Saviors [GiyuShino] [Apocolypse AU]

Chapter Three: Arrival

They come in the morning. I'm just latching a lock onto the back door when we hear the helicopter. I run outside, ordering my sisters to stay where they are.

"Doctor Kocho, we have been tasked with protecting you during this apocalypse while you are researching a cure. Please do not panic. We are not dangerous to you or to your family." a maroon haired soldier yells through a megaphone. He smiles reassuringly at my girls, who are watching with wide eyes through the windows.

"Please explain to me exactly who you are and what your mission is." I ask calmly, my smile not fading from my face. I'm not surprised by their appearance at my door. I'm a very well-known doctor and the government sponsors my research.

The soldier looks surprised, and maybe a little impressed. Maybe he was expecting me to lose my cool. I'm a little offended. They clearly don't know much about me if they assumed I would be frightened so easily.

"Actually, please come inside first. You are making quite a racket yelling through that megaphone, and I don't think the neighbors appreciate it." I call, stopping the soldier before he yells again. I don't know about them, but I'd rather not add a headache to my list of problems right now.

Fortunately, he gets the message. He nods, and signals to someone else inside the helicopter, presumably his superior.

They land on the helicopter pad in my front yard and I lead them inside.

"Right. First things first, please introduce yourselves." I don't have to bother calling my sisters; they are already huddled together in the entrance hall.

A soldier with spiky black hair pulled into a ponytail and piercing blue eyes, with a jacket covered in badges nods at me. "Yes. I am Captain Giyuu Tomioka," he pauses.

"Your squad can introduce themselves." I answer before he asks the question. He nods again, apparently he's not much of a talker.

"I'm Tanjiro Kamado. It's nice to meet you all!" he introduces himself and grins at us. He seems kind.

"It's Inosuke Hashibira! You should be glad I'm not your enemy! I'll crush those zombies!" one of the other soldiers with a girly face and blue hair yells loudly.

I smile at him again, a little dangerously. "Please don't yell in the house. You're scaring my sisters."

"I'm Zenitsu Agatsuma. I'll protect you ladies with my life." the blonde soldier declares, flashing my sisters and I what I assume is supposed to be a charming smile. I notice that his hands are shaking. He's clearly afraid, so I assume this is his first mission.

The girl, not a soldier by the look of it, that came in through the door behind them smacks his head and huffs. Then she looks apologetically at us.

I smile at her kindly. "And what's your name?"

"She's my sister, Nezuko. I take her with me wherever I go. Oh, and she's mute, so she can't really respond to you unless you can understand sign language." Tanjiro explains, patting his sister on the head.

I give Nezuko a small grin. "Don't worry, all of us know sign language. You'll get along great with my sisters!"

She smiles excitedly and signs a reply. "I hope so!"

"Oh! My sisters and I haven't introduced ourselves yet, right? As you probably know, I'm Doctor Shinobu Kocho. Please just call me by my first name." I tell them. "Girls, please introduce yourselves,"

"My name is Kanao Tsuyuri. It's nice to meet you." Kanao says quietly, smiling. She's the oldest, and the shyest, out of my sisters. She was bullied in school before my late elder sister and I adopted her, so she has a hard time opening up to people.

Tanjiro and Zenitsu both smile encouragingly at her, and her smile widens a little. I pat her shoulder. She doesn't have any friends outside of her family, so I hope she'll get along with these young soldiers.

"Aoi Kanzaki. Pleased to meet your acquaintance!" Aoi announces boldly. "Also, the rules of our house are written on the board in the living room. Please follow them properly while you are staying with us."

Aoi has always been very particular about the organization and neatness of our house, and I always leave her in charge while I'm out.

"We're Naho," Naho begins.

"Kiyo," Kiyo continues.

"And Sumi!" Sumi finishes.

"We'll help you any way we can!" they say together.

Those three can almost read each other's minds. It's almost creepy. They aren't blood relatives but they're even closer than most triplets.

"Another thing," I say. "I've trained my girls thoroughly in martial arts and marksmanship, the two oldest even more than the younger girls, so we know how to protect ourselves. That should make your job easier."

Tomioka nods. "That is very helpful."

"You must all be tired. Naho, Kiyo, Sumi, please show our guests to their rooms." I clap my hands, and the three little girls lead the soldiers out of the room. The captain stay behind.

"Why did you teach your sisters those combat skills?" he asks.

I smile again. I was expecting this question. "I grew up in a terrible place, and I believe it is very important for all girls to know how to protect themselves and their families in any situation. So I taught my sisters and some other girls in this area. I also knew that the zombies would probably enter the underground someday, so I wanted to be prepared."

"Oh." is all he says.

"Aoi can show you to your room." I say, as Aoi steps forward.

They walk out of the room. Just before Aoi closes the door he stops and turns.

"I will complete my mission no matter what. You and your family are safe as long as I am here."