Graves

"Oh right, you are half Japanese." Raiden said. "So they died before the apocalypse?"

"Yeah. It was a car accident. It happened when I was on a missions. I didn't even get to attend their funeral. All that was left for me was a grave."

"Well, you at least got to see their graves and here I don't even know where my parents are? Well of course I know for a fact that they are dead but I don't know how they died. Got bitten by a zombie or got their heads smashed by B-7."

"You don't know? Why?" Joel asked.

"Some days after the virus broke out, I didn't find them at home. And it was impossible to search for them after the number of zombies started growing.  We had to take shelter and only care about our own survival. So they are either dead now or roaming around like a zombie."

Joel stopped taking another bite from the can. He felt sorry for Raiden. He didn't say anything for next few minutes and only stared down on the table.

"Anyway when are we heading out?" Raiden broke the silence.

"After sunset would be a pleasant time."

"Sure it will be. Also, can I accompany you during your visit?"

"Of course you can. Do you even need to ask this thing?"

Raiden dodged the question with a laughter. And Joel again started digging in his meal. He again enjoyed the sweet flavor of the beans and ate his part quickly.

They spent the whole noon talking with each other about some good memories of their past along with playing cards which Raiden always had with him in case he bump into a survivor.

That room was enlightened by their laughter. 

After all the story telling and laughter Joel asked to take some rest until the sunset. He went to another room and waited there.

Raiden warned Joel that it wouldn't be safe to stay out there at the night so they left the building a little while ago from the sunset.

They walked down the straight road which started taking many turns, left and right. They covered their path on their foot, walking nice and slowly. They reached outside the area which Raiden had claimed to have killed all the zombies inside.

Without making any noises they moved forward. After reaching a certain location Joel showed rushed moments. He looked around in way that things were familiar to him. He started picking up speed. Raiden also had to speed up to keep up with him. 

After seeing a certain point, Joel was about to burst into running but Raiden stopped him by holding on to his shoulder. 

They both nodded towards each other and Joel came back in his cool. They both walked slowly towards the point Joel got all excited about after seeing it.

And they reached the point. A graveyard. 

They both entered and covered some straight distance then to the right. Joel was leading the way. 

Joel stopped ahead of two graves which were placed together. He glared at the stone for some minutes. Then took a praying position. Raiden did the same.

Smile appeared on Joel's face and he rolled backwards, now facing Raiden. "Let's go," he said.

Raiden followed him out of the graveyard then stopped as Joel had also stopped.

"Going to base now?" Raiden asked as he looked towards the sun which was at the lowest point of the horizon.

"Yeah," Joel replied as he took the final glance at the graveyard and then he moved ahead.

Moon was out and it got dark but moonlit showed them their path. They made their way to the base and luckily didn't encounter a single zombie. 

They reached the base. Walking through the staircase they entered the room. 

"I bet your parents were happy after seeing you after a long time." Raiden said.

 "Yeah," Joel replied with a calm voice. "And thanks for joining me."

"Dude cut the formalities out and here take the key of the next room." Raiden searched inside his bag for the key from the bundle of keys and passed it on to Joel.

"Why a different apartment? This one already has like three rooms to sleep in."

"Ahh room isn't the problem but the toilet is… you know… there is only one toilet in this apartment."

"We can share it right? Can't we?" Joel was confused.

"Well no because there is no water in the toilet so you can't flush it."

"Wait so you mean you don't flush your own shit?" Joel looked a little shocked. "Eww, that's disgusting." 

"Huhh? What option do I have? There is like no water in toilets." Raiden defended himself. 

"You could totally use bottle water."

"No, I'm against wastage of water."

"That's called cleaning not wastage."

"We have toilet papers in there go clean it with that."

"I'm talking about your shit not butt."

"Yeah? But I don't remember asking for it."

"Bruh! I'm just asking you to clean your shit."

And their silly argument on shit kept going on. In the end joey didn't accept Raiden's way and took a bottle with him in the adjacent apartment. 

It was already over 10 o'clock and they both rested on their beds in different apartments. 

Raiden looked up at the ceiling as he laid on the bed.

'Today was a fun day,' Raiden said in his head.

And as usual Sheila responded him. 'Of course it would be, you finally find a survivor.'

Raiden chuckled a little in his mind. 'I wish I could have searched every part of Russian then maybe I could have found Joel a lot sooner.'

Sheila didn't give a response this time.

'Oh by the way Sheila, did you feel lonely? I wasn't able to talk to a like usual.'

Raiden felt that Shelia shook her head.

'Not at all. I was listening to you guys all the time and it was very funny, especially the toilet part,' Sheila responded with a laughter.

'Oh Sheila, you are embarrassing me but I'm glad you are happy.'

'I'm also glad for you.'

Raiden smiled as he closed his eyes and went into infinite darkness.

On the other hand, Joel also laid back on the bed, glaring the stars in big sky from the window which was right beside his bed.

"Another day is over and I finally found a survivor. I can't express how happy I'm, he said still glaring at the stars.

"I also gave a visit to both of you. I hope you were happy."

He glared the sky for few more minutes.

"That is all for today I guess. I'm now going to sleep as we have to go to a new journey from tomorrow."

"Good night Mom and Dad."

Joel also closed his eyes. Now they both slept to be ready for their departure to Tokyo.