Beta read by Shigiya
Small lime warning
.
.
.
-Tokonosu-
It would be a lie to assume he anticipated ending up in this scenario with Saeko this quickly.
The man knew it would eventually resurface at some point, but not this soon. Not that he grew disappointed over it, but rather, uncertain would be the best way to describe his current emotions. Not to mention, his injuries were still very much fresh and serious enough for the pain to ruin the overall atmosphere with every single movement.
Still, he kept that to himself and allowed her lips to meet his, and for a moment, the world outside their small bubble ceased to exist.
"…Mm…"
Unlike their previous encounter, this was not born from the adrenaline of combat. Saeko was calmer this time, a fact Cu noticed immediately. He accepted the kiss, realizing there were things he hadn't perceived before. Given how passionate she had been back then, it was much easier to hide the small flaws and lack of experience when emotions were running at an all-time high. But now, he noticed the same thing he'd observed with Rei: a certain lack of experience, a hint of hesitation, an awkwardness in her movements. She didn't show it on the outside, but it was clear to him that the girl did not have much experience, and this was most definitely her second kiss.
"…ah…"
"Easy…" he murmured under his breath, low enough that it barely broke the moment.
Cu continued the kiss, his movements slow and deliberate, guiding her. He slowly ramped it up, his lips moving against hers with increasing pressure, his tongue tracing the seam of her mouth, seeking entry.
"…Mm… Cu…"
She granted it, and the kiss deepened, becoming something more passionate, more intense. The firelight cast dancing shadows on the wall of the small room they had found, the only sounds their mingled breaths and the soft crackle of the flames.
"Haa…"
His hands, which had been resting on her hips, began to move, tracing the curve of her waist, the line of her spine through the thin fabric of her shirt.
"Slow down, no need to rush, given it's your first… no, second time, lass."
She broke the kiss, her chest rising and falling with each breath. A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "You noticed after all," she whispered, her voice a bit breathless from the kiss.
"It's all right," he murmured, his thumb stroking her side, not even attempting to restrain himself. "It's normal. Not like everyone is suddenly an expert with such things when it's their first time."
A small smile played on her lips. "I suppose so, but you… it's clear that you're an expert on the other hand," she said, her fingers gently caressing his face, tracing the line of his jaw. "I'm the one feeling pleasure, being guided by you." Her eyes searched his as they narrowed ever so slightly. "Is it because of Rei?"
Cu shook his head slightly. "No. Rei is not the first person I slept with. But it wouldn't be a lie about her not being part of it, at least to refine what I already know."
A flicker of sadness crossed the purple-haired heiress's features. She sighed softly. "I'm very late to the game, then."
He silenced her with another kiss, this one brief and gentle, before he pulled back. "You're a mystery, I swear, getting sad over something so trivial — Rei also had a similar reaction. Sorry, I can't do either of you my 'first', that's just not possible, and I ain't regretful about my past actions. You don't need to treat this like a game," he said softly. "Let's just have fun."
She nodded, a genuine smile gracing her lips this time. "Heh, fine." Their lips met again, a series of soft, exploratory smooches. The slow, gentle kisses quickly gave way to a more passionate exchange between them. Their tongues danced, and the sounds of their kissing grew wetter.
"Let me get rid of this," In the midst of their passionate embrace, Saeko began to undress herself. Her movements were a little clumsy as her lips remained practically glued to his, refusing to let go for even a moment, fueled by desire rather than anything else. Shrugging off her school uniform, letting it fall to the floor beside them. Next, she unbuckled the protective guards on her forearms and shins, the hard plastic clattering as she tossed them aside.
She pulled back from the kiss just enough to grab the hem of her white shirt and pull it over her head, revealing her chest. The firelight highlighted her skin, and his eyes were drawn to the black bra she wore. 'Hoh… she has gotten bolder.' It was not a simple piece of cotton but an intricate piece of lace, a balconette style that lifted and supported her breasts, creating a stunning amount of cleavage. The floral-patterned lace contrasted beautifully against her pale skin; overall, an erotic set.
"Hopefully, things don't end with just a kiss this time," she said, her voice laced with a teasing challenge. "Or maybe someone does not try to run away like a coward?"
Her taunt was not lost on him, and a chuckle echoed in his chest. His hands moved from her waist to her back, his fingers finding the clasp of her bra. Instead of fumbling with the small hooks, he gripped the front of the garment, right between the cups. With a single motion, he ripped it apart.
"Ah!" The loud sound of tearing fabric was followed by her soft cry of surprise. Her breasts were freed, bouncing slightly from the sudden release. They were round and full, the nipples a dusty rose color that hardened instantly in the cool air of the room.
"My goodness, Cu..." she breathed, her eyes wide with a mixture of shock and excitement. "A bit eager, aren't we?"
He didn't give her a moment to react further before he leaned down, capturing one of the hardened peaks in his mouth. A gasp escaped her lips as he began to suck, his tongue swirling around the sensitive nub, his other hand moving to cup and knead her other breast.
"Mmm... oh," she moaned softly, her head falling back as pleasure coursed through her. Her fingers tangled in his hair, holding him to her. "That... that feels… Differe—hn!"
He didn't let her finish, simply increasing the pressure of his mouth, his teeth grazing the sensitive flesh. Switching his attention to her other breast, giving it the same thorough, loving treatment. The wet sounds of his mouth on her skin filled the room, mixing with her soft pants and whimpers.
"You're... you're going to leave a mark," she managed to say, though her voice was thick with desire, and she made no move to push him away.
"Good," he murmured against her skin, his voice a low rumble that vibrated through her entire body. "I want to."
"Mmmph... ah..." The sounds were soft at first, but as he continued his ministrations, her moans grew louder, more desperate. He alternated between sucking and licking, his teeth gently grazing her nipple before he took it between his teeth and gave a soft tug.
"A-ah... Cu..." Her hands flew to her mouth, trying to muffle the sounds. "Not so hard," she whispered against her palm. "The more sounds I make, the more likely I am to attract another undead."
He released her nipple with a wet pop and looked up at her, a smirk on his face. "I know you don't care about that," he said, then he dove back in, his actions even more intense. Licking, biting, and pulling, his mouth and hands working in tandem to drive her to the edge.
The lewd, wet sounds of his mouth on her skin filled the room.
It didn't take long. The stimulation was too much, too new. Her body tensed, her back arching. A silent scream tore from her throat as she climaxed, her eyes rolling back slightly. "Aaaa~!" Her face was a picture of pure ecstasy, her mouth parted in a silent 'o', her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. Wrapping her legs tightly around his waist, her body trembling from the force of the orgasm. As the waves of pleasure subsided, she went a bit limp, her arms wrapping around his neck, her head resting on his shoulder.
"Hah… hah… hah… Yo-you're a bit too good at this," she whispered, her voice shaky. "I'm really starting to get jealous of Rei."
He chuckled softly. "I have years of exper—ouch!"
Any words for cut off when she nipped his earlobe, not hard enough to hurt, but enough to make him flinch. The mischievous swordswoman leaned in, her lips brushing against his ear. "It's not something you should be bragging about to a woman," she whispered huskily.
The need for more contact overwhelmed her. Saeko began to grind against him, the fabric of his pants and her skirt the only barriers between them. "Ah~! This feels…" It started slow, with Saeko rocking her hips against the hardness she felt beneath her. But the more she moved, the more the head began igniting a fresh wave of lust, and her movements grew more and more frantic. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Eh?" Then, she stopped, her body freezing mid-motion as she saw him make a face, a grimace of pain.
"Your wounds," she said, her voice filled with genuine concern as her hands went to check his wounds. "They're still bleeding."
"Don't worry, I did take a rebar to the stock; it will take some time to heal, unlike a broken bone. But the pain ain't nothing! Pierce me with a few more, and I'll still keep goin'!"
An amused look made its way to her face, "While it may be nothing to you, I'm afraid that my mind hasn't gotten twisted enough to find pleasure in someone else's pain, yet. There's always something getting in between us."
"You just have bad timing," he managed, a strained smile on his face. "And perhaps bad luck."
Saeko hummed in agreement, gently pushing him back until he was lying flat on the floor. "You're right. But now, I want to soothe the pain away, not make it worse. I won't have you endure it while giving me the pleasure I want." She stood over him, her hands going to the hem of her skirt. With a slow motion, she raised it, showcasing the drenched fabric of her black panties, which clung to her, leaving little to the imagination. "But you still need to take care of this," she said, gesturing to her own obvious arousal, "regardless of your state."
With a single motion, she swung her leg over him again, but this time she turned her body, positioning herself so her knees were on either side of his head and her face was near the straining bulge in his pants. Lowering herself, her hands resting on his thighs as she looked down at him from between her own legs. "Now," she whispered, her voice thick with desire, "let's take care of each other."
Quite bold, he did not know whether to be impressed or worried about her already being this great.
Lowering her head, Saeko's dark hair cascaded around his hips, her breath was warm against the fabric of his pants as she nuzzled the straining bulge. "Hm," that alone forced a slight groan out of him.
"Now, let's see what you're hiding here~" Instead of using her hands, the purple-haired woman gripped the metal tab of his zipper with her teeth. The pressure released, and his erection pushed against the thin fabric of his boxers. With another movement of her head, she hooked her chin under the waistband and tugged, freeing him.
"A-ah~! That's amazing…"
His cock sprang into view, fully hardened with arousal. "Oh, my..." Saeko breathed, her gaze taking him in. A soft, appreciative hum vibrated in her throat, a low "Mmm..." She leaned in, not taking him into her mouth yet, but pressing her lips against the sensitive head in a gentle, almost reverent kiss, followed by a gentle smack. Her tongue then peeked out, tracing the slit at the tip, tasting the bead of moisture that had gathered there. "You taste… Surprisingly good," she whispered, the sensation making his entire body tense.
Cu watched her, his breath hitching, not about to let her have all the control. Reaching up, he gripped her hips and pulled her down towards his waiting mouth. The movement made her yelp in surprise. "Ah!" The sound was muffled against his thigh. But she wasn't one to back down from a challenge. Instead of pulling away, she immediately increased her tempo, her lips and tongue becoming more insistent on his shaft.
Slurp... lick... slurp…
He didn't hesitate as well. Letting his tongue slide between her folds, tasting her wetness. She was already incredibly aroused, her juices coating his chin. Exploring her slowly at first, tracing her outer lips before zeroing in on the small, hardened nub of her clit. He flicked it with the tip of his tongue. "Nngh!" Her whole body jerked in response. A deep, throaty moan vibrated around his cock, sending a wave of pleasure straight through him. "Oh, Cu... right there..." The duel was on.
Saeko took him deeper into her mouth, her head bobbing up and down in a steady rhythm. "Mmph... mmph... mmph." Her tongue swirled around his length as she sucked, her cheeks hollowing with the effort. One of her hands came up to cup his balls, gently massaging them as she worked. Cu responded by lapping at her clit with broad, firm strokes, his hands gripping her ass, holding her in place against his mouth. Her moans grew louder, more desperate. "Ah... ah... don't stop... please…"
The sounds in the room grew louder, a myriad of wet sucking and licking, followed by their soft gasps and moans. "Mmm... ah... yes..." Saeko could feel the pressure building inside her, a tight coil of pleasure winding in her lower belly. He was too good, his mouth working her with an expertise that was quickly overwhelming her senses. "Oh, goodness... Cu..." She could feel herself losing their little competition, her climax approaching much faster than his.
Not willing to be the first to fall, she pulled her mouth from his cock with a wet pop. "Not... yet," she gasped, her voice breathy and strained. "I won't... lose..." Shifting her position, she sat up slightly, leaning forward. She wrapped her soft, full breasts around his slick, hard shaft. The sight was incredible. His cock disappeared between the pale mounds, only the flushed head peeking out from the top. She pressed them together, creating a tight channel, and began to move, sliding her body up and down. "How's... this?" she panted.
"That's… amazing."
How else could he even describe this sensation as anything but that? Every passing second, she just kept getting better and better.
As she gave him a titjob, she lowered her head again, her tongue darting out to lick the tip of his cock each time it emerged from her cleavage. "Ah!" The dual stimulation was almost too much for him. He groaned against her, the sound muffled by her flesh.
'Oi… I can't be losin' here to an amateur!' Whether it be his pride or not willing to be pushed back by her, he redoubled his efforts, his tongue now stabbing into her entrance, fucking her with it while his thumb came up to rub her clit in firm circles.
"A-ah! Cu! Right there!" The new sensation made her cry out, her movements faltering for a second as pleasure shot through her. "Don't... don't you dare stop..." she moaned, resuming her sliding motion with even more desperate energy.
"A-ah! Cu!" Saeko cried out, her movements becoming erratic. The combination of his tongue inside her and his thumb on her clit was her undoing. Her body tensed, her back arching as a powerful orgasm ripped through her. "Oh, goodness... yes!" Her whole body trembled, and she pressed her breasts down hard on his cock as she rode out the waves of pleasure.
"Mmmmm~!"
The sight and sound of her climax, combined with the feeling of her pulsating around his tongue and the tight pressure of her breasts on his shaft, pushed Cu over the edge.
"D-Damn it! Saeko, I'm—!" he managed to gasp out before his words dissolved into a loud, guttural groan. "UNGH! I'M—!"
"Fufufu~! Just let it out~!"
His whole body tensed. With a final, powerful thrust between her breasts, he came. His cock twitched violently as he shot his release, thick, hot ropes painting her chest and the underside of her chin. "Ah!" He grunted with each pulse, his hips jerking involuntarily.
For a moment, they were both still, breathing heavily in the firelit room. "Mmm, so much," Saeko hummed, her voice a satisfied, husky whisper. She then leaned back down, her movements slower now. "Let me clean you up."
If seeing her sexy body and prior actions was not stimulating enough, now seeing her take his softening cock back into her mouth, her tongue gently cleaning him off, licking away every trace of his seed, sure did wonders for his desire to just press her against the wall and take her right then and there. "Shit, hah, gotta calm down." He let out a soft hiss of pleasure at the overstimulation. "Your mouth..."
She was thorough, her actions tender and possessive, making sure not to miss a single drop.
Once she was satisfied, she released him with a soft, wet pop and sat up, straddling his waist. "Aaaah," She looked down at the mess on her chest, his cum glistening in the firelight. With a small, satisfied smile, she used a finger to scoop some up, then brought it to her lips, tasting him.
"Mmm, salty," she purred, her eyes locked on his. She then leaned forward, opening her mouth slightly, letting a thin drizzle of his saliva-mixed cum fall from her lips onto her own breasts, making the scene even more lewd. "Do you like watching this? Does it make me even more desirable to you?"
"Why ask for the obvious, lass?"
She watched his reaction as she slowly traced the white fluid around one of her nipples, her touch light and teasing. The nipple pebbled under her touch, standing out stiffly against the glistening mess. "You made such a mess," she cooed, her voice dripping with satisfaction. "But I think... I think I'm going to sleep now."
Finally, she settled down, cuddling against his chest, using his body for warmth. Closing her eyes for a brief moment of rest, her breathing slowly returned to normal. "Next time," she murmured, her voice soft but determined, "even if you're wounded, or I am, I won't stop."
Cu wrapped an arm around her, patting her head gently. "I'm up for the challenge," he whispered back. "But for now, you should rest."
As much as his body protested against that decision, this just wasn't the time and place for something like that.
{Break}
(A few hours later)
The burning campfire light filtered through the grimy room, painting shadows across the dusty floor. Saeko's eyes fluttered open, "hmmm…"
Despite the bruises and the soreness that lingered around her body, the young woman felt great. Had it not been for the lack of a soft bed and a shower — this would have been a perfect moment. The first sensation was a heavy trace of sticky sweat around her body and a musky stench still lingering in the room from the night before. "So it was not a dream this time." A small smile touched her lips as her fingers came up to brush against her mouth, her tongue darting out to taste them.
Did this put her on the same level as Rei then? Part of her wanted to believe so, but she knew the truth.
"Hn!" Soon, Saeko pushed herself up, the thin "blanket", which was nothing more than clothes from corpses untainted by blood, somehow pooling around her waist. The space beside her was empty, the concrete floor cool to the touch. "He's not here?" A flicker of confusion ran through her and disappointment, for she would have liked waking up and experiencing another intimate greeting. Where would he be this time? Her first instinct was to call out his name, to let the sound echo down the dark halls.
'No, that's a stupid idea,' the thought surfaced in her mind. 'The noise would definitely bring more of those things. If our fun last night didn't attract them all already, I'd rather not finish the rest of them in this state.'
Giving herself a few minutes, she let her muscles wake up, her mind clearing the last vestiges of sleep and reaching for her sword. The blood on her skin had dried completely, leaving a flaking, dark crust. A sniff of her own body brought a grimace to her face. "Urgh, I need a bath," she muttered to the empty room.
Blood had never been something that bothered her, but when it started to smell pungent and like sulfur was where she drew the line.
Walking to the door, she found the heavy barricade they had put in place was gone. "It must have been him. Strange, why didn't he walk me up then? And how did I not hear it happening?"
Stepping out into the hallway, she saw no sign of him. Despite him being a powerful combatant, a sliver of worry began to prick at her. With the power treatment facility destroyed, the corridors and the entire city itself were plunged into darkness. No moonlight penetrated the building's depths, and the surrounding city offered no glow. The only source of light was the nearly extinguished fireplace in the room behind her. "Too dark outside… We left the flashlights inside the car. No choice but to take this then." Plucking a piece of burning wood from the embers, she used it as a torch, the flickering flame casting long, dancing shadows on the walls.
The air was foul. While the blood on her person had dried, the gore on the floor remained wet. The corpses they had killed earlier were already in an advanced state of decay in a matter of hours, the stench of rotting flesh filling the confined space and making it unbearable to anyone. But Saeko just moved carefully without a flicker of change on her face, the woman's footsteps echoing faintly on the grimy tiles.
Strange… For a place that should have been crawling with the undead, especially after the noise they must have made, it was eerily quiet. The barricades on the other doors showed no signs of being forced from the outside. The corpses littering the hall were the same ones they had put down the day before.
"Did he attract them awa—!?"
Splash!
A wet footstep sounded. From the corner of her eye, she saw a shadowy figure, darting across the intersection at the far end of the hall. "Cu?" she called out, spinning around. The torch flame whipped through the air and brought more light to where her eyes were gazing. But there was nothing there. Just an empty, dark corridor that made her wonder if it was just her imagination.
"..."
Then again, she was not one to let her imagination run wild; it had to be something. With that in mind, her eyes narrowed, her grip on her sword tightening.
Moving cautiously, she advanced down the hall, her blade held ready. Each footstep echoed across the hallway. Entering the power facility's main atrium, the space opened up. The light from her torch revealed the prior scene of destruction. Part of the ceiling had collapsed, and a surprising amount of water had pooled on the floor, mixing with blood and grime to create a muddy slurry. The same decomposing bodies were scattered about.
"Where is he?" she whispered. The thought of him leaving her stranded here alone was impossible; it just wasn't something he would do.
She kept moving, the beam of her torch sweeping across the walls and floor. The light caught on broken tiles and walls, on stains that hadn't fully dried — still fresh. "This… wasn't here last time. Must have been from Cu."
The presence of blood, not just what could be seen on the ground, but the traces splashed across the wall, painted a rather violent scene. A slaughter that must have happened while she was sleeping, but one that seemed to have ended quite recently.
As she continued to observe the place and find a trace of Cu. A body in the pile twitched. A mute squelch sounded so silently that it did not reach her ears. One arm dragged against the floor, then another. It pushed itself up slowly, joints stiff, head hanging low, before snapping back into place.
Then it ran!
Splash!
Splash!
Splash!
"Shit!"
Wet footsteps slapped against the ground, fast and uneven, echoing down the hallway. The sound closed in quickly, and Saeko's grip tightened slightly.
The light from the torch fell to the side on top of a piece of the ceiling, and caught it as it got closer.
Its face came into view in pieces. Skin that did not cover most of the face, hanging loose, was both burned and rotten. The eyes were barely there, sunken and half melted, yet they kept twitching as if trying to move. Its clothes clung to its frame in torn strips, dragging behind as it ran.
"Aaah—!" The sound that came from it was broken and closer to something he'd hear from something that was not human as it lunged, jaws opening wide. Even if most of the teeth were also gone, it did not make her underestimate it any more than necessary.
Saeko took action at the last second, not panicking when the undead's mouth grew close enough to practically make contact with her skin for a brief second.
Thud!
The handle of her blade slammed into the side of its head, knocking it off course and flying right next to her head. The body hit the ground hard and slid across the thin layer of water before stopping.
She stepped back into position, blade pointed forward as blood dripped from its tip. "Another one?" she said under her breath.
It didn't stay down.
The thing jerked, then pushed itself up again, limbs moving faster this time. It rushed her again without slowing, feet slipping slightly but not enough to stop it.
Saeko didn't move until it was close.
Then she stepped in.
Her blade cut across its neck in a single motion. A short, clean slice.
The head came off, dropping into the water with a dull splash. The body followed a second later, collapsing beside it, the movement stopping completely.
She exhaled slowly, then inhaled, the foul air filling her lungs. Wiping her blade on a relatively clean patch of her clothes, she began to relax.
"Very impressive," a voice said from behind her.
"Cu," she recognized his voice instantly. Whirling around, only to feel her blood turn cold as her eyes came upon the face of another undead. It was right there, just inches from her own. Its decomposed state was horrifying; one side of its face caved in, its jaw hanging by a single strip of muscle, a black, gooey fluid dripping from its mouth. Startled, she jumped back, slashing instinctively.
Clang!
Only to be met with resistance. Her sword got blocked by another weapon, the screech of metal on metal ringing out as a spear shaft deflected her blade downwards easily.
"Calm down," a familiar Irish man said, stepping closer. The light from her torch fell on him, and she saw he was holding the decapitated head by its hair. Behind him, the headless body of another zombie lay bleeding out. He tossed the severed head aside with a flick of his wrist. "Ye need to be more careful. That one nearly got you while you were focused on the first."
A sigh of relief escaped Saeko's lips as she realized it was Cu. "What's up with you, sneaking up on me like that?" she said with a bit of resentment, her heart still thumping a bit faster than usual. "I nearly had a heart attack."
The man offered an apologetic smile. "Didn't do it intentionally. I was pretty focused on my task and only noticed you were here after that one started running." He gestured with his thumb towards the decapitated corpse. "You're surprisingly quiet when you move around, and so are those, somehow. This entire place is covered in water, and I even missed that."
Saeko glanced at their grim surroundings before letting out another sigh and accepting his words. Her gaze fell on the remains of the zombie she had just killed. "Since when could they run?" she asked, remembering this happening to be the second time she'd encountered such a change, the first one being when they first arrived here.
"Is it because of something inside the power plant? Like some mutation caused by the radiation?" she then wondered.
"Unlikely," Cu replied, shaking his head. "This isn't a nuclear power plant. I doubt nuclear radiation would change them like that, not like in the movies."
A simple answer that made sense, had she heard it before all of this began. Now, she just gave him a dry stare, one eyebrow raised. "You have magic, and we're in the middle of a zombie apocalypse of all things. So nothing is off the table."
That made him scratch his chin. "You have a point," he conceded, then pointed behind him. "But I'm pretty certain that even if there was something like that, it wouldn't have been the cause. Still, I'm willing to not discard that idea. Maybe it would be better to bring it up with a professional after we return."
"Speaking of which, where were you?" Saeko changed the subject. "And what were you doing at this time here of all places?"
"Trying to get in contact with the others," he explained. "I'm not talking about the soldiers, rather Rei and the rest. That lass probably already tried to force her way out to find me; thankfully, I called in, and Yuriko made the right decision to block her. We've been gone for a while, and I don't want another group to be sent over unnecessarily. I went back to the car and used their radio to contact them about the damages and what can be salvaged and needs fixing. Though... I have bad news."
"What?"
"The explosion caused several sections outside the building to collapse. A large wall fell on top of the car and damaged the engine," he listed off the problems one by one, getting worse by the second.
This shocked Saeko. "Then how will we get back?"
"Don't worry," Cu said calmly while waving his hand. "We could always just walk back, or grab a nearby vehicle. There are plenty that haven't burnt down yet. Or," he added with a grin, "we could just grab a bicycle, with you sitting on the back and have an amazin' stroll around town!"
"Fufu~! Only you would consider the option of using a bicycle in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, of all things."
"What? It's a viable option," Cu defended his idea. "Sure beats running for any other person and also saves a lot of stamina. You'd have a better chance of outcycling a horde than outrunning them."
"But the state of the road is so messy," she countered while crossing her arms. "We saw it on our way here. The chances of us not getting blocked in the first hundred meters by some sort of obstacle are slim."
"This also applies to a bike." He shook his head and changed the topic. "Are you feeling okay?"
A bright smile spread across Saeko's face. "I haven't felt this good in a long while. It's like I've been reborn, but I should be the one asking that question. You're the one who got stabbed and nearly buried under an entire roof."
"The bleeding stopped. Tried to speed up the process of my recovery, but it will still take some time," he said, while lifting up his shirt to showcase the still-present hole in his body. Though it already seemed like it started to heal? Hard to tell if one wasn't paying close attention. "Also, I didn't expect your former answer like that, but I'm happy."
"But you really just went outside to use the radio." Saeko continued, her curiosity returning. "Is there something else?"
Cu immediately pointed behind him. "Because of that." Grabbing a random piece of debris from the floor, he took out a small knife and carefully scribed a rune on it. The character emitted a soft light. He repeated this process several times on several other rocks, then scattered them around the area. The glowing stones illuminated the space, showcasing what he was working on.
Unfortunately, it did little to clear her confusion.
Saeko was confused. "Wasn't that the boiler that exploded?"
"Yup. At the end of the day, we messed up. Depriving the city of any power is a disaster and could lead to some serious issues."
"For survivors?" She asked, watching him go over and start to collect metal, bend pipes, and put them back in place. Not that it helped much, given the other parts were entirely destroyed.
"Yes, for the majority," Cu said. "I'm not worried about the Takagi estate; they have generators, but not everyone in this town does. And those generators themselves won't last forever. Not to mention, the worse this town gets, the more likely it is that they might get bombed by the army. This town might end up becoming a black zone. I know Souichiro can contact the army, but it's never a bad idea to be cautious — especially when it comes to people dealing with paranoid people."
Saeko got worried, "You think we might soon be dealing with a possible nuclear attack if left in the dark from the outside world?"
The Irishman continued, a joking tone in his voice. "Who knows. I'm capable of using magic, but even I won't be able to protect all of us from such a weapon."
In fact, he could find ways to protect himself if given enough time to prepare. But the others? Maybe his Master, but not his current self. He was no Caster with the ability to create a bounded field or a spell powerful enough to protect so many people.
"Are you even knowledgeable enough to fix this thing?" Saeko asked, her eyes on the complex machinery. "This is not just a simple boiler. From the explosion, a large chunk of the wiring and the primary coolant pumps also got damaged. The control panel is completely fried."
"No," he admitted without missing a beat, "unfortunately, I was not given this knowledge, nor did I ever believe that I would need it enough to study it in the past. But the best I can do right now is secure the area so it's safe enough for those who can to come over and repair it. And also clean the place up a bit more, make sure no undead are hiding in a corner somewhere, ready to attack and infect more people."
"Got it. I'll help." Without waiting for an answer from him, she went along, clearing some of the area, making sure that nothing was hiding anywhere. Meanwhile, Cu got busy with the heavy lifting, occasionally lifting up things that should not have been humanly possible, a sight that was becoming regular for the young woman who felt like she was strangely becoming desensitized to such supernatural sights.
"Here," he said when she came back, announcing that the building was clear for now, though more might come. He tossed at her a bag filled with pebbles.
Upon looking inside, she asked, "Are these runes?"
"Yup, just place them at any pile of bodies you find that are not in a dangerous area and leave it. It will soon combust into flame and burn everythin' around it. No corpses, no contamination, other diseases, or a hidden eejit waiting for an opportunity to attack."
Not asking any more questions, she grabbed one, looking at it closely. It was extraordinary how the small character could accomplish such a thing; she had seen the effect herself. "Can I try this one day? I mean, make them myself?" she asked with genuine curiosity.
He stopped and looked at her before taking a seat on a pile of rocks and scratching his chin. "You won't exactly be able to create a rune by drawing the same character on a stone or any surface just because you want to do so."
"Is it because I don't have a mana core?"
"What?" Cu looked surprised because that caught him off guard. He did not expect her to know about a mana core of all things. Hold on… did he say it back then? The man couldn't recall. Oh well. "No, it's not exactly that, but you're also kind of right. Our bodies are very different. There is technically a way for you to do so, but it would require you to use materials that are already imbued with magical energy. And even then, the effects won't necessarily be as powerful, and you cannot use the kind of runes I can. It's a practice that takes years and years to get good at, let alone master."
"How long did it take you?" Saeko inquired.
"Even for someone like me, it took years. I was not just done after a few days of intense training, and even that was considered quite astonishing. My master considered me a good learner. For some people, they can even spend their whole lives without even becoming nearly as good as me. It's unfair, but that's just reality. Sorry."
She shook her head with an understanding smile. "I'm not sad about it. It's not something I'm that determined to use or really need. But after seeing you nearly get crushed and bleeding so much, I came to realize what a big mistake I've made. I started to think of you as invincible and unbreakable. Despite saying several times before that I wanted to help you and be by your side, I fell into the same hole as everyone else and started to rely on you too much without even realizing it. I just don't want those to be just words made to comfort you with fake facts. I want them to be real."
Quite noble of her, and somehow, he was not surprised by her reasoning.
"I don't mind having people rely on me. I've been doing it for a long while, and I have no issue with it."
But Saeko continued. "I don't care. I am selfish and want to satisfy my own desires even though they may sound selfless. I want to genuinely help you, even if you don't need it. For my own sake."
"Heh," this made him chuckle as he scratched his head. Just looking at her eyes, he could tell that she wondered if he was thinking about finding an excuse. But surprisingly, he had not anticipated her next move. For she decided to be more proactive and raised her blade, handing it over to him.
"What?" he asked.
"While I may not be able to use runes, I've seen you use runes on your weapons to give them extra abilities, right?"
Cu confirmed that he could do so with a nod. "But what do you want exactly? I don't necessarily see the point of giving you the ability to call back your katana, and since your style does not include throwing your swords... like a certain someone." He said the last part quietly.
"What?"
"Nothing," he said. "Just reminiscing about the past."
"Are there any other abilities you could grant my weapon?" she pressed.
He thought for a moment. "I can technically reinforce it, make it sharper, more durable, so that it doesn't break. But will that really be enough? Your blade could already cut through most enemies with ease, and these undead are not strong enough to break it. Such an action would be kind of redundant."
This unfortunately made her a bit frustrated as she clenched her hand, knowing that he was most likely right.
Seeing her expression, the man jumped down from his perch and approached her,
standing right in front of her face. "Are you really that desperate to help me?" he asked. "By yourself, you're already plenty powerful. I doubt there are even a handful of people in this town capable of suppressing you."
"Oh?" She chuckled. "In a town where most likely ninety percent of the people have already died?"
"Just accept the compliment." He then told her, "The most reliable method at the end of the day is not magic, but something else."
"What?"
With a smirk, he raised his fists and answered proudly. "Good ol' trainin' and sparring! The same thing I've been teaching Rei. While you cannot reach the same level as I when it comes to magic, you have plenty of room to grow as a swordswoman. I guarantee you have not even achieved your full potential."
Saeko smiled. "Is that the truth, or are you just lying to me to appease me?"
This lass was hard to convince at times.
"Your entire life, you have grown and fought against other regular people. You have never actually fought against a true warrior in a life-or-death battle." He waved a hand at the burning corpses of the zombies that had already turned into ashes. "Those are merely walking dummies. They won't increase your skills. At best, it would just keep your level the same and make you more efficient with each strike. But against opponents who could fight back, you would eventually be defeated. I believe that while Rei has the potential to become a competent spear user, you, Saeko, have the potential to become one of the best sword users."
This made her genuinely take his offer seriously. She looked at him and asked, "Does that mean we will be continuing our nightly 'sparring' sessions like last time, but with Rei joining us? You might get overwhelmed~."
He raised an eyebrow. "The way you say it sounds quite dirty and naughty, but yes."
Saeko smiled. "I'm happy with that arrangement."
After that, they continued their task with great speed. Faster than she had even anticipated, Cu managed to clean up most of the debris and place the rocks and parts of the ceiling that were too big outside the building, creating sort of patches on the broken walls with them. The flooded, dirty water had been drained, leaving the floor dry for the first time in a long while. All of the corpses had been turned into ashes by now, with her managing to scatter the stones before they combusted.
Without even realizing it, the sun rose and a new day began. On the horizon, several cars drove towards them as Cu finished marking several symbols across the ground, the walls, and even several rooms.
"What are those?" Saeko asked him.
"Bounded fields," he told her. "Some of them are used to protect the area, and others for detection, mostly so that I know if something goes wrong or if an undead manages to sneak in without the others noticing."
.
.
.
After explaining the purpose of the symbols, both Cu and Saeko went out to welcome the new arrivals. The car doors opened, and several soldiers stepped out, followed by other personnel carrying equipment and construction tools. Behind them, a somewhat big transport truck trundled along, its back filled with several parts that seemed to belong to a boiler, though smaller than the original.
Cu let out a low whistle. "Impressive. Ya managed to gather all these materials this quickly."
From the lead car, Souichiro emerges, still wearing the same clothes and now carrying a different sword this time. The man first looked around at the destruction and the lack of any corpses around, most likely with a frown etched on his face, before giving a curt nod. "I anticipated several issues of this kind and prepared the materials in advance," he stated, his voice firm. "Unfortunately, we couldn't get the exact same size, but this will suffice for a short-term solution."
Behind him, several soldiers moved inside the building to secure the perimeter, followed by construction workers and even electrical engineers, all ready to begin the complex task of restarting the facility.
The former Servant of the Spear nodded. "I already cleared the area. Unfortunately, there are no survivors."
"A shame," Souichiro said, his expression grim. "Each death of a trusted soldier leaves a void that cannot be so easily filled within our ranks in our current state. And if more of them keep dying, the people we're housing will also notice it."
This made Cu raise an eyebrow. "Trouble brewing?" The reminder made both Cu and Saeko think of the matters related to Shido.
Saya's father shook his head. "Nothing major. Just a handful of troublemakers who are not satisfied with their current treatment and wish to be welcomed in a more luxurious way."
"A pampered bunch?"
"It would seem so." Souichiro agreed. "But nothing a small show of force wouldn't solve."
A smirk appeared on the young man's face. "I can help with that." He then shook his head. "No, forget it. I won't need to intervene much."
This made Souichiro curious. "Why?"
"Because Saya will handle it," he answered. "If she can handle a bunch of rowdy students, she can handle a bunch of unruly adults."
Cu then asked Souichiro if there was something else he should know about.
"We've gotten a radio signal from a possible survivor. Unfortunately, given our current situation, we cannot spare enough manpower to help them."
This made both him and Saeko curious. "Where did it come from?" He inquired.
"The Taiei Shopping Town," Souichiro replied.
That name immediately rang a bell inside his mind.
"Oh? I remember being there with Rei. Fine, we'll handle it. Aside from that, I'm afraid I have more bad news for you and the others. We might have to prepare ourselves to deal with other types of undead."
"What?"
Seeing the worried and cautious look on Saya's father's face, Cu continued the story and mentioned everything that happened around here from beginning to end.
{Break}
-Takagi Estate-
Well, things were not necessarily going well on the other side of town, one cuz say that the same was happening on the other side of town and more specifically within the library, now being transformed into a room for more patients.
The large room, filled with cheap medical beds, where several men and women could be seen lying down.
Some had small wounds that did not need much care aside from disinfectant and bandages, while others suffered from horrible injuries, including burn wounds and deep punctures. Most of them were still in the middle of recovering from the breach that had happened before Cu's group had first arrived, while others were just regular patients who had gotten hurt while working around the estate. Shizuka moved between them, treating them one by one. With the local medic of the Takagi estate having also fallen ill, the blonde woman had been tasked with the burden of handling all of them.
But she was not alone.
"Miku! The antiseptic, quickly!" Shizuka shouted. "And check on bed number three! The soldier needs his bandages replaced!"
"Y-Yeah!" The light orangette shouted back, a small stutter in her voice as she hurried along to do what she was told. The only way to describe her current self is as a complete state of panic, this mindset taking hold as she scrambled through her tasks, barely managing to accomplish them. The sight of blood made her feel sick, and she had to pull herself away with the urge to vomit. 'Disgusting,' she repeated in her mind. 'Disgusting, disgusting, disgusting.'
"Miku!" Shizuka's voice snapped her back to reality. She accidentally scrambled to help and continue her task, but her movements were clumsy and messy.
Her panic intensified when, upon trying to apply bandages, other patients around her began calling for help. "Hey, girl! Over here!" one man groaned. "My dressing needs changing!" another called out. "Nurse! I'm in pain here!" a woman whined.
"I'll be there! I'll be there!" Miku repeated, her voice rising in desperation. In her flustered state, she pressed down a bit too hard on a wound, and blood gushed out, hitting her face and clothes. "Puh! Eurgh! I-It's on my tongue!" The feeling of nausea grew stronger than ever. How she hadn't gotten sick by now was a miracle in itself.
The girl took a step back, the whole world around her starting to spin and spin. Until eventually, something inside her snapped. "Aaaah, fuck this shit!" Grabbing one of the syringes in a firm grip, she intended to smash it against one of the patients. "Shut the fuck up for once!" she screamed. "I'll get to you when it's your turn! Call for me again, and I'll jab it in your throat!" Her aim was off, and the needle end just grazed the man's cheek, immediately silencing him and several others around her.
She quickly finished the work, though it was a bit messy. No one was willing to protest. After several minutes, Shizuka looked at her happily and clapped her hands. "You did so well! You only snapped once, which is better than your last session a few hours ago."
"..."
Miku didn't listen to the blonde. Walking right past her and out of the door, slamming it behind her with a loud bang! Seeing some of the vests and clothes that belonged to the soldiers, the girl noticed a bulge in one of the pockets. "They wouldn't mind this since I saved their lives." Searching inside and pulling out a carton of cigarettes. The box itself was a pretty expensive brand, so she walked away, finding a quiet spot behind the estate and taking a few puffs.
The smoke managed to relax her mind.
"All of them are a bunch of idiots," Miku muttered. The wounds, the blood, the constant stench of alcohol filling and burning her nose, it all made her even more nauseous, a feeling she tried to push down by taking a bigger drag. "Why me? What did I do to deserve this?"
Not so long ago, she was practically on top of the world, with people falling over themselves to lick her boots just for a single look thrown in their direction. Lusting over her body, willing to do everything… "No!" She stopped that train of thought as another memory resurfaced: Shido using her as a human shield, nearly making her die back then. All of this made her even more frustrated. Regardless of where she was, it was all nothing more than just a fucking disaster. "I need to get out of here one way or another… It's all a fucking disaster."
"Tell me about it," a voice said.
"Eh?"
Surprised, Miku stopped smoking and looked up to see a middle-aged woman walking towards her. "Got a light?" the woman asked, then corrected herself. "I mean, can I bum one of those?"
Not willing to argue and finding no reason to deny her request, she accepted and handed over a cigarette, not feeling anything since it wasn't hers to begin with. The woman took it and continued to speak. "So, you're one of those students who came here recently? Or are you an individual who came here with her parents when the Takagi people were scouting the area to find survivors?"
Given that she was not wearing a school uniform anymore, Miku realized why this woman had asked the question. Observing the woman's face further, she recalled that this was one of the people who had been giving their group a stink eye from afar quite a while ago. Exhaling a cloud of smoke, she said, "I'm a friend of the family."
The woman scoffed. "Right. You rich folks and your 'friend connections.' I wouldn't be surprised if you already sought asylum here days before the outbreak even happened." Her tone was scathing, but Miku showed no change on her face.
"What the hell do you want?" she asked.
The woman continued, "Despite you being a 'friend of the family,' even you must have noticed that things are starting to become a bit too crowded around here."
As soon as she said that, the orange-haired girl recalled her moment in the infirmary, all the people she was forced to treat, the stench of blood and alcohol and other medicine still clinging to her body, making her shudder. "Yeah… I'm aware." Which made the latter smirk.
"Right?" the woman said. "You must be used to living in your own palace, living the luxurious life. But now you're forced to live like us regular folks, sharing rooms with five other imbeciles. And now that more students have arrived, space has become an even bigger luxury, and they now need to ration food. For goodness sake, I'm a renowned marketing consultant! I shouldn't be here living the rest of my life in a can of sardines. I'm sure you're feeling the same."
This made Miku snap. "As if!" she retorted. "I also have to share a room and can barely get any time for myself lately with all the work they've been giving me."
The middle-aged woman laughed. "Some friend you are. But that makes it even better. You must understand my issue then. You must understand how this can't keep going any further."
That statement made her pause and look at this person more cautiously, looking at the woman with a raised eyebrow. "What? You plan on starting a coup?"
The woman flicked away her cigarette. "You're overthinking it. A coup is a crude way of saying it. We're just going to gather some people who share the same opinion and march over to demand more rights. We deserve better," she continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "And for the estate to stop wasting resources on everybody so carelessly. Unless they don't want to end up in a situation where it's pure anarchy, where resources become so scarce that everyone needs to fight over them."
"Sure sounds like she's planning on throwing out the students."
The woman got annoyed. "You got a problem with your hearing? I never said that. I just want more of them to be pulling their weight. And if there are some who aren't able to do so, then they should be thrown out. At this moment, we don't need more burdens!"
Miku's eyes twitched in annoyance. "And what have you been doing lately?"
The other person narrowed her eyes. "Are you thinking that I'm being a burden?" But then she said proudly, "I've been managing the other survivors, making sure everyone has everything they need, and keeping an eye out on the soldiers from the Takagi estate so that they don't let the power go to their heads. Without my presence, their voices wouldn't have been heard!"
'So basically, nothing,' Miku thought to herself. 'And people like this get to have everything while I have to work for it? Life is not fair!'
The woman looked at her frustrated expression. "After our conversation, I'm more certain that you don't want to keep on living in this hellhole for who knows how long. I even have some suspicion that the Takagi head purposely isn't contacting the US army so that he can keep us all here and control us."
Oh? Now, didn't that sound familiar? "What, like a cult?"
"Exactly!" She shouted, her eyes gleaming. "He's just trying to create his own little territory to control everyone, and I will not let such a thing happen. I'm going to save everyone!"
As she said that, the sound of Rei's voice reached them. Both turned around to see the duo that had arrived, Cu and Saeko, both looking a bit worn out and dirty, with traces of dried blood on their bodies, but still alive. Rei and Ryouko went over to check on the blue-haired boy, while the wife of Souichiro, along with her daughter, was talking with Saeko.
From behind her, the middle-aged woman started cursing again under her breath. "Look at them," she muttered. "Kids just go out there to have fun with the excuse of working, while most likely also trying to escape with the resources by themselves and then coming back whenever things go wrong. I saw them leaving in a car, and now the car is nowhere to be seen. These leeches will dry us up within days."
Ignoring the woman's speech, Miku suddenly had a plan. "Hey, where are you going?"
"To work."
She got up, ignoring the middle-aged woman, and headed over, approaching Cu, who noticed her arrival and greeted her with a smile on his face, without any of the suspicion and anger she had been getting from the others. "Yo, how's it going?" he said. "I see you've been helping Shizuka around." Somehow, he managed to guess it without her needing to say anything. She couldn't deny that he was right. Despite her hatred for these people, she still had to help them so that they wouldn't throw her out.
"I need to talk to you." She looked him straight in the eyes. "As long as I prove to be useful, they won't throw me out, right? As long as I can repay for the mistake I've made."
Cu nodded with some hesitation appearing on his face briefly but quickly being pushed away. "Right… But if you think that spendin' a single day working in the infirmary would be enough to atone for yer mistakes, you're very much wrong."
She shook her head. "No, I'm not trying to say that I did enough. Instead, I want to change my post, my duties." In her head, she kept repeating the line of not wanting to stay here, not wanting to get splashed by more blood and disinfectant for the next ten years if possible. She looked at him and said, with a grave voice, "I want to join the expedition team."
"Expedition team?" He repeated, confused by that name.
Only for Rei to interject, "It's just a small title your group has been given, given how long and how many times you tends to go out."
"Oooh, I like the name." But then he asked Miku, "Why would you want to be part of it? And why would I even agree to it? You'll be a liability more than anything else. I'm not trying to have someone to babysit when we're outside, surrounded by zombies. Everyone in my group here can pull their own weight in combat."
This made her frustrated. She had no experience in combat; that was the truth. Feeling desperate, she realized her conversation with her, and then went through with her idea, finally voicing it. "What if I thwart a coup?"
This caught everyone's attention, including Yuriko, who looked over with an interested gleam in her eyes.
Miku continued, "What if I can remove and deal with any group of people that have been getting the funny idea to take matters into their own hands recently around here? I know some of you are aware of them."
As soon as she said this, Rei interjected. "Don't listen to her! The girl is just lying, trying to find a way to escape her duties!"
Saya also agreed. "What makes you think that we can't handle it ourselves? What makes you think that you can handle it?"
Expected reactions, still, she smirked and looked at Saya challengingly. "I can have the group eat themselves from within and crumble apart without the Takagi or any one of their soldiers even needing to move a single finger or use up any resources — before any of this becomes a big enough problem. And I can do it fast."
Saya looked at her, not believing her one bit. "Why would someone like you, who was just Shido's plaything, even know anything about handling subordination or this? You're just wasting our time!"
This made Miku counter, "I'm not afraid to use everything to my advantage." She placed a hand over her chest, going so far as to even open her buttoned shirt to reveal a large portion of her cleavage. "Including my own body. And if I fail, you're more than welcome to just throw me outside. I won't resist!"
This made several people get flustered, especially the boys. Rei was about to shout at her again before Cu raised his hand. He looked at her deep in the eyes. "You must really hate treating people and helping Shizuka," he said. "So much so to the point that you're willing to risk your own life to put another deal on the table without any guarantee that it will work out."
She had to admit, this guy was unsettling, and she did get a bit scared of him. Even though he had healed her, she heard that this person was more than capable of killing and would do so against her if required. Regardless, she gathered up her courage and stood her ground. "I was never made to help people. It's not my strong suit. And as long as I can show myself to be useful in the right way, it will be more efficient for me to be out there, outside, rather than inside the infirmary!"
This made Cu curious, but before giving her an answer, he turned his attention towards Saya's mom. They both whispered something to each other, with the others joining in. This went on for nearly ten minutes, making the orangette even more stressed. Finally, Hiriko turned her attention towards Miku and was the one to approach her.
"Fine," she said. "If you can prove yourself useful and deal with the problem we currently have without forcing us to expend our already stretched-thin personnel and resources, you can join the expedition team. But, there is a condition."
"Yes! Whatever it is, I accept!"
But the smirk on Saya's mom's face became somewhat twisted, and her eyes turned very cold. "Ah, not so fast. Listen first~ You have a single day," she said, her voice dropping to a low tone, almost a whisper. "If you are not able to accomplish this, you will not be given asylum and refuge any longer. You will be thrown out in the zombie-infested streets to die."
She said it in such a dry tone, her eyes fully fixed on Miku, that it made the latter take a step back in fear. Then, the mom went back to smiling cheerfully and clapping her hands. "Is the term agreeable?"
She wanted to retort that a single day was not enough, but she shut her mouth when noticing a few people in the background smirking, especially Saya. 'They are looking down on me.'
Fury rose from within; she absolutely did not want to go back and clenched her hands, gritting her teeth to the point she was literally having a migraine in order to calm herself down. "Fine," she said through great effort. "I can figure something out. I'll do it!"
------------------------------
The next 5 chapters of Snafu, and my other Fate fics (Fate Coiling Sword with 3 chapters, A Fake Familiar Reborn with 3 chapters, Steel Eyed Faker soon to be 3 chapters, Taimanin with 3, Hound having 3 and To love a sword having 4 chapters) are already available on my P@treon. With 4 more Broly chapters at /NimtheWriter. Also, I post commissioned arts on each story, already posted a few on an Archer's Promise, Broly and Snafu.