Dead Serve

Part 28~The Walls

Michi held Yasu's head close to his chest, protecting him from the view. He didn't know who these people were to Yasu but he wasn't going to risk upsetting the poor boy. Kiyoko kept Yachi away from the sight as Tsukishima unlocked the door.

The second they were outside, Michi put Yasu down, the small boy taking his hand.

"Don't let go, there are going to be some scary people after us and I don't want them to hurt you so you need to hold on tight, alright?" Michi knelt down to Yasu level as he spoke.

Yasu looked up fearfully, nodding at Michi before squeezing his hand.

"Good, let's go okay?" Michi secured his hold on Yasu before nodding at Tsukishima.

Tsukishima didn't like not holding onto Michi but he knew if he took Michi's other hand the smaller wouldn't be able to defend himself and that scared him more. Yasu seemed to notice the blond's discomfort as he took the older's hand. Tsukishima jumped from the small fingers worming their way around his hand.

"Don't be scared, everything will be okay. Mummy said so," Yasu announced with a blinding smile.

Yachi let out an 'aww' as she watched the trio. "They're like a family," she gushed as Kiyoko nodded.

Yasu tilted his head in confusion, not understanding why someone would say that as Tsukishima and Michi blushed.

"We should go before we get found," Asahi stated, walking forward. Thankfully, there weren't any infected in sight.

Tsukishima and Michi nodded, gently helping Yasu through the streets.

Yasu's eyes widened as he looked around the street. Infected lined the streets, groaning and stumbling around. Yasu knew these people. That was his neighbour, his teacher, his friend. He didn't understand why these people were acting so strangely.

"Michi? What's wrong with Mr Oishi? And Endo-san? And Toki-chan? What's wrong with everyone?" Yasu was shaking. He was slowing them down. Yasu let out a scream as his foot caught on a loose stone, sending him to the ground.

"Yasu!" Michi stopped, running back to lift up the small boy. "It's okay, we just need to keep going."

"No, please, what's wrong with them?" Yasu was crying. He didn't understand.

Tsukishima cursed. This was the first time Yasu had left the house. He probably knew nothing of the world outside. His parents must have protected him from it. Michi isn't going anywhere without Yasu and Yasu wasn't moving.

Taking the boy into his arms, Tsukishima lifted him up. "Come on, we need to get out of here."

The others nodded as they rushed away. As Asahi batted off 'Mr Oishi's' head, Tsukishima pulled Yasu closer. He didn't want Yasu to watch them destroy the people he once knew.

"It'll be okay, we'll explain everything once we're safe. You'll be okay," Tsukishima promised, slicing through the neck of an incoming infected.

"There's the wall! We are almost there!" Kiyoko couldn't wait. They were almost out, once they were out of the city, the infected wouldn't be able to sneak up on them. It will be a straight run home!

"We're almost safe," Michi promised Yasu, who buried himself in Tsukishima's shoulder. "Just a little further."

"You are far from safe."

Gulping, Michi's eyes widened. He knew that voice. "Joji! You're still alive?!"

Joji walked into the street, a long sword in his hand. Where did he get that?! "Of course I am! You can't seriously believe that after I found out you were immune I didn't make myself immune as well. The second I realised that you got into my system, I knew we weren't going to win the battle. I started to sneak out of the lab, didn't stop those stupid infected low-lives from attacking me. Almost lost my leg but I won't die. I'm immune and I will leave the second those ladders to fall from the sky."

"Then you can come with us," Yasu whispered, whimpering away from the scary man.

"Oh, how cute, you've found yourself a child. It's a shame, I do hate killing children. They tend to whine more." Joji charged forward. Michi pulled Tsukishima back, he used the spear-like log to divert the sword aimed at his head. Naturally, a twig was no match for a sword as Joji sliced the only defence Michi had to pieces.

Asahi rushed forward, hitting Joji into the wall.

"Take Yasu," Tsukishima ordered, depositing Yasu into Michi's arms. Tsukishima ran forward, meeting each slash on his sword with his machete. "You will not hurt Michi!" Tsukishima kicked Joji back, sending a glance to Michi. "...Or Yasu."

"Yachi, Michi, get to the walls." Kiyoko pushed Yachi behind her, pointing towards the one way out.

Machi grabbed onto Yachi's hand, dragging the smaller girl away.

Kiyoko charged forward, grabbing a brick off from the street and throwing it into Joji's chest. "Let's go!" Kiyoko grabbed Asahi, pushing him backwards. Tsukishima hesitated for a second before he ran away. They were almost there.

"I'm not letting you leave!" Joji threw the same brick at Tsukishima, hitting his leg and causing him to fall to the ground. Tsukishima growled, his ankle was twisted. There was no way he was going anywhere. Joji pulled his sword to Tsukishima back, pressing a foot to the other's back. "I can't let you leave or they'll know what I did. I will not let you leave." Joji lifted his sword above his head ready to slice off Tsukishima's head.

Wack!

Michi stood over Tsukishima, Asahi's baseball bat in his hands. "No one decapitates my boyfriend." Michi pulled Tsukishima up, letting the taller lean on him as he dragged him over to the wall. Yachi- who was holding Yasu- and Kiyoko were waving their arms about desperately. Asahi pulled his bat out of Michi's hand, unimpressed with the smaller stealing his weapon.

The rope ladder fell from the top. That looks safe.

"Yasu, you go first," Yachi ordered, lifting the four-year-old onto the ladder. Yasu hurried up the ladder, letting out small panicked squeaks as the rope swung in the wind. Yachi was quick to follow him. Kiyoko jumped up, making quick work of the ladder.

"You should go next," Michi suggested, trying to make Tsukishima climb. "Joji is my fault, if he is going to kill anyone, it will be me."

"No! You are the immune, you need to survive." Tsukishima grabbed Michi's hands, praying for the other to understand.

"Well, while you fight, I'm going." Asahi slid the baseball bat into his belt, grabbing onto the bars of the ladder and pulling himself up.

Michi turned to look at his boyfriend, sliding the machete out from his hand. "You're hurt. Go, I'll keep Joji back."

Tsukishima didn't want to go. Leaning forward, he placed a kiss on Michi's lips, brushing the smaller cheek. "You better not die." Tsukishima pulled away, using his upper body strength to climb the ladder.

Michi turned to face Joji. "You should have died where no one would have seen you cry."

Joji let out a cold laugh. "And you should have died during the experiment." Joji charged forward, swinging the sword at Michi who easily met the blade. Michi tried to fight back. With each swing, they met. They ducked and tried to use raw power and tricks to gain the upper edge.

As Yasu pulled himself on top of the wall, he looked down, seeing Michi and Joji. He rushed over, grabbing the closest heavy object he could lift as he threw it over the side.

Michi spotted the falling object. He had no idea where it came from or why but he was going to use it. Grabbing Joji's shirt, Michi pulled him forward and into the path of the metal box. Putting the machete between his teeth, Michi started to climb.

Asahi helped pull Tsukishima on top of the wall, the guards watched, checking over Yasu and Yachi for any signs of infection. Tsukishima let out a sigh of relief as he saw Michi climbing. They were going to make it. They were almost free.

"Not yet!" Joji had long abandoned the sword, climbing faster than Michi and gaining ground.

"We can't let him out of the walls," one of the guards stated, looking at the insane man. "I'm sorry."

Tsukishima didn't get time to think over the words as the guards cut the rope.

"Michi!"