33: Taiei (1)

"This is a good place to take a short break, we're not that far from the rendezvous point" - Cloud said while shaking his head.

Yuriko nodded when she saw this, so she quickly started ordering her subordinates to bring out the supplies.

The civilians got out of the buses and looked around with a frightened expression, after all, they had seen how chaotic the situation was, also realizing how lucky they had been before being rescued by the criminals of the Yakuza clan.

"There aren't as many of us as I thought" - said Saya as she walked to her mother - "Was it necessary for us to leave so many people behind?"

"Yes" - Yuriko answered honestly - "You may think that we don't have the right to decide who lives or not, but you are wrong, we can do it because we are the ones who saved their lives."

"You better not talk about moral dilemmas when we are in the middle of a zombie apocalypse" - Cloud interrupted, although his expression changed when he heard the footsteps of a huge group going in their direction.

Yuriko noticed this as well, so she quickly ordered her subordinates to get ready, though she relaxed when she saw a familiar outfit - "Oh, now that's a surprise, and a huge coincidence!"

Cloud raised an eyebrow as he saw the beautiful woman with purple hair and tanned skin who was leading a group of civilians - "You're right, I didn't expect us to meet so soon, although this is good, however, this is a huge problem, there are too many people..."

"Right, I mean, we knew there would be a lot of them, but..." - Saya said with a frown - "I guess we'll have to speed up our plans."

Cloud and Yuriko nodded at the pink-haired girl's words.

"What are you waiting for, put down your weapons!" - Yuriko exclaimed with a frown.

The soldiers were embarrassed when they heard this before lowering their weapons.

"What a surprise to see you so soon, I mean, we thought we would meet in Taiei" - said Rika as she walked to the current leader of the Takagi clan.

"That's what we were thinking too, although this is good, at least with this no more civilians will die" - Yuriko answered while ordering her subordinates to prepare food for this huge group - "I'm sure you have many questions".

"Yes, starting with your husband's death, if it's not too much trouble to ask" - said Rika with a frown - "I've had many clashes against your husband, so I'm aware that he more tenacious than a cockroach."

Yuriko's face darkened before she explained the situation in great detail, though obviously not talking about the terminal illness her husband was suffering from before his abrupt end.

Rika frowned because there was something this woman wasn't telling her because Soichiro's last moments were too strange.

Reacting slowly? That didn't seem like something that would happen to Soichiro unless he was extremely injured, but Yuriko didn't mention this.

Rika was silent before looking at Saya, who was frowning because she seemed to also be thinking that there was something weird going on. It was there that she understood that Yuriko was also hiding something from her daughter, so she decided it was best not to get into the subject anymore.

"I understand, my condolences, Takagi-san" - Rika said as she decided to change the subject - "Thank you very much for helping our civilians."

"As long as they follow our rules, everything will be fine" - Yuriko said seriously, after all, she didn't plan on putting up with the crap from these strangers.

"I'm going to inform them about the situation, so you don't have to worry" - Rika replied while shaking her head - "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some things to talk to my best friend, as well as meeting a certain important person of hers"

Yuriko raised an eyebrow, though she quickly shrugged it off because other people's personal lives, was none of her business.

Saya watched as the military woman walked in the direction where Shizuka was, only to shoot a glance at Cloud, who was also shrugging - "She's the woman who owned the apartment?"

"Possibly, I mean, she fits the description Shizuka gave us" - Cloud answered calmly as he decided to go investigate the area to pass the time.

Saya was silent before asking her mother directly about the real reason for her father's death.

Yuriko gave her a blank stare in response - "You don't believe me, perhaps?"

"I believe you, but I feel like you're not telling me the whole truth" - Saya answered seriously - "And from what I see, I'm not the only one who thinks so."

Yuriko shook her head before apologizing to her daughter, telling her that there was no way for her to explain the situation completely, at least not for now.

Saya frowned before stomping her foot hard, after all, she felt she was being deprived of something necessary.

* * * * *

"This is getting out of hand!" - exclaimed a man of about 25 with the clear appearance of a criminal - "It's impossible to bear with that lunatic any longer!"

The criminal-looking man was pointed in the direction of a boy much younger than him, one who looked like he had lost his mind from all the stupid things he was shouting.

"Calm down, Shimada!"" - exclaimed another 25-year-old man, only he was wearing a camouflage jacket - "If you keep yelling like that, you'll only make things worse!"

"I know, Tamaru, but I can't take it anymore!" - Shimada exclaimed as he gritted his teeth and walked over to the boy and grabbed him by the collar - "Shut up!"

"Let go of the civilian, Shimada-san!" - exclaimed a pretty blonde girl who was wearing a police uniform. She had a slender body with small curves, something she was self-conscious about.

"Young man, you don't have to be so violent" - said an elderly woman while trying to calm down the delinquent boy, who looked like he would explode at any second.

"Last warning, civilian Shimada, let go of the young man" - said the policewoman while pointing her gun - "We have to stick together if we want to keep holding on, we can't start fighting each other."

Shimada was about to let go of the boy, when she heard how the boy started laughing madly - "Shit, shut the fuck up!"

"Shimada, this isn't worth it, don't get your hands dirty" - Tamaru said as he tried to calm his friend, who seemed to be contemplating his words - "Tch!"

Shimada quickly threw the boy to the floor before turning around and leaving the room.

The potent scent of gunpowder was still present as the members of this small group looked at each other.

An elderly married couple, another older man who sat silently, Shimada who had left the room, Tamaru who could only shake her head, the boy who had gone mad and a woman in her 20s.

"Sorry about this, Asami-san, Shimada isn't this violent normally, it's just that this tense situation has him stressed out" - sighed Tamaru as she scowled at the lunatic boy - "And that son of a bitch isn't helping"

"Please watch your words, civilian Tamaru" - said Asami, the policewoman while frowning slightly - "I understand that you are tense, I understand that you are upset, but that is no reason to insult your fellow survivors."

"I understand that you want to keep the peace between us, Asami-san, but you have to understand that if we don't release some tension, then we'll end up exploding" - Tamaru replied with a frown - "And no, I'm not talking about a little sexy time, although it wouldn't hurt..."

Asami frowned, after all, she had no thoughts of sacrificing her body to keep the peace, though that didn't mean she didn't understand what this boy was trying to say - "I understand, I'll try to talk some sense into that boy."

"Thank you very much" - Tamaru murmured as he walked in the direction where his best friend was.

"I was worried" - muttered the old woman as she let out a sigh - "I thought that delinquent had lost his mind".

"Come on, don't be that mean to that kid, he's just as or more worried about the situation than we are" - said her husband as he shook his head - "And honestly, that kid is starting to get on my nerves too..."

Asami frowned because she didn't expect the kindly old man to end up showing hostility against someone in their group.

"Where is Officer Matsushima?" - interjected the lone elderly man - "Is she still investigating the floor?"

"No, Matsushima Danchou is checking outside for possible help" - Asami replied while shaking her head.

"I see..." - muttered the lonely man as he shook his head - "I guess hope is the last thing to be lost..."

"Hey, you don't have to be so pessimistic, I'm sure we'll be rescued" - said the old man as he held his wife's hand.

"I'm not being pessimistic, I'm being realistic" - replied the lonely man as he frowned - "It's been two days, and the military hasn't even come close for supplies, no, even if they did show up I wouldn't be surprised if they would..."

"Okay, enough!" - Asami exclaimed as she looked at the elderly - "They'll rescue us, I'm sure of it!"