes wide in disbelief. Rai then began to dig through his bag.

"Good, seems like everything I had is still here.", Rai said to himself. Then he turned to face Saeko. "Yeah, there were thousands of Them out there, and most likely there's even more now if the quarantine on the bridges failed. Unless the people in charge here have some sort of crowd control operation that is, but due to the lack of gunfire, I doubt they do." Rai then took a seat on a chair next to the bed and motioned for Saeko to sit on the bed across from him. "This place seems safe enough, but this is a mansion, it was designed for luxury. Luxury, the walls protecting us won't do well against thousands of Them."

"I knew this place wasn't as safe as we had been led to believe. I severely underestimated the situation though.", Saeko said coolly once more. "What do you plan to do?". Rai got up from his seat.

"I don't know what to do about Them. But for now, I'm going to check the rest of this place out. I'd prefer to train with my swords, but I don't want to overdue it and rip myself an even bigger one.", Rai said motioning towards his cut. Saeko's face fell. 'Shit, forgot how she felt about that. Back to this again huh?'

"Come on. I don't blame you for this, so why do you?", Rai said pointing to his wound, trying to ease her conscience. Saeko then stared at the ground, not answering. Rai took a seat next to her and put a hand on her shoulder. "I forgive you, Saeko. It's just a small cut."

"What if your energy had given out before you reached us?", Saeko whispered.

"What are you talking about?", Rai asked gently.

"Say what you want. But that 'small cut' made getting here harder for you. If it wasn't for that cut, you might've walked through those gates on your own power without a scratch, not blacked out on a stretcher and bleeding.", Saeko said slightly louder looking ashamed. Raijin put his right arm around Saeko's shoulder.

"Hey I'm here now aren't I?", Rai then put his hands on Saeko's shoulders and looked her squarely in the eyes. "I'm alive, Saeko, and I forgive you.", Rai smiled. Saeko noticed something about that smile.

'Seems familiar somehow.', she thought. Then Saeko realized what it was, 'The twinkle in his eyes is there. Like the smile he had in the picture in the locket.', Saeko noticed this and smiled in return. 'I guess he really means it.' "Thank you, Rai.", Saeko said with a smile. "It means a lot to me." Rai smiled a bit bigger. After a few seconds, Raijin got up from his seat and started walking toward the door. "Where are you going?", Saeko inquired.

Raijin turned around and said, "I'm still going to check this place out. See if there are any quick escape routes, just in case." Saeko started to rise from the bed. "You should probably rest Saeko." Saeko smirked and tried to lie.

"I'm not tired.", she tried. Raijin kept his neutral gaze upon her, she caved. "Ok I am tired, but I can't sleep. This western mattress is too soft for my liking. And the pillows aren't comfortable. And I wouldn't go outside right now."

Raijin looked confused. "These kinds of mattresses were a luxury back home. And so were the pillows. And why wouldn't you go out now?"

"Sorry. I'm used to sleeping on a futon.", Saeko said. "And I wouldn't go out because the guards here look at us like we're children.", she said with annoyed at the idea.

"Like children? Do they not know what we've been through since this whole thing started?", Rai said suddenly pissed off. "First they look at us like we don't belong, and now we're incapable in this eyes.", Rai said thinking back to how his grandparents looked at him and Masaaki. Saeko noticed this and decided to investigate the matter. She wanted to know what happened to Rai and Masaaki's family.

'Wonder why he bares adults ill will. Sounds like it's a sensitive subject, but the group needs to know. Better to find out if it's gonna be a problem now than later.', Saeko thought. Then she questioned, "Rai, why do you seem so upset with adults?", then after a while of hesitation she added, "Does this have something to do with your family?"

Rai's facial expression took on a look of surprise. "What makes you think it has something to do with my family?", he said with a surprised tone. 'I haven't mentioned anything about our family.', he thought. 'And I severely doubt Masaaki would talk to anyone about Mom and Dad-', Rai suddenly remembered, 'Actually he was talking to Saeko about them when we were at that house on the other side of the river. So he might've said more here.' Rai took a deep breath. 'Might as well tell her, and take this chance to find out more about her too.'

"How about we make a deal?", Rai proposed. Saeko looked surprised.

'Did I upset him?', she thought. "Sure", she agreed with a cautious tone. Rai chuckled at her sudden change from curious to defensive.

"Don't worry, the subject isn't taboo. Just surprised at why you made that assumption is all. But I'll tell you about my family if you tell me about yours.", Rai laughed. Saeko's features eased back to her trademark collected look.

"Deal. As to how I came to that conclusion. Well, I saw the picture in Masaaki's locket.", Saeko began carefully. Seeing no anger in Rai's eyes, she continued, "You looked so happy there, and now you seem upset with adults. I sort of wondered if it had something to do with your parents.", she finished. Rai looked impressed.

"So you connected the dots eh?", Rai complimented Saeko. "I guess you're kind of right.", he began. "Our parents weren't exactly traditional. My father was an American, my mother was Japanese. He was a Marine, she was a student.", Saeko leaned forward, seemingly intrigued by his story.

"My father was stationed here in the US base in Japan. I guess they met one night when my father was out on the town off base with a few of his fellow officers. They met and when my father's contract was up, they married and left for the US.", Rai said as he noticed Saeko was really listening. "Well that didn't sit well with their parents.", here Saeko looked disappointed. 'She's getting into this', Rai noticed.

"My dad was supposed to marry an American girl, not some 'Jap wench who could barely speak English', they said.", Rai and Saeko had looks of anger at this point. "And my mother was supposed to graduate and have a successful career and marry a doctor or lawyer. Not an 'American grunt'.", Saeko's eyes showed displeasure with how both families thought about their in-laws. "But they married, not caring what their families thought. My parents went about their lives, not really keeping in contact with their families who were ashamed of their choices in spouse. Masaaki and I didn't really know our grandparents, and we didn't care to. After all, our parents gave us everything: love, a sense of family, a roof over our heads. And our grandparents looked at us with anger as reminders of what their children did on the few occasions they visited us or we visited them.", Rai finished that sentence with disgust. Saeko hadn't said a word, just listened intently.

"One day, a little over a month ago, my parents died in a car crash.", Rai reminisced sadly. "We had to live with our dad's parents, who didn't say a word to us unless absolutely necessary and made their dislike for us extremely apparent, for three weeks.", Saeko took on a look of pity. "Then a couple of days before the Outbreak, we came over here to live with our mother's family. Yeah, they didn't like us any better. I don't think they said more than 10 words to us in those two days.", Rai said that last part offhandedly. Then he continued, "So yeah, that would be the reason I'm a bit distrustful of adults nowadays. I try not to be like that, but I'm tired of being looked down by them. Almost feel like I'm dealing with my family again." Rai then concluded, "Masaaki is the only real family I have left, in more than one sense. He probably is the only one that isn't dead or one of Them, and he's the only one that has never looked down on me. Benefits of being the big brother, I guess.", Rai shrugged. Then he looked at Saeko. "Anything else you wish to know?", he asked.

Saeko shook her head. "I have a feeling you will tell me more if you wish to share.", she said smiling. "My turn isn't it? Hmmm.", Saeko looked like she was concentrating trying to remember.

'Or choosing carefully what to say, she might have some things she doesn't want to share. Fair enough.', Rai justified.

"Well,", Saeko began. "I'm the daughter of a family who protected the Emperor of Japan long ago, my father is the head of the dojo where we trained and grew up. He was overseas in a tournament when this all began. I was the school Kendo Captain. I met the group while trying to escape our school. Then you saved us at the bridge and the rest is history.", Saeko finished with a finger on her chin.

'Didn't mention a mother. I won't look further into that out of respect.', Rai thought. "So no use worrying about your father then?", Rai asked. Saeko shook her head.

"Nope. No point when I can't do anything about it, flying was expensive before, now I think we'd have better luck finding buried treasure than finding a ride overseas.", Saeko stated with a shrug. "Besides, my father taught me everything I know about swordsmanship, so I think he can take care of himself." Rai laughed.

"I bet.", he agreed. "So you are a master with the sword eh?", Rai asked Saeko. Saeko smiled.

"What makes you say that?", she asked raising an eyebrow. "Maybe my family's talent skipped my generation.", Saeko joked.

"Well, you come from a family that served as guardians of the Emperor, so the art must run through your family. And also based on your title of school Kendo Captain. And finally, based on the fact that you've only used your katana against Them and aren't dead.", Rai answered back coolly. "Yeah, I'd say you know your stuff. So you're either a master, or extremely lucky. But luck only lasts for so long." Saeko then took on a smirk.

"Well you've used your swords as well, and you are still alive. Does that make you a master or lucky?", Saeko teased.

"I'll take that as a compliment Miss Busujima.", Rai mock bowed from his seat. "But I'm just lucky, I don't have any formal training. Honestly, I'm surprised I made it this far.", Rai said. "If I didn't think things through as much as I do, I'd be outside these walls, trying to get in and eat you guys.", Rai said as he got up and dragged his feet like Them. Saeko put her hand to her mouth, closed her eyes, and giggled a bit, and Rai noticed how cute she looked. 'I'm not even sure if she's trying to be cute right now, but she excels at it.', his mind declared. 'Looks cute and innocent right now in her blue kimono, but when she grabs her sword and dons her uniform she looks hot and deadly.' Rai was brought back to reality by a strange noise. He thought about it for a second before he realized that Saeko's stomach had growled, loudly. Saeko could only blush in embarrassment and looked down shyly.

"Excuse me….", she whispered embarrassed, Rai rolled his eyes and chuckled.

"Well come on then, let's do something about that. Let's go dig in the kitchen and see what we can find. I'm still a bit hungry too, after all, I hadn't eaten in over a day. One meal normal meal isn't going to cut it for me.", he said standing up and offering Saeko his hand. Saeko raised and an eyebrow and had a slight smirk on.

"My, my, seems our savior is also a gentleman,", Saeko joked as she took the offered hand and rose from her seat on the bed. Rai shrugged as he made his way to open the door for Saeko. Then he looked back at Saeko as he opened the door.

"Savior?", Rai asked.

"Well we all agreed that the reason the group has made it this far is in large part because of your actions.", Saeko explained as she passed through the door into the hallway. "The weapons you gave us, when you participated in saving Alice, and your most recent stunt which ended up buying time for our unexpected rescue by Saya's mom and her people.", Saeko finished as Rai closed the door and turned to face her.

"Huh, savior eh?", Rai said to himself as they began to walk down the hall. "Never really thought about it. Just seemed like the right thing to do at that time.", he dismissed as they walked side by side.

"Not many people would have done what you did for us, they would've left us to fend for ourselves.", Saeko stated as they made a left turn into another hallway.

"Was that what I was supposed to do? Leave you guys to die? Abandon you when we were cornered against the wires surrounded by Them on all sides?", Rai asked as he walked, staring straight ahead.

"Lesser men would have, but you didn't. You helped us, despite us being total strangers and possibly being a drain on your resources.", Saeko said thankfully as they entered the kitchen. "You're a kind man.", she declared as she looked at him admirably.

"Thank you Saeko.", Rai said smiling at her. Saeko smiled back. "Now how about we eat some breakfast?", he said opening up one of the many fridges and poking his head inside. "Mind helping me cook?" Rai asked as he pooped his head back out and smiled at Saeko sheepishly. "I kind of want to cook something for the rest of the group and could use your help." Saeko rolled her eyes good naturedly.

"Of course, Rai.", Saeko replied in her usual gentle, calm manner. "What are we making this morning?"

Alright, there is chapter 6, slow chapter. Apologies if it isn't of the same quality as the previous chapters. Reason being that I'm relatively new to this kind of writing. The next chapter will also be a bit slow, because I want to have one more chapter where taking a break doesn't potentially mean death for the group or its individual members. Also to cover what happens at the Takagi Estate (Being treated like kids, Mr. Takagi arriving, disagreements between the group, Shido arriving and being kicked the fuck out, etc.), you know, all that stuff.

This story will follow the timeline of either the anime or manga at any given time, with my own tweaks to it, of course. After all, it is fan fiction. Until the next update. Show that review button some love, you know you want to. Deuces.