Chapter Text
Abandoned cities were reclaimed by nature, with most of their population decimated by a modern plague called the Cordyceps Brain Infection. Nobody really knows how and when it started exactly—except for a single night that reigned over Tokyo and changed all their lives forever.
The infection was known to have come from the earth itself; a parasitic fungal infection that attacks the brain and begins to alter the behaviour of its host. The symptoms come in stages: The first, after being infected by the Cordyceps Brain Infection were called Runners, wherein the host loses their higher brain function, along with their humanity, rendering them to be hyper-aggressive and incapable of reason and rational thoughts, grisly, the infected remains alive while the fungus grows within them—inhabiting itself within its host. In the second stage, the fungus begins altering the host’s sight as a result of progressing fungal growth over the head and corruption of their visual cortex. The several stages were kept secret.
Six years since the plague, Furihata had lost his parents in a single night, only to have escaped with his brother and eventually rescued into a quarantine zone in Tokyo, heavily policed by the militia.
One year, Furihata had yet to know of the whereabouts of his friends and only eventually the year after did he manage to trace his boyfriend, Akashi, who was designated in another quarantine zone.
Two years, Furihata had only reunited with Kise in the same quarantine zone, who was left with only his two sisters.
Three years, Furihata had finally reunited with Akashi who was granted a transfer.
Six years now, Kise awaits Kasamatsu’s transfer from another designated quarantine zone.
It was supposed to be a short day out, Furihata had persuaded Akashi to tag along. “Just follow me.” he said “It won’t be long.” he promised. The two were used to going in and out of their designated quarantine zone—secretly, it was by no means with permission as no civilians were allowed in nor out, only the official personals. Definitely not permitted by Furihata’s brother who’s a volunteer of their quarantine zone.
However, the two were adventurous. Despite knowing the dangers, they were persistent and smart. They were handy and agile—and sometimes a little reckless, it was just so they could feel alive again. “When have we become so stupid?” Akashi asked one night, to which Furihata scoffed. “When the world ended six years ago.”
Akashi could not disagree.
When the sun set in the west, Akashi and Furihata started their way back. Where they would sneak back in, hide their travel belongings until Furihata’s brother comes back to their designated apartment to find them safe and sound, as they should be.
Instead, on their way back were evidence of a disaster. One military tank turned to its side, one medical truck toppled over, two military trucks crashed into abandoned shop lots, and three civilian escort buses were heavily damaged. Lifeless bodies were strewn on the ground, over the vehicles, and piling onto one another. The stenches of blood and gasoline reeked their noses.
The couple trudged carefully, observing their surroundings while gearing their weapon in hand, prepared to strike at any given moment. Furihata inspected the bodies but not closely. A few soldiers were found dismembered, some civilians’ faces were scratched and heavily shrewd unrecognizable.
Furihata would have gagged, cried and fainted, but it was nothing unusual anymore. Although, the sadness stung just the same.
By the belly of the escort bus, on thick crimson liquid, was a body. White uniform drenched in blood, still oozing from the abdomen. It was a medical officer and Furihata noticed something white peaking from the breast pocket of the officer. Furihata carefully examine the officer, making sure there were no signs of life for it could be infected. Furihata reached down and quickly slipped the item and unfolded the piece of paper.
“Kouki,” Furihata heard Akashi approaching him.
“Seijuurou,” Furihata heard himself choke, voice barely making out. He turned to his lover, not knowing the horror he displayed to Akashi. “This is Kasamatsu’s escort bus.”
Akashi felt his heart drop.
Kise was expecting Kasamatsu to arrive anytime the day before or the latest was the day after, but as the couple witness the disaster before them, it was impossible for that to happen.
“Have you seen him?” Akashi asked, Furihata shook his head. “No.” Furihata said softly and looked around. “I don’t think so, none of them looks any familiar to me either.”
Akashi clicks his tongue. “Neither did I, but some of them aren’t identifiable at this point.”
“Well,” Furihata stared at a torso with trails of intestines sprawled on the ground. “Definitely not that one.” He cringed. Akashi looked at his line of sight before answering. “No, too narrow. But I did notice something though. Come, I’ll show you.” Akashi led Furihata towards the military truck. “You see this guy?”
“A bandit? Wait, d’you think this is an ambush?”
“An ambush went wrong.” Akashi scoffed. “You see those flesh marks on his diaphragm? Only an infected could have done such damage, those deep wounds could have been the grip it had on him to hold him down while he tried to escape.”
“Look at his hand… it’s gone. It must have stomached his whole fingers alive while he was trying to hold it off.” Furihata sighed, cringing at the pitiful sight. “Poor guy….must have died a slow death. But then,” he looked around again. “If Kasamatsu’s not here…”
“He couldn’t have gone far.” Akashi said surely.
“You think so? You think he’d gone away?”
“He’s clever and resilient. Must have found a way out somehow.”
“If that’s really true, then—”
“—Kouki,” Akashi caught Furihata mid-sentence. He didn’t need to look to get the idea formed in Furihata’s mind. “Are you thinking what I think you’re thinking?”
“Well…..”
“We could go back and report this to them, and they’ll come here to scout for survivors.”
“I, I guess but…” Furihata sighed. “It would be too long by the time they get here, he could have been far—or worst.”
Akashi checked his watch and looked around. “We don’t have much time either. But we should search the area before the sun gets any lower and hurry our way back, with or without him.”
“My brother’s gonna kill me either way.”
“Fair point.” Seijuurou winced at the thought of his doom in the hands of Kouki’s brother. Shaking his head, he added. “But we got two choices, don’t we?”
Furihata nodded a little unease but was relieved that they had a mutual agreement, if Kasamatsu really have gotten away from the incident, he might still have a fighting chance to survive, but that chance will deplete once the sun goes down. “And I prefer looking for him.”
“Yeah. Stay close to me, OK?”
They left the scene and searched the nearby shop lots together. It was dark inside and dangerous, but so far there were no infected lurking in the shadows, not even a soul survivor too. The corpses weren’t something they would be surprised at anymore, that thought wasn’t very pleasant to think of, a new reality in which they have no choice but to accept.
The shadows spread as the sun sets, at this time Akashi would suggest they quickly head back but they both saw a corpse of an infected—not dead too long ago. Perhaps Kasamatsu was close by, but they couldn’t get their hopes too high, it could have been anyone’s doing—worst, another group of bandits, ready to ambush them just about anytime.
Furihata inspected the dead infected closely while Akashi kept an eye out. Furihata looked to where the infected could have been heading to and right in front he saw a gift shop; dark, glassless window but with seemingly plenty of room to hide, outside there were two more dead bodies lying outside. “There,” Furihata pointed at the abandoned shop. “It seems he and his friends were chasing something this way. Should we?”
Akashi scanned the area before nodding, carefully making their way towards the gift shop. It was far too dark. The mess of the isles and racks were also blocking most of their view inside, they couldn’t really tell if there were anything hiding behind those shadows. Furihata shined his light inside, Akashi had his gun out in preparation.
They stepped inside, boots crunching against the shattered glasses, they kept their steps as quiet as possible. Three more bodies were found on the ground, blood pools were still fresh, glistening and wet when met with the light. The couple said nothing, Furihata sensed Akashi’s presence right behind him, ready for any shot that may jump out from the shadows where they least expect.
Both had the same thought, and neither needed to speak of any doubt if they should continue or head out—both decided on not turning back. A gurgle just below a whisper and Furihata stabbed his crowbar straight through the skull of the infected on the ground, effectively silencing it or had given any chance for it grab his leg—if it had an ounce of energy which he didn’t want to find out either.
Three steps away from the counter, they halted. Furihata adjusted the crowbar within his grasp for a better grip, his palms were sweaty—not that it was unusual. The slight tremble from the beam of light was a giveaway of his heart rate, but Akashi was as steady behind him.
They took three steps and had their weapons firm in their hands—ready to parry and launch the first attack—their reflex was also quick enough to hold back when the light shined at a familiar face, with a gun in hand, pointing readily at them too.
“Holy shit!” Furihata gasped. “Kasamatsu!” The said man exhaled the breath he held, his hand dropped at his side. He was found sitting on the ground, back leaned behind the counter. Akashi lowered his gun, a sense of tension and stress relieved from his shoulders.
Furihata got down beside Kasamatsu, light scanning over the other. “Oh God —you’re injured!” Akashi went to the back, quickly inspecting for any dangers. “It’s fine,” Kasamatsu said breathlessly. “I just—” he grunted. “Need some bandages, is all— fuck— ”
Akashi observed Kasamatsu; one hand clutching onto his left abdomen, blood seeping through his clothes. “Bandages don’t come by easy these days,” Akashi said, Kasamatsu snorted. Furihata slung his bag to the ground, torch stuffed into his mouth so he could search through his bag in the dark.
“What happened? Back there?” Akashi asked.
“Well,” Kasamatsu breathed. “Fucken’ bandits decided to rob us. Got more attention than they had probably planned—….shit hit the roof, I got away—barely—and now here I am. Stuck in a gift shop, with absolutely nothing to bring back for Ryouta.” Kasamatsu laughed, so did Akashi.
“Ryouta….Kise, ho-how is he?” Kasamatsu asked voice softened.
Akashi smiled. “Waiting for you—and I don’t think that's gonna help, dear, you might need at least twenty boxes of those.” He chuckled, sensing Furihata’s glare. “Well, dandy— I only got one.” Furihata puffed and ripped the wrapper of the bandaid. “Least it helps with this cut though.” Furihata said, plastering the bandaid over the cut on Kasamatsu’s forehead. Furihata had only countable painkillers and gave Kasamatsu one with a drink of water from his bottle.
The older of them smiled appreciatively. “Thanks, Furi.”
Furihata looked up at Akashi. “We have to find something.”
“I saw a pharmacy on our way here.” Akashi clicked his tongue. “Doubt they’d be any use though— oh— the crates from the military! Bet the supplies are still there.”
Kasamatsu coughed, shaking his head. “Going back? You can’t, it’s too dangerous.”
“It’s not too far.” Furihata insisted.
“Not to further wound you, but we’re in much better condition to run and gun our way back here.” Akashi said and checked his watch. “We shouldn’t be long. You think you’ll be alright here alone?”
With little strength to argue back, Kasamatsu only relented. “Yeah.”
“Here,” Akashi took Kasamatsu’s gun and reloaded it with a new magazine. “I picked this up from one of the soldiers back there. Thought they should be of use.” Kasamatsu scoffed when the gun was handed back to him. “You’re handy with a gun.”
“It’s effective at times like these.”
Furihata patted Kasamatsu’s shoulder, only to softly apologize when Kasamatsu winced. The couple got out and left the gift shop and traced their way back to where the Kasamatsu’s escort bus was at. As Akashi suspected, the supplies were mostly there but there were only so many they could carry. They grabbed what they could as it was getting darker and quickly head back to the gift shop.
To their relief, Kasamatsu was still hanging on fairly well, although he was getting weaker. Furihata and Akashi cleaned and dressed Kasamatsu’s wound together, they couldn’t really do him all that nicely with the limited supplies, but it was just enough to get him up on his feet again with needed support.
“It’s getting darker. We should find shelter until tomorrow morning.” Akashi suggested. Furihata definitely didn’t like the sound of that, and the atmosphere didn’t sit well with him—they have never been out this late before in an apocalyptic city—just the mere thought of having to find shelter scared him, but he definitely wanted a shelter that’s for sure.
The strange sounds in the night weren’t something they were all familiar with, without the military protection like the quarantine zone, it was a completely different experience for them being out in the open. Furihata stayed by Kasamatsu’s side while Akashi escorted them from the front.
They managed to find a small office lot and barricaded the doors and window before settling in. Furihata and Akashi suggested that they both take turns keeping watch while Kasamatsu takes the full night’s rest, but eventually, the couple ended up staying up together, neither were comfortable falling asleep.