Chapter 91: Goal

Raw fish in a zombie apocalypse. Shizuo was certain he had seen a few movies like that against his will as his brother had been a fan of horror in general. Gruesome makeup, confident actors, sometimes even animals- they all had given their best to emphasize the seriosity of their situation in the movie. And yet there had always been some comedic relief as well.

Here and there, in the form of conversations or actions.

But there was a downside to them. Because almost always they were used to garner the viewers sympathy only to kill those that had enjoyed themselves the most later on. To serve a grander impact, Shizuo supposed.

Looking at Izaya as he proceeded to cut the fish he had found into perfectly mouth sized pieces he couldn't help but think this might be such a moment. He was aware this was not a movie, or show and no one was scripting their life and yet the idea caused his hair to stand on ends.

"Are you sure it's safe to eat that?" he asked for the not fifth time and Izaya was starting to show some annoyance over the exaggerated amount of concern.

"I can judge a fish's state of freshness, don't you worry," he declared and happily ate one of the many pieces he was arranging on a plate. He had extra gone down to fetch them from the kitchen and Shizuo had followed. Just in case that fish was going to be his end.

The freezer had been charged by a solar panel. That's how the fish had even survived this long. Not only Ootoro but also tuna, shrimps, scallops and all kinds of seafood had been stored there.

Taking only what he was sure he could eat today, Izaya had made sure to close it shut again.

"This is our new secret date location," he suddenly declared, and Shizuo couldn't help but snort as another piece of fish found its way past Izaya's lips.

Delight. Nothing but the purest delight spread across Izaya's face in the form of a broad smile.

They had chosen to shut the door to the corridor with a cupboard that didn't reach up all the way. Their newest patient was covered by a blanket Izaya had pulled from the other room as well as a few matches and their only source of light.

A candle was sitting on the floor with them. Just a single one, and somehow it enhanced Izaya's idea of a date.

Wasabi, soy sauce and even some ginger had found their way into his hands as well and he hummed in absolute pleasure as the fish melted on his tongue. It took him more than a few minutes to realize that Shizuo was watching him and he stilled.

"Want some?" Mistaking Shizuo's glance for one of envy he offered a freshly cut piece and Shizuo snorted as he shook his head.

This was no movie. No series. They were no actors and this scene was not a preparation for their immediate death.

"... one bite." He mumbled, and Izaya grinned as he moved over with the fresh piece of Ootoro caught in between his chopsticks.

It had been a while since Shizuo had eaten any sushi. And he wasn't the greatest fan of it either, but after eating only when they had the chance to and getting what was left in this world he couldn't help but admit that this single bite tasted amazing.

Fresh. Soft. With just the right amount of fattiness that left it to melt on his tongue. The pinch of wasabi mixed into the soy sauce was just the right amount too and for a second Shizuo felt the same smile Izaya was wearing creep onto his expression.

"Okay, you are right, it does taste fresh," he admitted and Izaya grinned.

"See? I told you."

Ah.

Why could time not freeze at this moment? Just here. In safety. Eating fish. Talking. Away from Joe's hoes. Away from fungi and flatworms alike.

Their latest revelation about being able to travel during the day had served yet another living nightmare. It caused Shizuo to wonder what would be next.

After gaining strength they gained intelligence. After intelligence they gained the ability to leave their shadows.

Goosebumps traveled down Shizuo's back as he tried to think of the next step of evolution.

What would they do?

Start talking?

Calling their names and acting like they were not infected in order to gain their trust and bite them in their sleep?

Swallowing the piece of fish harder than intended to Shizuo's expression darkened. Once that happened- he would take Izaya and run.

He had lost too many trying to protect all. But if it was only Izaya then it was doable.

A soft grunt to the side suddenly caught their attention and caused Shizuo's heart to skip a beat.

Movement shifted under the blanket they had spread across their patient and for a second Shizuo feared for his newest theory to come true. After all they had found this guy injured beyond repair. Izaya had asked whether he had been bitten, but what if that had been a lie? What if he already was a talking zombie?

Instinctively Shizuo reached out for Izaya. An arm's length was all he could offer to in the single second provided, and this time Izaya didn't laugh.

The candle flickered.

Careful eyes watched the figure under the blanket move. And suddenly their patient turned, with an expression made of pain. Noticing the light he looked at Izaya and Shizuo respectively, before moving his lips.

"... where?" he asked, referring to the way he had expected to either die or wake up back at his secret hideout underneath the bridge.

Moving his hand he lifted the blanket and his expression churned as he looked at the excessive amount of bandaids decorating his hip.

Relief spread in Izaya's chest as much as in Shizuo's, albeit for different reasons.

Their patient had remained sane when they found him so Izaya heavily doubted he had been bitten. But incubation time could differ, so there had been a chance he would wake up as one of them after all.

Seeing how he was in pain and clearly avoiding any movement increasing that sensation he appeared to still be very much human.

"That was faster than expected," Izaya suddenly announced with a happy smile and pushed Shizuo's protecting arm down.

There was no need to guard from this man. At least not now.

Reaching over he fetched the antibiotic and a set of painkillers before approaching their suffering fellow. "If you were so kind to swallow this as soon as you can?" he asked, making sure to shoot down any other question that might have lingered on this guy's mind.

Because as far as Izaya knew this momentary gain of consciousness might leave as quick as it had come and then they would have no chance to battle the growing sepsis he suspected was about to consume his wound.

Doubt grazed their patient's expression for a second, but either he concluded that Izaya and Shizuo had saved him or he simply figured that killing him off could have been easier.

A bottle of water fetched from the pantry was quickly unscrewed and offered to the guy as he swallowed as he was told.

"It started to rain again so we decided to stay here," Shizuo answered the earlier question about their whereabouts and the guy froze almost immediately.

Pills swallowed and his only task achieved his eyes narrowed as he glanced towards the window.

"Right…"

The sun had not set yet, but the rain and clouds left their surroundings dull and void of the light they so desperately needed.

And Izaya noticed the way their patient seemed to know exactly why they had to hide away.

"You know they can leave the shadows, right?"

A tired laugh, regretted almost immediately, was given by the guy as he clutched his injury with a groan.

"What do you think messed me up so bad?"

So they were surprised after all.

Izaya had already deducted as much, but having his suspicions confirmed served a much better sensation than to keep guessing.

"But you made it, and I'm sure the priest will appreciate the new intel." Izaya smiled and his patient's expression churned just as he had hoped it would.

"Yeah. Definitely," he whispered with a bitter smile and Izaya saw the chance for what it was.

Sarcasm.

Even Shizuo should have been able to discern this guy's hatred for the priest from the way he spoke those words.

The light of the candle flickered as Izaya hummed and proceeded to eat some of his delicious Ootoro.

"You sound like you are not too fond of your priest," he casually brought up, as if he were not hoping for a positive answer.

Awfully guarded for someone who spoke without paying his words any mind, their patient seemed to notice his mistake.

After all, Izaya and Shizuo were sent by the exact same person to retrieve what they had lost. They could be enemies.

But they could also be allies.

The light of the candle's flame flickered and it seemed their patient had more guts than Izaya would have expected.

"Are you?"

A bold question. One that if asked of the wrong person could have already told enough to kill this guy.

And Izaya smiled as he finished the last piece of his favorite meal.

"We didn't exactly join by choice," Izaya announced and the relief was easily visible in his patient's expression.

"Me neither," he sighed and Izaya grinned.

"Why not kill him then?"

Harsh motion to the side caused Izaya to turn his head in mild perplexion. It was Shizuo who had flinched at the question, and his face spoke volumes of what was going on in his mind.

He didn't follow Izaya's conclusions. As far as Shizuo was aware this guy was one of Joe's hoes. A poor guy that had been left behind, but a devout follower nonetheless. Or maybe one that pretended to hate the priest in order to garner their trust.

That was probably Shizuo's idea about this stranger, and Izaya's words about killing the priest seemed too risky to voice aloud in front of someone as shady as that.

But if there was one thing that Izaya excelled at, then it was recognition of human nature.

No man. No matter how submissive or dedicated, would raise his gun against his own men if he hadn't already completely lost his fate to his leader.

And as expected, their guest showed no expression of offense or anger.

Instead he seemed quite fed up and a sigh left his lips.

"You don't know it, do you?" he asked, and glanced towards Izaya with unknown despair.

"Know what?"

"That priest is immune to the virus."

Immune.

The word kept repeating in Shizuo's mind as soon as it left the stranger's lips. Immune to the virus- To the virus? To both of them? What about the flatworms? The way they evolved?

Glancing towards Izaya had almost hoped for a knowing smile, telling him that Izaya had long figured this out as well, but unfortunately he did not.

"How?" Izaya asked instead, his own thoughts mixing into a variety of new cocktails as he tried to assess what he had seen back at Joe's hoes' place anew.

The priest's unrivaled confidence. The way he seemed so goddamn sure that none in his rows would betray him.

Shijima the bastard and his devout belief.

"Genes? Luck? If you ask him, it's god's will," their patient spat the words as though just talking about the priest was bringing nausea.

"And you are convinced he isn't lying because…?" Izaya faded out. After all it was one thing to spread a rumor and have people be convinced by the amount of humans believing it. But all their patient offered was a frown.

"We saw it, he pulled a whole damned demonstration. Had a zombie bite him in front of all. With a smile too. Half the people joined him because they are convinced he is chosen or something. The other half knows they can't kill him because he is the only chance they have to attain freedom at some point." Taking a stuttering breath their guest paused for a second, as talking in itself put more strain onto his body than Izaya had acknowledged.

But it made sense.

"So that's why no one shoots him," Izaya mumbled and touched his lips as his thoughts descended into a variety of structures and plans.

Of course there was still a possibility the priest was lying, and simply put up a really good act of getting bitten. By convincing a friend to act as a zombie perhaps, or maybe he was lying about the bite actually reaching his skin. There were enough ways to fake a performance. But for the sake of caution it was best to assume that he actually was immune.

Shizuo stirred for a moment, and suddenly he met Izaya's eyes.

"But then-" he started, but Izaya was quick to understand what it was that Shizuo was about to reveal and quickly shook his head along with a glare.

No.

Most definitely now more than ever they should not tell that he was actually immune.

Not now.

Not like this.

Too many doubts were left in the open, too many options around to take. Izaya's immunity could end up being the ace up their sleeve depending on how they played that card. And the moment to play it was not now.

"Do you know what exactly it was that he asked you to fetch?" Izaya asked instead, referring to the object they extracted from the guy's wound.

But sadly he had nothing to offer but a weak smile.

"No idea. I'm no doctor but I guess it was something needed for operations or stuff. We have had a few people die of injuries that wouldn't have been deadly."

No.

This guy was wrong.

Izaya had seen the device. And he had seen Shinra perform surgeries. Treating all kinds of injuries and illnesses. That device was not used for medicine applied to treat someone.

Instead it had looked like it was meant for research, and Izaya's guts dropped a little as he realized what the priest's plan was.

The virus. God sent as he viewed it, was something he loved. Something he wanted to protect. Something he wanted to spread.

And now turning to science the only viable conclusion left was a single one.

The priest was trying to replicate the virus to spread it to everyone left alive.

to be continued~

In case anyone didn't notice, yes I LOVE sashimi xDD Salmon, Ootoro - throw it at me and I will die a blissful death xDDDD

Now, now after this nice dinner and not so nice revelations let's see what the next chapter will bring C: C: C: C: ... C:C:C::C:C: xD

By the way I decided I will be dishing out the updates on Friday evening from now on instead of Saturday xD Cuz most of the time I have them fresh and ready to be served, and anything I didn't get done I won't get done on Saturday anyway xDDD
So yeah 3 Just so you aren't confused xD