ABSOLUTION
I could feel my heart rate speed up as I heard the voice of none other than Koichi Shido begging for salvation. Of all the people in this damned city to have survived, this piece of shit had to be one of them…
THAT'S A GOOD GIRL, MMM SO GOOD
"How admirable of you, Mr. Shido…" I chimed in taking a step out from inside the house. My eyes caught the quick twitch of his, the sick lustful gleam barely hidden in those soulless orbs. The smile he had on lost its confidence completely when I swung the rifle up and pointed it right at his face.
WHAT A WORTHLESS WHORE
"Mis-Miss Miyamoto, thank goodness you're alright I-" I took another step forward, closing what little distance was left between us, my blade caressing his too pale skin. A miniscule shift was all it would take. Much less trouble than one of them.
WHAT WOULD YOUR FATHER THINK? DADDY'S LITTLE SLUT?
"Did you ever wonder why I was so good at handling the spear in school? Because I'd learned the bayonet first. My father taught me. My father who's never been rattled by anything, not the subway attacks, nor the horrors he's seen breaking up a sex trafficking ring. Imagine my surprise and shock at this hard, strong, righteous man, on his hands and knees, begging me for forgiveness."
WHAT ABOUT THAT BOY, TAKASHI WAS IT? WOULD HE WANT YOU NOW?
"The man who raised me blamed himself for everything that happened. Said it was his fault. He swore he'd be the one to make you and your father pay. But now? Well, just look around! Do you see him anywhere? No, no, no you don't. It's a crazy new world out there so I guess it's up to me then."
I'M YOUR ONLY SALVATION, REMEMBER THAT YOU STUPID BITCH!
"So you're now going to commit murder, you're a policeman's daughter for god's sake! You don't wanna become a criminal, do you?" His fear was palpable, and it was intoxicating. For the first in a long time I was in control.
CLEAN YOURSELF UP, CLASS STARTS SOON~
"I don't wanna hear that from you, you monster!" I'm in control. Not him. Never him. Never again.
THIS IS TSUNODA, YOUR SERVICING HIM TODAY, REMEMBER I OWN YOU…
"Then you should kill him. I once had an association with this despicable man's vile father but it's as you said; it's a new world. If you wish, kill him!"
WHAT DID YOU THINK? I WOULDN'T FIND OUT? YOU DID THIS TO YOURSELF.
"Rei-"
WHAT'S WITH THAT LOOK? IT COULD ALWAYS BE WORSE. NOW GET BACK TO IT.
"Just die!" I shifted my stance and after practicing for so many years my muscle memory kicked in and carried me through the rest of the motion. The look on his face, a saccharine mixture of shock, outrage, and fear. The bastard tried to choke out words but spat crimson. I felt sublime, like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders. I wasn't useless. I wasn't a damsel in distress. I could save myself.
"Go inside and clean your weapon and yourself Miss Miyamoto. When you are done, report to my study."
I nodded and scurried off, a strange dizziness overtaking me as I ignored Takashi and the others. I had killed him, I had avenged myself, I should be fine. I should feel great! Why? Why do I feel like this? I think-I think I'm gonna be sick.
"Rei, please unlock this door. Please I just wanna talk to you…"
I couldn't answer because I was too busy throwing up. Alternating between crying and laughing. Why couldn't I just feel happy. I was rid of him, finally free! Why am I cracking? I've held it together this long. I'm not broken. I'm not.
"Komuro-san, I think it's better if you give her some space right now. I think we need to let her come to us."
"But-"
"But nothing. What happened doesn't concern us. It was her business."
I heard their voices and footsteps trail off and felt oddly grateful for Saeko, I'm going to owe her one. It took nearly a half hour to regain my composure. After that I quickly cleaned my weapon, focusing on what Hirano had taught me and what I already knew. Once done I stripped and disposed of my clothes, I couldn't help but note with a frown some specks of blood that weren't there before. There was a knock at the door, soft, polite. A servant more than likely.
"Miss, I'm here with a summons from Don Takagi." A soft feminine voice called out from the other side of the door, I can't really place it. Must be one of the maids.
"Uh ok, could please tell him that I'll be there shortly?"
"Hai."
I took a quick shower and prayed there were no more interruptions. Fortunately there were none. Wasting no time I redressed in some spare clothing and gave myself a once over in the mirror, I looked away as soon as I could. What would mom say, what about dad? A small vile voice whispered in my mind that it didn't really matter. They weren't there, and they aren't here. With the way things had been going, who's to say they weren't already dead.
I took a series of deep measured breaths before I opened the door and stepped out. Get it together. You don't know that and you can't think like that. You can't think like that ever. Now is not the time to spiral. With a confidence that I didn't feel, I made my way to Don Takagi's study.
Two armed retainers were stationed by the entrance. They nodded at my arrival and pulled the heavy oak doors open, making sure to close them once I was inside. The room itself was large and situated in such a way to make it feel warm and professional, but not very much lived in or personal. Curated. Everything in here served a purpose, even if it was for the sake of appearance and posturing. A whole room dedicated to exuding power, prestige, and privilege. No wonder Saya could be such a bitch. It was in here blood.
"Miss Miyamoto, if you would be so kind as to take a seat." His tone did not quite match his words but it wasn't an order, not yet. I gave a tense nod and did so, folding my hands into my lap and keeping my posture proper.
"So Mr. Takagi, is this about the earlier - uh unpleasantness?"
"No. What's done is done, and you assume full responsibility for your actions I presume?"
"Yes." I replied without an ounce of hesitation.
"And this is it? No more justice to mete out?"
"Not as far as I'm aware. No. This was it."
"Good. Well as far as I'm concerned we are done." What was with the odd emphasis on 'we'.
"But there are still other parties concerned. The refugees out front on the lawn, the new additions from the bus, and last but certainly not least, your band of survivors." With a sigh of resignation the man stood up and walked to the window, looking out at what exactly I don't know.
"My reason for calling you here is simple, call it a father's concern. They will all make demands of you. Are you ready for that, Miss Miyamoto?"
I didn't know. Was one ever truly ready to reveal the skeletons hidden in their closet? To bare all before your friends, no family, let alone strangers. No. I wasn't ready.
"I'm taking responsibility for my actions. What more could they want?"
"A reason why perhaps. Make no mistake, today was just the beginning. Shock is something that's hard to move on from, but next is anger, outrage even. My control of this situation is not absolute, no matter what others might think. I can only do so much, the rest is lost in the abstract. Power is not just physical, but psychological as well. But there is a dangerous line to keep in mind. The enemy of order is chaos."
"If I push too hard, I'm seen as a tyrant, and give any who oppose me a common enemy and an easy target. If I'm too lax, opportunists will strike the first chance they get."
"Then why did you give me the go ahead? I mean if it was going to be such a problem for you, why be bothered in the first place?" I was starting to get pissed. It didn't make much sense.
"Because I could see it in your eyes. Your body language. It was in your voice. He truly deserved to die."
"I don't need you to save me. I did it myself!"
"If I hadn't spoken, what do you think would have happened?"
"What?! Are you even listening? It doesn't matter!"
"No. Look at the bigger picture. I see a survivor who dealt justice to a despicable waste of flesh and bone according to the only rule that matters. Survival of the fittest. They see a schoolgirl who just murdered a schoolteacher in cold blood. Now understand that I have no qualms about what you did. I can even think of a few reasons as to why he was so deserving of such a fate. But do you think those useless sheep out there care? Do you think they'll understand much less accept your actions - without even an explanation? No they won't."
"And how is that my problem?"
"Because you caused it. And you'll pay for it. Maybe not now, but rest assured, one should always be wary of the mob mentality. I've only done as much damage control as I could've but I fear that I only increased their ire, their fear. My retainers have kept their eyes and ears open since the beginning. They report that the murmurs of dissent are growing louder. The sense of wariness, unease, and restlessness are only going to get worse. In plain terms, we are facing a revolt that is all but certain. Your actions only accelerated the timeline. Galvanized the masses. But it isn't your fault. Not really. We are all to blame. It's human nature to fight amongst ourselves, even at the worst of times."
"I brought you here to warn of this."
"What can I do about this! Why even tell me?"
"Knowledge is power, use it wisely."
Author's note:
Been a minute, sorry not sorry, life happens sometimes.
I wanna start off by thanking anyone that still checks in on this fic and give a special shout out to LivinLargeInJapan for pming me and getting on my ass a bit to get something out. I can't promise any regularity in regards to updates but I have spent a lot of time working on interesting pieces. This right here is something that I'm not truly pleased with, but on the whole I think it's something that can work as a one shot or intro into another follow up. Rei is a complicated character in her own right bogged down by a few manga/anime tropes. I was hoping to try and give some alternative backstory here and it kinda got away from me. It always struck me as weird that Shido was able to convince/coerce all these teens into some sort of cult as quick as he did. Started gnawing away at the back of my mind how did he get his start in manipulation and such. On a rewatch of the anime I remember that it hinted at his and Rei's connection and that sort of led me to this. I think it makes more sense for Rei to kill him if her reason went beyond you held me back and made my father cry. The worst abuse of power one could do is hinted at here, and gives her that valid reason.
Thanks for all the follows, favs, and reviews. See ya next time on Death, Love, & Zombies.