Well hey there! This chapter is a couple of weeks past the date I had hoped to get it online, my bad hehe. Regrettably, this is another slow chapter. So no characters will be running for their lives, stabbing, slicing, shooting, beheading, causing any imaginable harm to Them. I know, boring right? Anyway, here goes.
Chapter 7
Z-Day + 4 8:43 a.m.
Masaaki woke up with a start. A groggy, disoriented start. His vision was blurred and he had a thin line of drool emanating from the corner of his mouth to his chin. The blankets he had gone under when he fell asleep lay by his feet, pushed down by his tossing and turning all night.
"Ugh.", he said to the world as he rubbed his eyes, still laying in bed as he did so. When his vision had come into focus, he took in his surroundings.
"What the?", he said aloud. Masaaki had turned to his right and saw Rei and Alice sleeping.
'Oh yeah,', he thought. 'Raijin's unconscious in another room.' Masaaki then sat up in bed and stretched out his arms and back with a yawn. 'Wonder if he's come to yet. Might as well go check on him.', and with that Masaaki dragged himself out of bed, taking care not to wake up Rei and Alice.
Masaaki grabbed his backpack and Rex, having left them by the bedside table when he fell asleep. He didn't bother with changing, he had forgone changing into pajamas last night, instead sleeping in his regular clothes. Masaaki just smoothed out the wrinkles as best he could and made for the door. He looked back at the girls as he opened the door.
'Rei's going to fall off the bed if she moves again.', he thought with a mischievous smile. Masaaki made a move to push her away from the edge of the bed but thought better of it. 'Can't hurt that bad.', he thought with a snicker. Then he headed out the door and started walking towards the room Raijin was put in when he arrived.
Masaaki got to the Raijin's door and paused for a second. He then put his ear against the door and listened for any noise on the other side. Hearing none, he opened the door and walked in. Only to find that the room was empty of its unconscious occupant and the occupant's sentry.
'Where are they?', he wondered. 'If they're not here then…..Rai must have woken up!', Masaaki thought with a smile. Then his stomach grumbled. 'Must be in the kitchen. That's where I would go if I just woke up.', and with that Masaaki set off towards the kitchen.
Z-Day + 4 8:42 a.m.
"Alright, that should be enough.", Raijin said as he crossed his arms. On the counter before him stood 70 pancakes in stacks of 10. Along with about a gallon of syrup.
"Why pancakes?", Saeko asked as she walked from behind him, carrying one last stack. She placed it on the counter and then took a step back and stood beside Rai.
"Because it's been a while since I've eaten them.", Raijin stated simply. Saeko smiled at his response and rolled her eyes. Then she took a look at him.
"You look ridiculous.", she laughed. Rai was dumbfounded, not having given much thought to his appearance, then he looked at his body. He was wearing his gear; gloves, pads, katana and single strap backpack, along with his wakizashi's hilt sticking out from his left hip. Nothing new, except he was wearing an apron over his normal gear, and he was covered with random blots of batter all over the apron and his arms.
"Well you don't look any less ridiculous.", Raijin joked back as he started to snicker. Saeko then took a look at her person and saw he was right. She had put an apron over her blue kimono, and was covered with batter all over as well.
"Hey, at least I don't look like I had a fight to the death with the batter. Why are you wearing your weapons? I at least took my katana off.", Saeko teased as she pointed to his weapons.
"Correction, the fight to the death was with the beater, the weapons were just in case, and I won. The batter was simply caught in the middle.", Raijin declared as he mockingly stood proudly. Saeko walked up to him and wiped some batter off his chin with her finger.
"Looks like the batter was caught all over the place.", Saeko smirked as she licked her finger clean. Raijin gulped noticeably, and turned around so as Saeko wouldn't see his blush. Saeko saw this and decided to take advantage of it.
"Hey, you still got some right here.", she said as she turned him around to face her. She then wiped of a bit of batter on his neck. Rai gave her a bored look, well, tried to. Sakeo's finger left a trail of goosebumps and caused him to shudder slightly.
"You have some too.", he said as he wiped batter off her forehead. "You just had to be next to me when the situation got out of control huh." he said, remembering when the batter seemingly exploded out of the mixing bowl. He chuckled as the moment played itself over in his head, Saeko had let out a squeak when the batter escaped the confines of the bowl. A noise he hadn't thought her capable of making, not with the confident front she put on.
"And you squeaked!", Rai teased Saeko. Saeko blushed of embarrassment.
"It surprised me ok?", she defended. Rai wasn't going to leave it at that, he was going to tease her a bit.
"So exploding batter causes you to squeak. Yet a horde of Them doesn't?", Rai teased. Then he stuck his hand in the mixing bowl, getting some of the leftover batter. "Let's see if what you're more afraid of. Them? Or this?", Rai said as he revealed his batter covered hand. Saeko's eyes widened.
"Raijin, don't you dare. I'm going to have a tough enough time getting this batter out of my hair. Don't make it any worse.", Saeko pleaded as she backed away slowly, giggles escaping her. Raijin had a calm smile on his face.
"Come on Saeko.", Rai said grinning. "You're already covered in batter. What's a little more?"
Saeko turned to see that she was back up against another counter. She turned back to see Raijin walking towards her, his hand outstretched. By now, Saeko had her hands in front of her in a futile attempt to stop Raijin.
"Rai. No.", Saeko tried to command Rai. That resulted in Rai rolling his eyes and smirking.
"I'm not a pet you know.", he dismissed. "You're gonna be really mad at me, and for that I'm sorry." Rai then lunged at Saeko.
A squeak escaped Saeko as she covered her face. But instead of feeling hands running through her hair, she felt her apron being tugged at. She risked a look and saw Raijin barely containing his laughter. She then looked down and saw that he was wiping his hands on her apron.
"Sorry.", Rai started. "Just wanted to see if I could make you squeak.", he laughed. "And apparently, I can."
"At least you didn't go through with the batter covered hair threat. I've got enough as it is.", Saeko said as she ran her fingers through her hair.
"Oh relax. You hardly have any. Just this bit right here.", Rai said as he ran his hand and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, getting the batter that was of her left temple. "See?", Rai held up a quarter sized smudge of batter. Then he realized the distance between their faces was alarmingly close. He saw Saeko differently up close.
Up close, he took in her features more dramatically. The way her mouth was opened ever so slightly. How her pale skin seemed to glow in the sunlight. How her purple hair fell around her face. The deep blue of her eyes. The slight blush she had. He could hear her breathing becoming shallow and ragged.
Rai found himself mesmerized by Saeko. So much, that he didn't notice her hand slipping between them. He didn't notice that she was rubbing her hand against her apron, getting some of the still wet batter on her hand. He just barely recognized her hand flying up and then coming down over his face.
Saeko laughed. Rai hadn't a clue as to why, it had happened so fast. Saeko continued to laugh sweetly at his expense.
"What's so funny?", Rai asked her. Then he saw batter dripping from his hair that slightly covered his right eye. Rai moved away from Saeko and looked at his reflection in the nearest fridge's metallic doors. Saeko was still laughing, trying to cover her mouth and control herself. Rai saw in his reflection that his patch of usually white hair had taken on the color of the pancake batter.
"Oh hell no! You did not just do what I think you did.", Rai spoke trying to sound angry. And failed when he started laughing, prompting Saeko to start laughing anew. Both teens ended up sitting on the floor, gasping for air. After a minute or so, the teens stood up and leaned against the counter which the pancakes were situated on.
A knock came from behind the door leading into the hallway. Rai and Saeko looked at each other alarmed and quickly cleaned up their appearances. Hair was hand combed as best as it could, aprons were removed, and batter was wiped and licked off. They had just wiped their hands clean when the door opened.
It was Masaaki. His eyes searched the kitchen until he found the duo standing behind a counter in the corner. Masaaki's eyes lit up as he ran to Raijin.
"Rai! You're ok!", he shouted gleefully as he jumped. He hugged Raijin, his hands encircling Rai's ribs, slightly pulling at the stitches. Rai winced a bit but hid it from Masaaki, though Saeko noticed.
"Hey little bro.", Rai said ruffling Masaaki's hair. "Missed me?", he asked laughing.
"Yes! Never do that again!", Masaaki tried scolding Rai. Rai laughed at Masaaki's attempt to scold him. Saeko smiled warmly at the reunion between the brothers. Rai then unlatched Masaaki from hugging him and put an arm on his shoulder.
"Hey, where are your manners?", Rai asked Masaaki good naturedly. Masaaki blushed and turned to face Saeko.
"Sorry.", Masaaki whispered. Then he spoke in a shy tone of voice, "Good morning Saeko."
"Good morning Masaaki.", Saeko replied. Masaaki smiled and turned his attention immediately back to Raijin.
"Promise me you'll never do that again.", Masaaki pleaded of Rai. Rai shrugged.
"Sorry, can't make that promise, Masaaki. I'll do it again if the situation calls for it.", Rai stated simply, earning questioning looks from Masaaki and Saeko.
"Why?", Masaaki asked.
"Think about it. If I hadn't done what I did, none of us would be here right now.", Rai explained calmly. "I served as a distraction so They would leave you. I did it to keep you alive, Masaaki.", Rai paused for a breath. "And I will do it again.", he finished. Masaaki looked at the ground.
"But isn't that what I have the gun for?", Masaaki asked.
"I don't want you using that unless it's absolutely necessary. Those Things are attracted to sound, a gunshot will attract Them like bees to honey.", Rai said calmly. Masaaki nodded his head in understanding. Then Rai took on an easygoing tone and asked, "Now could you go wake the others and tell them we're having pancakes for breakfast?". Masaaki's eyes lit up.
"Pancakes?", he asked happily.
"Yep.", Rai responded.
"On my way.", Masaaki said as he ran out the door. Rai then turned to get plates out of the cabinet, wincing a bit as he reached up. When he turned back to the counter he saw Saeko looking at him with an expression somewhere in between admiration and worry.
"Yes?", Rai asked, causing Saeko to rejoin reality. "Something up?", Rai asked once more.
"Oh, no. It's just sweet how you two get along with each other.", Saeko explained. Rai smiled.
"Thanks.", he said as he set a stack of plates beside the pancakes.
"Does it hurt much?", Saeko asked, nodding at the wound Rai acquired saving her.
"Not really, only if I really stretch out my arm or my skin is pulled. Even then, it doesn't sting as much as before. Hopefully it'll heal soon.", Rai hoped. "Could you help me look for the knives and forks please?", Rai asked, motioning towards the drawers beside Saeko as he searched the ones next to him.
"Sure.", Saeko said as she opened the drawer closest to her. "Here they are.", Saeko said as she pulled some out and set them beside the plates.
"Thanks for helping me with breakfast, Saeko.", Raijin said with gratitude. Saeko smiled.
"You're welcome.", she said. Then she complimented, "You're quite capable. Most guys your age can't even take care of themselves, much less for another person.". Rai shrugged.
"My parents are to thank for that.", Rai dismissed as he leaned on the counter. "Alright, how about we take all of these pancakes to the dining table?".
Z-Day + 4 9:02 a.m.
Masaaki ran down the halls as quickly as he could, waking up the missing members of the group. He had already woken Takashi, Saya, Kohta, and Shizuka, and sent them on their way to the kitchen. Only Rei and Alice were left to wake, and Masaaki was just getting to their door.
Masaaki knocked and hearing no response, decided to walk in. Closing the door behind him, Masaaki saw that the two were still asleep. As he neared the bed, Alice started to wake. She opened her eyes and sat up, looking at Masaaki creeping towards the bed.
"What are you doing?", Alice asked silently.
"Going to wake up Rei and make her fall off the bed.", he whispered back. "Wanna watch?", he offered with a devious smile. Alice nodded smiling as she started to get off the bed as quietly as she could. When Alice was standing next to Masaaki, he made his move.
"WAAAAKE UUUUUP!", Masaaki shouted, causing Rei to shoot up from the bed…and fall down to the floor with a thud. On her face.
"Owwww.", Rei moaned, rubbing her still red face. "What's going on?", she asked as she grabbed her rifle from below the bed held it at the ready. "Are They here?". Then Rei saw the two 7 year olds laughing on the floor before her. The moment she pieced together what must have happened, she fumed.
"You two better start running.", Rei warned with a pissed off look. Both of the children sweat dropped as they took in her menacing aura.
"Wait wait.", Masaaki got in. "Breakfast is ready." Rei's pissed off expression didn't change. Seeing Rei pissed off with a red face caused the kids to start snickering again. Rei was about to yell when her stomach grumbled. Which caused her to immediately drop the pissed off act and smile shyly.
"Ok, thanks for the heads up.", she answered meekly. Then the trio headed out the door and towards the dining room.
Z-Day + 4 9:07 a.m.
"Pancakes!", Kohta exclaimed with glee when he saw what was for breakfast as he entered the dining room.
"Yep, grab some. Plenty to go around.", Raijin said after handing a plate to Saya. So far Takashi, Saya, Shizuka, and Kohta had shown up. Only Alice, Rei, and Masaaki were missing. Just as Kohta grabbed a plate, the missing trio appeared, and everybody stared at them, well, at Rei.
Rei's face was red. The red was changing with each pulsation between dull to bright red, and she didn't seem happy. The kids, on the other hand, were covering their mouths, snickering at her expense beside her. The only noise was the kids' giggling. Saya was the first to speak.
"You fell on your face didn't you?", Saya asked. Rei looked bored.
"What makes you say that?", Rei deadpanned. Saya continued unfazed by Rei's response.
'This girl doesn't care who she offends.', Rai noticed about Saya.
"Because your face is changing between shades of red. And because the kids are laughing at you.", Say said as she cut into her pancakes. Rei's eyebrow twitched. Takashi decided to intervene.
"What happened?", he asked Rei. Rei brought her pissed off gaze towards him.
"The kids woke me up. By shouting at the top of their lungs. In my ear.", Rei stated as she glared daggers at Takashi for asking. Raijin decided to speak.
"Have you guys apologized?", he asked the children. Both kids were brought out of their laughing and looked at the floor.
"No….", they whispered simultaneously as they raised their heads. Rai looked at them expectantly.
"Well?", Raijin asked them and heard someone else say the same thing. He looked over and saw that it was Saya who had spoken. She was staring at Alice with a look one would expect a mother to give her child. 'Looks like Alice already found a sister.', he mused. Then he turned his attention to the kids once more.
"Sorry.", they said to Rei. Rei looked pleased, then she took them into a hug. And pinched their cheeks.
"I'll forgive you this time.", she said mock sweetly as they struggled to get away. "Next time you won't get so lucky.", she warned smirking as she let them go, their cheeks as red as her face.
"Alright, come have some breakfast.", Rai encouraged as he gave them plates. "Hope you like pancakes.", he said.
"These pancakes are glorious!", Kohta shouted from his seat with tears. "Who made them?", he asked Saeko and Raijin. Both teens in question answered in unison.
"It was both of us.", they answered. Kohta suddenly disappeared from his seat. Only to appear at their feet and was bowing before them.
"Thank you for a delicious meal!", he shouted. Saeko and Raijin looked uncomfortable.
"Well, go and finish them before they get cold.", Raijin said, getting Kohta to jump back in his seat and resume eating. "There is no way that's the same gun crazy crackshot.", Rai said to himself. He was broken out of his awe at Kohta's multiple personalities by Takashi.
"Thanks for cooking breakfast. You two.", Takashi said as he raised his plate. "Seconds please?", he asked meekly. Rai shook his head laughing.
"Go for it.", he answered. Rai then leaned back up against the wall and watched over the group eat.
"Why aren't you eating? Did you put in some disgusting secret ingredient?", Saya suddenly asked from her seat as she cut into her pancakes once more.
"Excellent question. And no.", Rai answered as he made his way to get a plate and began to serve himself.
Z-Day + 4 9:28 a.m.
The dining room was host to only Raijin and Takashi who sat at the table, picking their teeth. Everyone else had eaten, given their thanks to the cooks, and went off to do whatever they could. Rai and Takashi were sitting on opposite sides of the table.
"Are you sure about this?", Takashi asked worriedly. Rai leaned back on his chair, balancing on the two back legs.
"Absolutely. There are thousands of Them outside behind the barricade. One slip, somebody leaving the barricade slightly open, and They pour in.", Rai stated as he set the chair down on all four legs. "We know firsthand how quickly They can move in. The Estate will be surrounded in a matter of minutes, and those walls will not take much punishment." Takashi sighed at this.
"This place gives off the feeling of safety. But we are far from safe. Thanks for letting us know about this.", Takashi said. Raijin leaned forward onto the table.
"No prob. So what's the plan?", Rai asked. Takashi looked at him puzzled.
"What plan?", Takashi asked back.
"Well you're the local and the leader here. What do you think we should do?", Rai asked. Takashi still looked puzzled.
"Leader? No, that's not me.", Takashi declared. Raijin looked at him seriously.
"Say what you want, but the group sees you as the leader.", Rai said back. Then he leaned back into the chair once more. "You're the leader here. Don't you find it odd that we listen to you? Staying at the house along the river, saving Alice, crossing the river and looking for Saya's home. All that was you leading us.", Rai declared as he balanced on the back legs of the chair again. "Besides, you know this area better than anyone of us ."
"No, Saya does too.", Takashi said.
"True, but this is her home, her family. I don't think she'll be anxious to leave this place anytime soon. A home gives the illusion of safety even more.", Rai reasoned.
"Alright, good point.", Takashi said. "But I'm not the leader."
"You're still the best suited for the role of getting us out of here, seeing as how everyone knows you and you know the area.", Rai said.
"Why don't you lead us out of here?", Takashi asked suddenly, almost causing Rai to fall off his chair.
"Because I don't really know you guys that well. And I don't know the area, or any bit of Japan for that matter. Hell, I don't even know how I got to Onbetsu Bridge and met you guys.", Rai said truthfully. Takashi raised an eyebrow.
"What do you mean by any bit of Japan? How did you even get here to the Estate then?", Takashi inquired. Raijin took a deep breath before speaking.
"I came to live with relatives before all this happened. The day of the Outbreak was my second day in the country.", Rai said gesturing all around him, "And I got here following a map."
"Can you show me the map?"
"Sure.", Raijin replied as he unslung his backpack and took the map out. He flipped through the pages and found Tokonosu City and laid it out before Takashi.
"Where did you get this?", Takashi asked as he looked over the map.
"Some store, right before I met you guys actually.", Raijin replied nonchalantly. Takashi studied the map.
"Ok. Show me how you got here and where you spent the night.", Takashi said. Raijin got up and leaned towards the map.
"I traveled along the river.", he said, dragging his finger along the river on the map. "Then I turned toward the Estate here and thought I could make a straight run for it But They slowed me down and cost sunlight, so I ended up staying here for the night.", Rai said as he pointed at the park on the map.
"You must have stayed in the shrine then.", Takashi surmised. Rai looked at him smugly. "What?"
"See? I told you that you knew this area well. And yes, but I didn't get any rest there. They kept bumping into the walls so I stayed up all night on guard. That's why I was exhausted and promptly passed out.", Rai explained as he smoothed his white bangs unconsciously.
"Think we can stay there once we leave?", Takashi asked. Rai looked skeptical.
"I wouldn't, only if it's as a last resort. Not with a group as big as ours and so close to here.", Rai said. Takashi looked to be deep in thought as he looked at the map. "Alright, I can see the gears turning in your head. What's the plan?", Rai prodded.
"Same as before I guess. Look for our parents. Where do yours live?", Takashi asked Rai.
"They died a few months before all this happened.", Rai stated nonchalantly. Takashi looked surprised.
"I'm sorry.", Takashi apologized.
"No worries. You didn't know.", Rai dismissed.
"Any relatives at all here?", Takashi prodded once more.
"My mom mentioned some cousins of hers, but I never met them. They probably don't know Masaaki and I exist anyway.", Raijin shrugged.
"Alright, well I'll go talk to Saya about leaving here.", Takashi said as he stood up to leave.
"I'll catch up later. Gotta change into batter free clothes.", Rai said gesturing at his clothes as he followed Takashi out into the hallway. Takashi started heading left and Raijin right.
"Catch up to us in Saya's room.", Takashi said offhandedly. Raijin turned around with a confused look.
"Which would be which room exactly?", he asked.
"Second floor, towards the front of the house, right above the front entrance. Everyone else is most likely
there already.", Takashi filled in as he continued down the hallway.
"Got it. See you in a few minutes.", Raijin said as he walked towards one of the back rooms in which the group's luggage was put by the guards. Raijin opened the door and began to grab some clothes.
Z-Day + 4 9:53 a.m.
Raijin closed the door to the backroom and zipped up his hoodie halfway as he started walking towards where Saya's room would be. He wore grey hightop sneakers, loose navy blue jeans, and a grey hoodie with a white shirt underneath. His current ensemble would've been considered normal, if it he wasn't still carrying his backpack or swords, or wearing his skating pads and gloves. He drew a couple of stares from some of the guards walking the halls.
As Rai neared the dining room, he saw Saeko coming out of a room. "Hey Saeko.", Raijin greeted as he neared her. Saeko turned around from closing the door.
"Rai.", she stated with her trademark light smile. "Going to Saya's room as well?", she asked as she started walking alongside him.
"Yeah, going to discuss an escape plan as a group there.", Raijin replied. Saeko nodded.
"So Takashi agrees with leaving here as well?", she asked as they arrived at Saya's room.
"Yep. I don't know about the rest of the group though.", Rai said as he opened the door. The duo's entrance went unnoticed by the room's inhabitants, even by Masaaki. The rest of the the group was looking out the window towards the gates. Rai and Saeko had entered the room just in time to hear Saya speak.
"He alone alone determines what's right and what's wrong! My Papa!", Saya declared as the group saw a tall, muscular man walk out of a black SUV.
Chapter 7 is done! This was very boring to write, I prefer writing action myself. But the story can't progress well without explaining what the heck is going on now can it? I will try to get the next chapter up in a week's time. Until then I bid you 'Deuces'.
Hey, that review button has been giving you the "Click Me" look since you got here. You DTC? (Down To Click) Or are you gonna back down?