After another van ride, mixed emotions all around, some people reunited with people they lost, others separated from people they love.
They’re dropped off in the run down and dilapidated City neighborhood, and after being curtly ushered off the van, they all sort of stand there. A unanimous feeling of “What now?” can be felt all around.
Antoine takes his daughter’s hand, then looks to the rest of their group “We should find somewhere to stay...”
They walk the streets cautiously, keeping an eye out for Infected or hostile Citizens. The buildings were all abandoned, but the atmosphere felt thick with ghosts of the lives that were lost and made to uproot. They enter a normal house, it looked fairly unused, but dishes were still on the table, food untouched, beds not even made. Rukia flops down onto the couch, “Let’s just relax...”
Antoine runs his finger along the table “No matter how many times we go through this, its always so fucking eerie”
Kazuko looks at her parents, feeling their melancholy, then looks at the rest of their family, biting her lip, unsure of what to do now. Chris walks over and rests his hand on the top of her head “Wanna go explore?” Kazuko lights up, grinning “Yeah!” She looks at her mom and dad “Can I?”
Antoine gives her a tight lipped frown “It’s kind of dange-”
Rukia cuts him off “Go have fun munchkin, Chris you watch her, right?”
He salutes her playfully, but his eyes held a deepset seriousness. He was very protective of Kazuko. Tommy looks up from his tablet “Oh- Can I go too?”. Chris puts his arm around his twin’s shoulder “Lets go”
After they leave, Antoine turns to Rukia “Its dangerous out there! What if something happened to them?!”
Rukia rolls her eyes “First of all, don’t have an attitude with me. Second of all, they’re fully able to take care of themselves.”
“They’re children!” He walks over to Rukia
Rukia glares at him “Chris is 20. And Kazuko isn’t 3 anymore, you don’t have to baby her like she’s stupid, let the girl live her life.”
“That doesn’t matter, I’m trying to protect her! This isn’t a dream, this is real, they could die or get infected. Would you want that?” He looks away bitterly.
“Of course I don’t, but I think that we’ve trained them enough that they’ll be alright. What are they going to do when we aren’t here anymore? If you keep babying them, they won’t be able to fend for themselves.” She reaches out and takes his hand in hers “I know you want to protect her, I understand, but you can’t force her down like that, she’s strong and capable. Look who she grew up with.”
Antoine manages a small smile at his girlfriend “I guess you’re right.”
Chris, Kazuko, and Tommy walk along the street. Chris had his gun in his hand, grasping it tightly, but his face held nothing but lightheartedness.
Kazuko smiles at Chris “I guess to put a positive spin on this, its a change of scenery right?”
Tommy looks around the City “It’s exactly the same as the old one. They’re all the same, Kazuko.”
Her smile slips a bit “But its a new one-”
“Aw don’t be such a mood killer, Tommy” Chris socks his brother in the arm.
Tommy rubs his arm, “Don’t do that-”
Kazuko pouts at Chris “You still don’t know how insanely strong you are?”
He makes a goofy look at Tommy “Oh I do”
“Jerk.” Tommy rolls his eyes, annoyed.
“Oh it’s you again” A stern voice says.
They look up from their craziness to see the same guy Kazuko bumped into at the Soiree.
“Hitsugi-san....” She says breathlessly, surprised.
He raises his eyebrow “You remember me.”
She gives him an annoyed look “How could I forget? You called me a bumbling idiot, and said I was stupid.”
“You know this guy?” Chris gives Shoma a once-over.
Kazuko smiles, embarrassed “Right- I bumped into him back at the Soiree.”
Chris looks at Shoma, already deciding he doesn’t like him “Who are you?”
“Shoma Hitsugi.” He levels Chris’s stare.
Tommy gives him one of his usual no-nonsense looks “So what’s your problem with Kazuko?”
Shoma looks at Kazuko “I don’t have a problem with your little friend here.”
Her face flushes hotly with embarrassment and annoyance as Chris corrects Shoma in a curt tone “She’s our- cousin.”
Kazuko looks at Chris with mild confusion, did he just....hesitate?
Shoma looks away, “So what are your Specialties?”
Kazuko offers him a smile “I’m a Robotics Specialist.”
“Martial Artist” Chris says blandly “My twin brother over there, he’s a Musician.”
Tommy looks up briefly, but says nothing.
Shoma nods “I'm a Veterinarian. You have probably heard of me? I once raised a Parrotlet from death. I’m the greatest animal doctor this world has ever seen.”
“Right.” Chris looks as him funny
“Would you all perhaps like to see my new place of practice? I would suggest you put that gun away, it scares the animals.” Shoma looks at Kazuko as he speaks, but the question was directed to all three of them.
She blushes slightly, but tries not to let the fluttering feeling she feels in her gut show on her face “W-we would be happy to!” She says, cringing internally at her high pitched quip.
The twins give her an incredulous look but Shoma just nods “I’ll lead the way.”
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