Authors notes: Reviews, I want to hear from all of you how you think the story is going so far. I really would love to see what you have to say. and I would also like to hear from you what your favorite chapter was in the story too.
Enjoy
Everyone had gotten Ross up to speed about what had happened.
"I see, Well I will agree with Takashi on this one Saya. You were out of line when you said that about your parents" he said.
Saya looked away from him.
"Oh shut up" she said.
He then sighed as he looked at everyone else.
"Well now that we got that out of the way. How about we-".
That's when they all heard the sound of vehicles coming. Kohta looked over the edge of the balcony.
"Is that?".
Saya spoke up.
"Yes it is. The don of this prefecture's ultra nationalist organization! He alone determines what's right and what's wrong!". The cars all stopped as a man welding a sword came out of one of the cars.
"My papa! Souichiro Takagi!".
-outside-
Souichiro had gathered the people as he stood near a cage that had one of 'them' inside it.
"This man's name is Doitetsu Tarou. He has been a friend to me for the last 25 years! In attempting to help rescue a junior officer...he was bitten! It was an act of self sacrifice! This is the most noble thing a person could hope to do! He is no longer human. His life ended when he turned into this abominable "Thing"!" he said as he then drew his katana.
"And so, Now...".
That's when a person opened the cage as Souichiro's "Friend" came at him.
"I will demonstrate my friendship!".
He then slashed the undead's head off in one clean slice.
Everyone was shocked at the scene, Saya had her eyes closed as she then tightly held onto Ross who held her close to his side. Takashi was horrified, And Saeko just had a serious expression.
Souichiro looked at the undead's severed head.
"Farewell...dear friend!" he said.
He then stomped on the monsters head with his boot as he looked at the people.
"This is the kind of thing...That makes up our "Here and Now"!" he said "Great friends, Beloved family, And lovers are becoming "Things". For their own sakes, We must destroy them! If you wish to survive...FIGHT!".
The group just watched.
"Katanas aren't efficient enough..." Kohta snorted.
Saeko then smacked him with her kimono sleeve.
"Don't comment on things you don't know about, Hirano" Saeko said.
"But a Japanese sword's blade dulls if it hits bone and after three or four people the blade's through" Kohta said, Saeko just looked at him.
"Listen, Following the way of the sword results in a number of things" she said "A warrior's skill! Ability with a sword! And finally...focus! If these three things are taken to a high enough level, Then one can behead any number of people without losing any combat strength!".
Saeko, Saya, And Shizuka kept looking as they saw some people take away the undead body. Souichiro walked from the podium as he then looked up to the balcony and glared at his daughter. Saya glared at him as well as she tightened her hold on Ross more.
That's when Souichiro aimed his glared at Ross, Ross was frightened by Saya's father. But he stood his ground as he glared back at the man as one of his eyes turned bright yellow.
Souichiro noticed this from a far.
'Interesting' he thought as he walked over to his wife.
Kohta spoke again.
"B-but you get blood and grease on it" he said.
"It's the same as cooking" Saeko said "A good cook will never leave unnecessary grease on a good kitchen knife. That applies to swords as well".
Kohta just stuttered.
"But...b-but".
Takashi then placed his hand on his shoulder.
"H-hey, Hirano, It's oka...".
Kohta swatted Takashi's hand away.
"Don't touch me!" he said as he glared at him.
"Don't butt in! You can't even fire a gun properly! The only one who is allowed to get in this conversation is Ross! He can master a gun and a sword!" he said.
Saya added into the conversation.
"Hirano! You need to chill out" she said.
Kohta then grabbed the bag that had all the guns in them. He then looked at Ross.
"The only person who understands me is you Ross! We have the same taste after all!" he then stormed out of the room.
Ross closed his eyes.
'You're right, We do have the same taste Kohta' he thought.
"Well that was...odd" Kaz said.
Takashi nodded at Kaz.
"What's his problem?" Takashi said.
"You should understand. You, Hirano, And hikatori are all boys after all. But it's like Hirano said, He and Hikatori understand each other more than anything" Saeko said.
Takashi just looked at her.
"I know that already" he said.
Saeko sighed.
"You're just...no. I guess you're opposites sides of the same coin" she said as she walked away, Saya sighed as she followed her but turned around to face Ross.
"Aren't you coming?" she asked him.
Ross smiled and shook his head.
"Nah, I'll meet up with you all latter. I just need to move around" he said.
Saya then walked up to his face and pulled his cheek.
"Just don't be stupid and overdo it ok!" she said, Ross nodded rapidly.
"Yea! yea! I got it. Now please let go of my cheek that hurts" he said, Saya smirked as she let his cheek go. Ross rubbed his now red cheek as he gave Saya a glare.
"You didn't have to do that" he said.
Saya then leaned up to his face.
"I know, But I wanted to".
She then kissed his other cheek as she walked away smiling.
Takashi just sighed in frustration.
"What's with them?" he said.
Kaz just blinked trying to understand what had just happened.
"Your group is an odd one Takashi" Kaz said.
Takashi sighed.
"Tell me about it" he said as he walked away "Oh and Kaz".
"Yeah?".
"I'm not the leader of my group" Takashi then pointed to Ross "He is", Kaz glanced at Ross who was standing on the balcony with Shizuka.
"That guy is the leader!?" Kaz said.
Takashi nodded at him.
"Yup, I guess I will see you downstairs". He then walked out the room.
Kaz just kept staring at Ross in disbelieve.
'No way...that guy could be the leader of Takashi's group' he thought.
Ross and Shizuka were looking at the view. Suddenly, Shizuka started giggling. This caught Ross's attention.
"Something on your mind Shizuka?" Ross asked.
Shizuka nodded at him.
"I was thinking, I'm really glad I came along with you guys. Even though the world is being overrun by 'them'...youth is still wonderful!" she said.
Ross smiled.
"Yup, It truly is".
That's when Shizuka wrapped her right hand around Ross's left hand and held it tightly.
"You know, When I'm dispatched one day. I'll...I'll have to make a lot of decisions", Shizuka then turned Ross's head towards hers.
"Please ask me. Ask me for advice on what you should do. So, Things can be how they always were. Please! Tell me what you would do!".
Ross then moved some of her hair out of her face.
"Keep moving forward. And never give up" he said.
Shizuka looked at him as he continued.
"Always walk with your head held high and never give up for what you believe in". Shizuka just looked at him as she then started to cry as she hugged Ross into her cleavage.
"Yes! I will do just that! And I won't give up no matter what! Oh thank you Ross!" Shizuka said.
Ross was able to get out of her boob hug as he caught his breath.
"N-no problem Shizuka" he said.
Kaz twitched a bit in jealousy.
'Lucky bastered' he thought.
Ross then poked Shizuka on the nose.
"I'll go and see if I can find Kohta" he said, As soon as he was about to leave. Shizuka then grabbed him by the collar and locked her lips with his deeply. Ross gently returned the kiss as they moved back a bit.
"Thank you, Commander" Shizuka said with a bright smile.
Ross blushed like a rose as he had a small smile.
"No problem Shizuka" he said as he walked inside the room and over to the door. Rei smiled to herself.
"We can always count on you Ross" she said.
Ross stopped at the door as he turned around to see Rei and Alice smiling at him, However what they saw on Ross's face was a look of sadness.
"Angel what's wrong?" Alice asked him.
Ross still had his sad expression on his face.
"You know that sooner or latter...I won't always be there in the end" he said as he walked out the door. Alice then turned to Rei.
"Is that true?" she asked "Will angel not be for us in the end?".
Rei didn't know what to say.
"N-no no Alice. Ross was just kidding, He'll always be there for us no matter what" she said with a smile. Alice started to smile back.
"Really? You mean it?" she said.
Rei then realized the hole that she was digging herself into. But she didn't want to see Alice sad.
"Yup! Cross my heart".
"Yay! Angel's gonna stay with us forever!" Alice then ran to the door "I'll go tell Kohta! Come on Zeke!" she said.
"Bark!" Zeke said as he followed Alice out the room.
"Alice!" Rei said, Alice had already left. Shizuka then walked inside the room and sat in a chair. Kaz followed shortly.
"It really isn't true about what Ross said is it?" Shizuka said "I know Ross, He's strong. He can always pull through anything, As long as he doesn't give up".
Rei just looked at her as she then closed her eyes.
"Yeah, It's not true. As long as he doesn't give up...".
-downstairs-
Ross was sleeping on a couch as he kept thinking about what he had just said to Rei and Alice.
'Why bring that up now. Of all the times to let that kind of thing come up, Why now? And you said it in front of Alice no less!'.
As he was thinking, He then heard the front doors open up.
"Angel!" Alice cried.
Ross quickly got to his feet as he heard her voice.
"Alice what's wrong?" he said.
Alice then grabbed his left hand.
"Hurry, come with me!" she said as she lead him outside "It's kohta! He's in trouble!". Hearing this made Ross's eyes change bright yellow.
"Let's go help him Alice!".
-garage-
"You don't want to screw with us!" one officer said.
"Just give them to us already!" another officer said.
"No!" Kohta yelled.
"Hey, C'mon, You these are tough times. One person shouldn't hoard all the weapons like that. Hand them over to us" the other officer said, Kohta shook his head.
"No!, I'm borrowing these from someone, And besides...there's no one here besides my commander and I who can use these as well!" he said.
One officer raised an eyebrow at him.
"Your commander?" he said.
Kohta nodded.
"Yes, I hold a very special and extremely powerful gun. One that only he can use, His father made it for him! And I can't...no, I won't let anyone have it! You may take all these other guns from me by force. But my commanders gun will not belong to you!".
Another officer started to get hot.
"You little brat, Yoshioka asked you nicely so stop being so selfish!" he said as another officer yelled.
"We only want them so we can protect everyone here!".
Kohta still refused.
"Hey, He doesn't even care" an officer said.
That's when they started to surround him.
"Hey! Get away from my best friend you jerks!".
The officers turned to see Ross charging at them as he had his lightning surging through his left hand.
"What the hell?" one officer said.
"Who does this kid think he is!?" another officer said.
Then without warring, Ross took down one of the officers.
"Leave my best friend alone!" Ross yelled as he punched the officer in the face, The other officers then turned there attention at Ross.
"You're gonna pay for that!".
"You got some balls taking on us!".
"You really think you can win?".
Ross glared at the officers as his hair and eyes changed. He then glanced at the sling around his neck as he pulled it off and ripped the bandages off as well.
"Just try and stop me! I'll kill every last one of you! Bring it on!".
-elsewhere-
Saya was walking in the backyard garden as she was looking for Kohta.
"Didn't he come this way? Geez, That fatty is such a pain sometimes!" she said, She looked over at the pond to see Saeko.
Saeko was kneeling at the pond as she was looking at the fish. Saya walked over to her.
"They're magnificent kumonryu. It's pretty rare to see this kind" Saeko said.
Saya sighed.
"In addition to kendo, You're also an expert on fine koi? Well, it certainly fits you" she said.
Saeko glanced at Ross's katana that was next to her feet.
"I don't...I don't think the mood we have here is acceptable as it is" She said "You know the reason for it, Don't you?".
Saya crossed her arms.
"Today is no different from yesterday. And naturally, Tomorrow will be no different from today. The happiness we knew is lost! Probably...forever!" Saya said.
Saeko nodded.
"Indeed. The world we know in our memories has been destroyed. So, We're back to the question you brought up a while ago" she said.
"Yeah!, Do I come with you or do I stay behind!? Regardless of what I choose to do, Nothing will be the same. Just when I thought I was beginning to understand the kind of world we'd be living in, Papa gave that demonstration. Is it really okay to be so carefree like this? We've still got a while until we'll be considered adults. Even in a world that's overflowing with 'them', It's possible to feel happiness, Shame, And love!" Saya said.
Saeko placed a finger under her chin.
"And fun as well, Plus we also have a man that can defy the laws of physics" she said.
Saya smiled.
"Don't get me started on that. But...I am a bit worried".
"Hm? About what?".
"That If we are able to live in a world with 'them'...how will the world live with a human that can create lightning? Most people, Including myself have only seen Ross as nothing more than some beast. But he is willing to protect us no matter what" Saya said "I find it quite...Romantic".
Saeko then picked up Ross's sword.
"He truly is loyal to his friends. I just want the world to accept him for who he really is" she said. She then glanced at a figure from a far.
"What is it?" Saya asked.
"I saw a familiar face. That was...".
They both then heard yelling.
"What is all this commotion about!?".
Saya and Saeko then ran to the source.
-meanwhile-
Ross was covered in bruises as he had just finished beating up another guard. He smiled at his victory.
"That's what you get for messing with my friends!" he said.
Just then.
"What is all this commotion about!?".
Ross turned to see that it was none other than Souichiro and his wife Yuriko, As well as another officer.
"M-my god!" the officer said "This boy...he defeated all of the guards".
Yuriko and Souichiro just looked at Ross who glared his brown hazel eyes at them.
'Amazing' Yuriko thought.
Souichiro just kept his arms crossed.
"Tell me your name, Boy! I am Takagi Souichirou, Don of our patriotic organization". He said.
Ross crossed his arms as well as he gritted his teeth.
"My name is Ross Hikatori! I was a former new student at Fujima highschool! And I am also commander of my group!" he said boldly, Souichiro wasn't impressed.
"Do not speak so boldly, Hikatori! That I myself had to come here is proof that you have caused a good deal of trouble" he said "Now, Why won't your friend hand over the guns?".
Ross could feel the man's strong glare staring at him, As brave as Ross was. He was very afraid of him, But he refused to back down. No matter what.
"Oh is that right!? Your men wouldn't leave my friend here alone! He was minding his own until they showed up! My best friend Kohta here is very skilled with these guns. And he has every right to keep them, Besides we need them!" Ross said.
Souichiro didn't faultier.
"Such as for what?" he said.
"Protecting your daughter".
Takashi walked over to them.
"Takashi.." Kohta said.
Souichiro looked at him.
"Komuro...I see. I have heard of your name. You have known Saya for a long time" he said.
Takashi nodded.
"Yes sir, But since all this started, Saya's been...your daughter has been under the protection of Hirano and our commander here" he said.
Souichiro and Yuriko just looked at them.
"Kohta! Angel!" Alice said as she held onto Kohta.
"Ross!" Shizuka, Rei, And Yuuki called as they came over to them.
Yuriko glanced at her husband.
"This boy has a will of unbreakable steel, Even I can see that Don Takagi" she said, Souichiro just kept his glare at Ross.
"I can too, Papa!".
Saya and Saeko came forward as well.
There in front of the Takagi family, Was the whole group.
Ross's then started to let his lightning surge all over his body.
"You mess with one of us! You mess with all of us!" he said as his eyes went bright yellow and his hair grew out.
"I don't give a single FUCK what your rank is! Not you or nobody else, Will mess with my friends! Do you hear me!? I made a promise that I will keep them safe, And I will not let anyone stop me or my friends! We'll keep moving forward, No matter what! That is my promise as a commander!" he said.
Saya added in.
"Ross is right! He may be a freak and a worthless gun otaku, But it's because of him that I'm here. He is one of my companions! He's been protecting me! Unlike you Papa!" she said.
-elsewhere-
"Yes, That's right" Kurokami said.
"I'm preparing my escape now. I think If we ask them now, They'll let us in" a voice on the other line of the cell said.
"Yes...Shido".