43 I will carry on

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_ Fleur's Perspective -_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

"By the time we had arrived, the whole town was engulfed with flames. The next thing we knew, zombies far worse than the vine ones sprouted like embers; and that was the time you've saved our lives, Fleur-san"

Itsuki finishes off his sentence with a grimed look painted on his face.

I stared at their gloomy expressions filled with despair, unable to foresee the next course of our conversation. It was no doubt that these youngsters had barely escaped alive from the village that had once peacefully stood. I couldn't convey any words from the matter, as I silently sat still and waited for their response. 

The two of them had been staring at the ground for quite some time. They were lost in thought, trying to come up with the words suitable for the atmosphere.

"Fleur-san….is it alright?" 

Konoe was the first one to break the awkward silence—with her incomplete question, as she stood up confidently from her seat. She took a deep breath and prepared once more from what she have ought to say

"Fleur-san, please help u—"

"Can you lend us a hand?"

Coming from her side, Itsuki sprung forth and disrupted Konoe's sentence, whilst lowering his head to me, which was also immediately followed by Konoe herself. 

I hurriedly wave my hands in a fiddly manner, not having a clue on what should be done. They were hoping for my response upon getting my help, which had made me felt terribly embarrassed being at the centre of their attention

"Guys, even if you don't ask I'll be sure to help you out. It's just that…I'll be exposing everyone in grave danger the moment we'd step foot outside of this very tunnel" 

They need not to be formal upon asking my aid. Although the task itself may prove to be possible, their mental capacity would restrict my movements by protecting numerous people within my reach. Moreover, we have 2 kids tagging along with us; one being immobilised due to the strain from his bitten leg, and the other—a fragile little girl. 

The words I've spoken deeply sank inside their mind, as I plummet the obvious fact that needs to be further discussed. From this point onward the battle has yet to begin, moreso there are other entities lurking around that are far worse than the ember zombies which could hinder us from our goal. 

Do they have the resolve to venture forward beyond what they're capable of

or would they entrust their objective to me, and find a safer place to wait?

Their fate lies from the choices they'll decide, for I am just a stranger offering some humble assistance.

My stern gaze gave away my worried expression, and it was enough for them to register the situation in mind. 

The two of them slowly raised their heads, and gazed into each other's eyes; while I on the other awaited their response.

"We will comply"

"I know we'll be a nuisance but we will try our best to not get in your way."

Both of them responded with conviction, as they steeled their hearts and prepared for the worse to come by. 

"Well, alright! Sounds good to me" 

I gave them a nod and offered a smile. Upon receiving my feedback, they resumed their selves back from their previous position and bowed once more as a sign of their gratitude. However, I cannot withstand the formal settlements from what was presently happening.

"Raise your heads. You know? Come over here, you two" I opened my arms and widened up a grin, hoping to be braced by these two tensed teenagers. 

"But we are told to bow when we offer our thanks or forgiveness"

Konoe glances towards my direction and calmly states the reason behind their actions. As much as I appreciate their efforts, and their culture, seeing them with teary eyes bowing with compassion is a bit far to forward for our conversation.

"You know what? I'll just go to you" I marched my way towards their fore and proffered a quick bow, reimbursing what they have given to me. After my gesture, I carefully wrapped my arms toward each of their side and gently pulled them closer to mine. The warmth from our embrace had provided a sense of comfort from their disheartened mind, allowing their tears to rain down heavily from their eyes. 

"You're not alone in this world. Remember that." 

I saw the spitting image of myself from Konoe after seeing her cry. She reminded me the kind young girl who I used to be. 

If it wasn't for Pura and Clinton, I may be dead right now.

If it wasn't for Venice and Paul, I could've been eaten back from the cathedral 

If it wasn't for Rogh and Dione, we wouldn't be able to meet Grey and Andrew on the large cruise sailing towards Singapore. 

Looking back, my life had been convenient up until now. I had been walking down a path behind the shadows of my comrades, relying on their power without giving in return. I have made this far because of my friends, and not from my own ability. If I had been, just for once, despicable from my actions—similar from the dilemma I have had saving Zenith and Ariel, and riled up my own selfish desires to save my life, then meeting Venice would just be a pipe's dream. 

This time around, I am entrusted to protect these younger generations and aid them to find their respectful guardians amidst from this epidemic. It is unsure whether they're still alive, yet we will be giving our all; furthermore, being fairly exhausted from the tools that I had used from the previous fight with the embers, we will still carry on and seek for another day. 

"Come on, you two. Free hugs from sister Fleur, freshly served right here~" I called out to the pair of children watching us from afar. Even with the immobilised leg, Itsuki's brother had yet to give up as he proudly stood from his site. Tomori hushedly walked towards his side and accompanied him from where I was located to. 

"Sorry, my hands are full" I gently extended my arms to include them inside, and tightly brace everyone within my grasp. 

"We better let them sleep" 

A full minute had passed by since the duration I had squeezed them into my arms. By the time that our clasp had reach to an end, the two children succumb into their peaceful sleep. 

Konoe and Itsuki places both of their kindred back to where they had come from, near the heat of the campfire. Tomori was a little bit special, after receiving a good night's kiss from her older sister. On the other hand, Itsuki caress his brother's hair and sang him a pleasant lullaby, which even reverberates calmly through our eyes. The night grew old, but the song had kept us alive. We've decided to take shifts for this night, making Itsuki the first one to keep watch, followed by me, and afterwards Konoe. 

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_---_

I was awoken by the terrible growl coming from the ingress; or so I had thought it was. Prying with me eyes, I turned around and saw no one sleeping beside from where I was. It may seem like a reverie to me, but the woods used from the camp was still there unlit and burnt through the course of time. 

"Hello?" I picked myself up and began looking around for any details of my companion from where they had went to. It may be the cause of a similar situation where they had ventured forth excited and caught a glimpse of their loved ones at the corner of the cave. 

Maintaining my thought as optimistic as possible, I decided to head onward deeper inside the cave, hoping to find any sort of leads from my lost friends. I had expected my surroundings to be pitch-black making it difficult for me to see, however the abyss showed no signs of the light dimming from its brightness. Still, I marched forward and hoped for the best.

Suddenly I saw a shade of peach skin tone from a distant, laying around at the middle of the pave. It was akin to the two brothers: Itsuki and…right, he had not yet introduced the name of his brother to me. Thinking aback, I never knew the name of his brother, who had been bitten by a zombie on his right leg. 

"Itsuki! Are you there? Man, I thought you guys left me behind. Where's Kono—"The insides of my body soon screamed the word 'Run' from the image laid in front of me. The body was indeed from Itsuki's, but his figure was…

Mercilessly eaten alive. His eyes are bulging wide, escaping from his sockets, as I could only discern that he had gave out a shocking expression before he had died. His large intestines were nowhere to be found, but the kidneys from each sides had been wildly torn apart. His ribs broken, spine dislocated, even his skull was curved into a crack that was inhumanly possible to be done. 

"No way…" I slowly tiptoed my way back and forcibly shifted my gaze from the gorish sight. There is nothing that I can do to save this man, as I could only give him a silently prayer from what had remained on the ground. However, the growl, which I had heard from before, grew closer at every passing minute, seemingly haunting for its prey. I turned around and saw a little kid whom I had never recalled his name, standing at all fours, as he carefully approaches my body. The difference from the boy that I knew from what I am seeing right now was…now zombified like them.

I swiftly dash towards the other end of the cavern and prohibited myself from looking behind. Eventually, Itsuki's brother began the pursuit and pounced from a great speed and distance, catching from my breech.

I ran as fast as my little legs can offer, like a chicken escaping from the chicken slayer similar from the famous anime in japan; deja vu. Fortunately for me, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and hurriedly slid myself in a curve like manner, using the sturdy bark as my turning joint. 

At long last, I turned to discern the horrid face of my pursuer once more and checked for its, or his, response …

"Phew…that was…marathonic" I complemented myself from the endless run I had concluded, and grasped for air from my stretched lungs. The victor was me, as I held triumph against the four-legged zombie. Much to my surprise, 2 sets of bodies once again welcomed my eyes.

"Konoe…Tomori…." 

What happened next is for you to decide