Naruto sat alone in the seat closest to the window, rubbing slight circles on his chest, his sights set outside. The same tracks passed in pairs of two, an enraged sea turning restlessly behind a concrete fence. Mists of grey spilling down on the horizon.
No one said a thing to him since. Whispers and pointing fingers, but no one had the stomach to utter a word. Confused? Conflicted? Naruto didn't care. Kyoko sat behind Shizuka, her attention set on the path ahead, but she kept stealing glances in his direction every so often. He'd met Hisashi's wide-eyed stare more than once now. And Rei wouldn't stop glaring at him or the man opposite of her on the other seat. A teacher whose name he didn't remember, with sleek dark hair and thin, piercing eyes.
They had questions. He'd give no answers. He owed them none. Naruto leaned his forehead against the cold glass. Rain pattered, and he fixated on the rhythm. Tadashi and Kiriko won't be happy. Not that it matters. We're the only survivors. He shut his eyes. In the dark he saw faces, dozens of them, cut down by a blade of wind. Students and faculty and whatever else stood in his way. How many innocent lives did he take today? How many people did he kill? Hundreds? They're not people anymore. He reminded himself. The same words he spoke to Shizuka. Dead is dead. Maybe there was a cure? And maybe there wasn't. No point in agonizing about it now. I did what had to be done. He balled his hand into a fist and swallowed hard. Right? With a hiss of the brakes, the bus slowed as it made a right turn onto the main road. Naruto opened his eyes and pressed his back against the wet leather, suppressing a sigh. His head tilted and his eyes roved over the view once again.
What have I done?
"It's burning," said Kohta. His words rang through the bus, heavy with sorrow. Lights from the city reflected off his foggy glasses. The thunderstorm raged on, but the fires burned brightly, casting an eerie glow on the darkened city. The air was thick with the scent of fuel and soot and blood. Planes and helicopters flew above. Fiery red beams that flickered like restless eyes punctuating the night.
"How could this happen?" asked a girl in the chair next to him. She was shivering uncontrollably, completely drenched from head to toe. Black braids cascaded down, adorning slim shoulders. Rain water drenched her neatly cut bangs, mixing with the tears streaming down her face. Her hands instinctively flew to her mouth as she watched in horror.
"It's the end of the world," said another girl. Her hair was short, curly, and a vibrant shade of red, held back by a rose-red hairband. Amidst the chaos of her destroyed home, she surveyed the damage with a detached air. Sharp amber eyes drinking in every detail. They gazed in wonder at the sea of cars around them as the bus crept through the frozen traffic. Some abandoned and others with their drivers cowering inside, too afraid to make a move.
Naruto brought his hand to his naval. He clutched the fabric of his shirt tight. His body wanted to convulse, but his expression did not show it. It's like someones setting me on fire from the inside. As soon as Hisashi stood up, Naruto recognized he would make a beeline straight for him. He saw Hisashi coming from the corner of his eye and braced himself. The questions and acquisitions were looming, and the deadline fast approaching. Nosey bunch. He thought, noticing the silence creeping back in. With a shake of his head, he gestured to the spot on the other side of himself.
Hisashi forced a grin and said, "Looks like we got lucky again, huh? I suppose it could have been worse," he muttered under his breath.
"True. We could be dead." Naruto ran his hand through his damp, golden mane, struggling to keep it back from his face. "So, what's on your mind?"
"What makes you—?"
Naruto shot him a knowing glance. "You're not fooling anyone."
Hisashi turned away and fidgeted in place, tapping his foot aggressively. He took a deep breath and spoke, his words measured and slow. "You… saved us. Again," he murmured sadly. Naruto saw the scowl etched on Hisashi's face as he evaded eye contact through the reflection. "I know you probably don't want to talk about it here. I get that. To be honest, I can't really say I care what you did or how you did it. I'm just happy we're safe. But I need to tell you something. And it can't wait. I'm sure I speak for everyone here when I say this…" After a brief pause, Hisashi faced him, his cheeks awash and face scrunched. "Thank you."
Naruto's eyes widened. He bit his lip, shook his head, and said, "Don't be such a baby." He noticed the bruises setting on Hisashi's wrist. Desperate for a distraction, he hastily changed the subject. "Your hand?"
A tight-lipped smile appeared on Hisashi's face as he wiped away the waterworks and tenderly clutched the wound. "It's nothing serious. Miyazaki had a nasty grip. Before you came along, he had me by the—" Hisashi paused, as if suddenly realizing something. "Man. You rescued me back there, too. I didn't even…" he trailed off, staring. "Naruto. I don't think some of us would be here right now if it weren't for you. You really are amazing." Hisashi said, laughing after.
Naruto's heart ripped inside him. The tightness in his chest was so intense that it dwarfed the boiling fever rushing through his veins. Unseen fingers snaked up his neck and tightened around his throat. The memories were choking him. Don't say that. If you learned the truth, you wouldn't be saying that.
"Anyway. Sorry about the crying. I just really wanted to tell you that. I'll go make sure Rei stops glaring now." Hisashi half-joked.
Naruto predicted questions. Angry remarks. Name calling. Freak. Liar. Hypocrite. He foresaw a lot of things. It was only natural. No one is perfect. Hisashi had seen so much death already in such a short amount of time. The destruction of his home. Anyone would snap. Naruto did not, however, expect to be thanked. I should have known. "Dumbass. You're not bothering me. You never have."
"Oh." Hisashi blinked slowly. "Well. That's good. Sometimes, I think I just annoy you."
"Only just a little." Naruto said, the corner of his lip twitching upward.
Hisashi's eyes seemed to hold a lifetime of weariness as he let out a faint, tired chuckle. "You're full of surprises."
Naruto would never tell Hisashi. He didn't even think it was worth the mention, and it was such a stupid thing, too. Hisashi often boasted that his natural charm and tenacity were the reasons for his close relationship with Naruto, but the reality was much simpler and more senseless. Before Naruto he ever noticed Hisashi's charisma, the unique shade of his hair struck him. Strands of silver that glistened like moonlight.
The hiss of the brakes brought the bus to a slow crawl, inching its way to a full stop. Hisashi's head shot up, and his wide eyes met his before Hisashi stood and made his way to the front in a hurry. He nudged through the others, wedging his way through. Naruto watched his back disappear into the crowd of students, each one chattering and jostling for space. The whispers grew louder until they turned into full-blown yelling.
"What the hell? We're slowing down again?" As she leaned over her seat, Saya's urgent tone was impossible to ignore.
"W-Why did we stop?" someone else echoed.
"God! I can hardly breathe in all this smoke! It's like I'm choking!" The pungent odor was so strong that the student had to cover his nose with his shirt.
"We're gonna die! We're gonna die, we're gonna die!"
Kyoko was the steady hand that kept them from succumbing to panic. "Everyone, stay calm! I realize that you're scared. Believe me when I say I am just as afraid, but we need to be brave!" She motioned at the sea of vehicles ahead. Too many to count. "We can't drive through anymore. We'll have to decide what to do from here on out." She eyed them, her gaze filled with remorse. "I will not act like I have any authority over you. Not after everything that's happened. If you want to leave, you're free to go your own way. I'm sure you have family and friends that you're worried about. But, as the only survivors of Fujimi Academy. I think we should at least talk about this collectively."
"What's there to talk about?" a big, burly youth yelled. His fingers clawed at his dyed blonde hair, tugging at the brown roots that refused to change color. "You said it yourself! We don't have to listen to you! You're just as scared shitless as the rest of us! I'm not wasting another second sitting in this death trap! Why shouldn't I do what I want? If you ask me, we're all fucking dead, anyway!"
"Tsunoda-san!"
The mere mention of Tsunoda's name caused his body to jolt upright, as if struck by a whip. "C-Captain..." he stammered.
"Calm yourself." Shido carefully fixed his thin, rectangular shaped glasses. His stern voice turned gentle. "You're frightening people. We must do as Hayashi-sensei said and remain strong. I know you are physically strong, Tsunoda-san. Now show us your inner strength. Be the leader your peers need you to be."
Shido's words did little to comfort Tsunoda. Naruto noticed him shut his eyes and try to steady his breathing, but his nostrils continued to flare with each inhale. He's petrified. And there were others. The girl with the hairband squirmed in place, her entire demeanor changing. The girl with braids stared at the ground, a faraway look in her eyes. A boy next to Shido held a laptop to his chest tighter and tighter and physically trembled. Never once looking up. Was it the rain? Were they cold? Were they so afraid of the dead? It isn't the dead that they fear... And you... Naruto had never seen her eyes ablaze with so much hate. Rei glared at Shido with such intensity that it was like the surrounding air had turned to fire. If looks alone could kill, Shido would be dead a thousand-times over.
The man in the striped suit, thin as a rail, looked completely unfazed. "Hayashi-sensei is right. We are beyond the point of purporting that school is in session. We're mentors and counselors. Not enforcers." He beamed down at the dark-haired boy next to him, his fingers grazing the boy's arm for a moment as he brushed past, sauntering down the cramped aisle of the bus, catching the attention of everyone around. Narrow eyes darted about, ensuring everyone's gaze was on him before he continued speaking. "That being said, I would like to say that I think it would be wise to discuss exactly what we do as a group. Individual wants and needs aside. We have to be smart. I know you're worried about family and friends and pets and your homes. I am too. But, if we go out there now, these monsters will pick us off one by one or some lunatic with a gun is going to mistake us for one of them and shoot us dead. Either way. I don't want to see any of you die. We're tired. Panicky. Horrified. This is not the time to let your already frantic emotions dictate what you do. Stay, at least for a little. Rest and hear us out. Please. I beg you. I... I don't want any of you to die a horrible death." His words hung in the air, and there was a moment of hush.
"So we just sit here?" Takashi snapped. "Great. More waiting."
"And you have a better idea, shithead?" Tsunoda barked. "Come on, pretty boy. Speak up! You want to lead? Go ahead! Lead us!"
"Tsunoda!" Shido snapped, as if he were talking to a dog. He rubbed his temple before addressing Takashi. "No. We do not just sit here. We rest. Take some time to grieve. Process. Plan. Act," he frowned.
"P.P.A? Are you seriously preaching that garbage right now? This isn't some field trip." Saya shook her head, arms crossed under her chest.
"No. I believe we've already made that clear, Takagi-san. However, that dosen't mean we can't apply what we've learned. That aside, we may not be in Fujimi Academy anymore, but order must remain." He focused on Kyoko. "And here is where I respectfully disagree with you, Hayashi-sensei. While it's true that we cannot and should force nothing on our students. They are still our responsibility. It's our obligation as teachers and as adults to protect them. We are their guardians and bulwarks. And while I would love nothing more than to cast those heavy shackles aside and fend for myself. I can't. Because without us, they'll die. Torn and chewed and who knows what else. That is why I think we need to stay together. Now, more than ever. Order. Unity. Strength in numbers. Which is why I implore you. Do not go out on your own. We can decide on a plan as a group. I'm sure there are safe-zones being made as we speak. We'll definitely find more people in a place like that. More help! Your families could be there! Don't you see? I don't want anyone else to die." By the end, Shido had tears streaming down his thin cheeks.
"Sensei. I-I didn't think. That's not what I meant by—" Kyoko sputtered, her face flushed.
"—No. No. Of course not. I would never imply such a thing. You're one of Fujimi's best and brightest, Hayashi-sensei. You don't have to say anything. I'm... I'm sorry for that." he slipped out an unsteady laugh, averting his gaze. "It's been a long day."
Naruto didn't know this man, but he knew the family name. Tadashi hated the Shido's. Snakes. Cheats. Politicians. Tadashi would deliver the words with utter contempt.
"You're such a fake! A liar! A dirty fucking rat!" Rei shared in her father's distaste. As she screamed, the veins on her neck bulged and her face turned beet red. There were many things in her life that Rei disliked. Himself. Tomatoes. Her dad after too much drinking. Reality television. The list ran on. But she hated this man. Naruto had never seen her like this.
"R-Rei?" Hisashi said, startled.
"Miyamoto-san! Apologize right now!"
Kyoko was about to defend her fellow teacher when Shido raised a hand to stop her. "It's been a long day for us all. Let her be," he offered a warm smile. "No doubt she's upset about other things."
Rei snarled like an angry lioness. "You scum..." It was like she couldn't find the words to describe her revulsion. "I won't listen to this piece of shit run his mouth anymore! Every word out of it is a crooked lie! He's worse than the walking dead!" she spat on the floor, at Shido's feet.
"Rei! What's the matter with you?" Concern etched on his face, Hisashi approached her.
"Stay out of this! You don't even fucking know what's going on!" she growled. "You never know what's going on!"
Naruto looked into his friend's eyes and saw a glimmer of heartbreak. "W-What do you...?"
"You see! This discord! This turmoil!" Shido gestured to the rising chaos around them as if it were some tangible thing. "We need order! Stability! We need a leader! This is going to get everyone killed!"
"And who's going to lead? Oh, I wonder. Let me guess? You?" A hollow, mirthless laugh escaped from Rei's lips. "I'd rather get eaten alive!"
Shido's patience was running thin. "Listen to me, little girl—"
"—Don't you fucking call me—"
"—Will you all just shut up!" Takashi blared. The teeming bus settled and every pair of eyes turned to him. He hesitated for a moment before his anger took hold. "We're as good as dead sitting in the middle of the highway like we are, arguing amongst each other!" He pointed to the ends of the overpass. "If those things catch up or come again, our only choices are jumping to our deaths or the tunnel ahead, and who knows what's in there!" He threw his arms up. "Either way, we're dead meat! So let's just get it over with and go on our way. I don't know most of you, anyway. I couldn't care less what you do. Hisashi. Rei. Saya. Let's go." He elbowed past a furious Tsunoda and made for the doors.
"You don't have to tell me twice." Rei trailed behind him, eyes never leaving Shido, her glare piercing like daggers.
"T-Takashi! We're safer than you think here. Don't do something stupid!" Saya followed in pursuit. Naruto's gaze lingered on her. He clenched his jaw and exhaled softly through his nose.
"Wait! Takagi-san!" Kohta shouted.
Takashi was one seat away from the exit door when Hisashi stepped in his way. Grimacing at the shorter pair. The wall that loomed before them, a seemingly insurmountable obstacle. "What is wrong with you two? We made it through this as a team! We wouldn't be here if everyone didn't work together as a team! Why do you want to go off on your own? Listen to Saya, she's the smartest out of us! We're safe. Let's come up with a plan."
"A plan..." Takashi whispered, his shoulders rocking. "You and your fucking plans. Did you plan to take Rei from me, too?" he hissed the last part, but everyone heard him. The mere mention caused Rei to flinch and take a step back. She gawked with eyes as wide as dinner plates.
"You've got to be kidding me?" Hisashi asked, his voice rising. "Now? You want to do this now? Look around you, Takashi! This isn't the fucking place or the time."
"When is it ever?"
"Stop! Both of you stop! Please!" Kyoko begged, but neither listened.
"Get out of my way, Hisashi." Takashi warned.
"Or what?"
"You're both being dumb!" Saya declared, grabbing onto Takashi's arm and pulling him back. He yanked it away from her and inched dangerously close to Hisashi, glowering for the world to see.
"It's like I keep saying. We need a leader." Shido intervened, stepping between them and putting a hand on Hisashi and Takashi's shoulders. He was thin, but taller than them both. His presence dominated. He was older, more experienced, and knew how to throw his weight. "Perhaps a vote?"
"A vote?" Saeko asked, smiling. "On who stays and leaves? Who lives and dies? Or who leads?"
"All the above. Busujima-san." Shido replied. "Igou-san, no doubt you're the leader of your group. I heard what you said to Uzumaki-san. He saved your life. Can you really say you're fit to lead if someone like Uzumaki-san had to make the hard choices? Not once? But multiple times?" Shido turned to Takashi. "Komuro-san. You're headstrong. A quick thinker. But it's clear there's some lingering hostility between yourself and your group members. Do you really think you're fit to attend to so many lives when you can't get along with your own friends? Among the staff present, Marikawa-san cannot lead. She has no experience in these matters. Hayashi-san cannot keep peace. The rest of you are in no better shape. What I'm saying is, I'm the most qualified to lead us, at least for now. It's not something that I want or desire. It's something I must do. I see no other alternative."
"What about Busujima-san? We watched her fight. She kept three people alive by herself. She could lead just as well as you! Probably better!" Rei countered.
"While I appreciate the vote. I've no interest in such matters. I have other priorities."
Naruto thought their eyes met again for a split second, just as she'd said the words. No. I'm imagining things. But... why would I imagine that?
Shido's smirk only fueled Rei's anger further. "There you have it."
"Over my dead body." Rei's forceful push sent all three men stumbling backward, their voices shouting after her as she disappeared into the darkness of the storm.
"Rei!"
"Damn it! Move!"
Hisashi and Takashi trailed after her like two lost puppies. With a punch to the back of her seat, Saya leapt up and gave chase. Shido watched them go with disinterest, shaking his head. "It saddens me to see them so worked up. Perhaps Hisashi-san and Takagi-san can reason with them. Anyway. I doubt they'll go far. Now, if no one else is going to be dramatic, I have a proposal."
The moment Naruto stood up, the previously noisy bus became silent, with everyone turning to look at him. As he walked through the thin corridor, his footsteps echoed off the walls, creating a rhythmic tap-tap-tap. He wore a sour expression, making no attempt to hide his mood. They're so damn annoying!
"Ah! Uzumaki-san! Do you. Have. A..."
Naruto walked past Shido, and the only sound was the heavy patter of floods hitting the roof and the tap-tap-tap of his feet.
"U-Uzumaki-san! Wait! W-What do I do if you're gone too long?" Shizuka asked.
Naruto stopped in his tracks, wondering why she even bothered, but ultimately gave in. She was the only person he couldn't bring himself to look at for very long. The resemblance between her and a younger Tsunade was uncanny, from the shape of her eyes to the way she smiled. "You keep going," he said, shutting the door behind him.
Naruto looked through the expanse of cars before finally spotting the four standing a distance away from the lengthy channel. He strained to hear the yelling over the rumble of the bus engine, but it was still unmistakable. His eyebrows furrowed, and his lips turned downward. He haunted past cars and trucks, the smell of gasoline filling his nostrils. "Idiots." he said to himself. "How stupid can you be? As if my mission wasn't hard enough as it is." Naruto stopped. Blinking. "What did I just say?" He bit his lip and drew blood.
"Fine! If that's how it is! Fuck you both!"
The words had come from Hisashi's mouth. Naruto could feel the heat of his fury radiating off of him as he went, marching back to the bus full of spectators. Hisashi unleashed a frustrated cry. Fists pounded against the metal sides of the bus. His knees gave way beneath him, and he collapsed onto the ground, sobbing loudly. Saya followed quietly, her eyes downcast and her expression grave. Naruto heard Takashi's disgruntled murmur of "Shit!" as he ran after. Rei was alone, and the silence surrounding her was so thick that she seemed like a ghost in the rainfall.
Naruto stood between them, his eyes darting back and forth. Although he knew Hisashi needed his help, the mission took priority. Is that what it is? Whatever I tell myself. I have to do this. As he approached Rei, the ground beneath him juddered. A deafening sound that resembled thunder and the roar of countless bears occupied the night. What? His head snapped up. Jet black crafts bolted through the heavens, beams of light trailing behind them. The sudden burst of gunfire rattled his ears. Bullets and bombs rained down on everything in sight, shattering buildings and scattering wreckage. Explosions in the skies were so frequent that it was difficult to tell where one ended and another began. Tokonosu city was a field of deep reds, dressed in flaming flower buds.
The loud whistle of the rockets filled the air as they soared overhead. One moment Fujimi Academy was there, the next it was gone. A lake of fire danced in its place, dropping an orange gleam across the murky ocean water. Rei barely had time to blink before Naruto was next to her. Narrowly avoiding the hail of rounds that tore through the street, leaving destruction in their wake. The screeching of tires punctuated the frantic attempts to escape and the deafening sound of metal colliding.
"We need to get out of here!" He reached out to grasp her hand, but she pulled away and took a step back, nearly falling. The overpass was rocking. Her eyes met his, and the familiar conflict of emotions played out in her stare. "Rei! Please!" How long had they lived together? Ate at the same table? Slept under the same roof? As he looked at her, his features softened. "Trust me." I just want to keep this one promise. He'd almost given up when she reached out and took his hand. He pulled her in. Their bodies were so close, they could feel each other's heartbeats. Naruto carried her, his arm enveloping her waist as he whispered, "Hold on tight." With a nod, she leaned into him, burying her face in his shoulder. The smell of copper and lavender struck his senses.
Naruto spun on his foot. A gust of wind rushed past him, blowing his hair back. Lightning flashed, the light was so bright it cut through the darkness of the tempestuous night. Naruto saw people darting between cars, looking for a place to hide from the gunfire. Takashi and Saya were waving and screaming for him to run. Hisashi was sprinting, his face contorted in terror as he ran. A volley of bullets stopped him in tracks. He saw the semi-truck on its side, and the sheer size of the tankard spilling gasoline onto the road.
Oh, no.
Rounds fell. A spark ignited. He fled as the blast went off, a searing heat at his back. Naruto ran as fast as he could without endangering Rei's safety. Her grip on him was desperate as she clung to dear life, her screams caught in her throat. He sprinted past the abandoned cars, darted under concrete passes, and past the remains of the deceased. A vortex of fire licked at his heels. Debris hurtled through the air, pummeling anything in its path or plowing through it faster than the bullets. The howl of the flames drowned out all other sounds and devoured everything in their path. There! The light at the end of the tunnel beckoned Naruto forward. "Brace yourself!" he told Rei. His pace quickened, and he went even faster. Rei gasped for air, her chest heaving with each breath. "Almost there!" he yelled. Car parts and rocks and stones flew past him, all consumed by the flames. Naruto took a single step out onto the other side of the tunnel, and it was here, he thought. I feel... light? He barely registered the impact on the back of his head. His vision blurred. He struggled to keep his balance, his legs shaking and his arms giving way. Something hit me? He looked down at the girl, who was trembling in his arms as she fought back tears.
"Protect her."
Naruto held her close, his body wrapping around hers. The rough asphalt scraped against his skin as they careened out of control until they slammed into a car, sending a shockwave through his spine. He grunted as he drove against the door, feeling it bend to his shape, and he watched flames spew out of the tunnel like a dragon's breath. Darkness seeped into the corners of his eyes as he struggled to stay awake. He tried to think, but his head felt fuzzy. It was as if the fever in his veins was boiling him from the inside out. His name echoed in his ears, but his voice failed him.
God.
I'm such an idiot.
A/N: Holy crap, did I struggle with this chapter. LOL. I actually had to cut off the rest off like last time because, like, I keep overestimating how much I can fit into the chapter itself. In my mind I'm like YEAH, I'M GONNA WRITE THIS AND THIS AND THIS and then I'm pushing too many words for the update and don't know where to end it. We all love long chapters, myself included, but the editing process after so many words is hard as fuck on ME eyes. I'm just a dogshit lazy writer though, if we're being REAL AS FUCK. I was also stuck on how to introduce Shido and how to go about this part of the story. It's hard to explain without adding too many words into this A/N and getting people's hopes up LMAO. Then I wrote to the gas station scene and got stuck there because I didn't want to write something cringe when it's such a sensitive scene as far as sexual harassment goes and stuff. Ended up cutting this flashback part and the Rei POV out and I'm just going to start the next chapter with that cos I don't want to delay anymore.
I'm expecting a few HOW DID NARUTO GET KNOCKED OUT + L + RATIO + YOU SUCK messages, maybe. JUST ENCASE, in my defense, the dude was out running an explosion while making sure Rei's skin didn't sandpaper off and sick. It was a freak accident kind of thing. Rubble from an explosion can definitely knock a man out. Idk I thought it was cool T_T.
Also, I just want to thank you all so fucking much for all the favorites and follows and the patience. I know no one's really expecting perfection from a fanfic especially not a Naruto/HotD fic or like on the dot posting since it's free but like still; I want to build some consistency and trust between us as writer/readers, because one day I hope maybe you guys would give my original writing a shot! With that being said, I ONCE again cannot thank you enough. I had zero faith in this idea in the first place and now I'm taking longer to update because I just want to provide quality content to my 300 fucking readers! Maybe it's because this fic reminds you of Forward Unto Dawn or Through the Eyes Of or Maelstrom of the Dead and I just suck and am banking on nostalgia!
Whatever the reason! I'm grateful!
WHOO! That's enough from me for today. See you all later!