Untouched by the Outbreak

After breakfast, Ryo carried his chair outside, setting it down on the porch as the evening breeze drifted through the air. He opened a cold can of beer and took a long sip, feeling the familiar, satisfying buzz as the liquid hit his throat. His MP5 rested by his side, as usual—ready for anything.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

He scanned the area, making sure the Striders and Brutes he commanded were in position, guarding the perimeter of the house. Zombies were no longer a threat, not for him. It was the government that concerned him now. He knew they wouldn't stop until they captured him, but Ryo had no intention of letting that happen without a fight.

Sayako stood quietly beside him, her presence a constant reminder of the strange power dynamic he had with the zombies. She was faster than the Striders, more agile than any zombie he'd encountered before. He wondered just how strong she could be if she ever got serious, if she unleashed her full potential. But for now, she remained obedient, following his every command.

Ryo turned his head slightly, calling for Sachiko. "Come sit with me," he ordered, his voice firm but with an undercurrent of affection. He wanted her close, right beside him. He didn't need to say more. Sachiko hesitated for only a moment before stepping outside to join him, wrapping her arms around his as she sat down next to him.

Ryo smirked. Life in this twisted world was becoming something he could control. Zombies, government, even Sachiko—it all revolved around him.

Ryo handed Sachiko the half-finished can of beer, his smirk widening as she took a hesitant sip. She wasn't much of a drinker—couldn't hold her alcohol well—but she drank a little, enough to humor him. Afterward, she passed the can back to Ryo and leaned against his chest, feeling his warmth. For a moment, she closed her eyes, letting herself relax.

Life here, in this strange new world, was better than anything she'd known before—better than the constant fear inside the government's last stronghold. There was food, security, and Ryo. She didn't have to worry about starving or scrambling for supplies anymore. The rice, canned goods, and everything they needed were here.

Sachiko, still resting on his chest, broke the comfortable silence with a question that had been lingering in her mind. "What about the rooftop room? The apartment where I first came… is that still part of your plan?"

Ryo didn't hesitate as he took another swig from the can. "That's our second base," he said casually. "We'll use it if things get too heated here. But for now, this place is better."

Sachiko nodded, feeling reassured. Ryo always had a plan, and she felt safe knowing that. The rooftop apartment was still theirs, another sanctuary in case the government came too close. She sighed softly, feeling more content than she ever had before. Here, with Ryo, she didn't have to worry about survival the same way anymore. Everything felt...

secure.

Ryo took another sip of beer, letting the crisp bitterness linger on his tongue before setting the can down on the table. He leaned back in his chair, his eyes gazing out at the horizon as if recalling something distant. After a brief pause, he began speaking, his voice low and reflective.

"That apartment," he said, "the rooftop place... It was my spot before all this." He gestured vaguely at the world around them, filled with zombies and chaos. "Back when I was just a student. I rented it because it was cheap, close to the university. Nothing fancy, but it had a view."

Sachiko listened quietly, sensing a rare moment of nostalgia from Ryo. He wasn't usually one to talk much about the past, but when he did, it always carried a weight.

"I used to study late into the night there, stressed about exams, projects... the usual stuff." He chuckled darkly. "Crazy how none of that matters now. That whole life feels like it belonged to someone else." He shook his head. "I didn't know back then that I'd end up... here.

That place was a quiet escape. No one bothered me up there on the roof."

Sachiko looked up at him, her curiosity piqued. "Did you ever think you'd leave? Before... everything?"

Ryo shrugged. "Maybe. But it was peaceful. I liked the solitude. It became more than just a place I stayed at. It was mine." He turned his gaze back to Sachiko, his smirk returning.

"And now, it's still ours. If this place ever becomes unsafe, we'll go back there. But I don't think we'll need to leave anytime soon."

Sachiko smiled faintly, imagining the life Ryo had led before the world fell apart. It felt distant, like a story from another time. Yet, hearing him talk about it made her feel even more connected to him. She was part of this new chapter in his life, and wherever they ended up, she knew she'd follow him.

Ryo listened silently, feeling the warmth of Sachiko as she leaned into his chest. He could sense a soft smile playing on her lips as she spoke, her voice steady and reflective.

"I was a researcher, you know," Sachiko began, her words slow and deliberate. "Always focused on my work. I didn't socialize much. Actually... I never really cared to. My world was the lab, my colleagues were the only people I talked to, and even that was mostly about work."

She paused, her eyes momentarily distant. "Before all this," she gestured lightly around, referring to the apocalypse, "I was part of a team working on food production and sustainability. We were looking at ways to grow food in more difficult environments... trying to find solutions for the future, especially with climate change becoming a bigger issue."

Ryo raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued as she continued. "Sounds like you were already working on saving the world."

Sachiko chuckled softly, shaking her head. "It didn't feel like it back then. Just felt like another project, another set of challenges to figure out. But then..." She trailed off, her tone shifting as she leaned further into him. "When the outbreak happened, everything changed. Suddenly, my research shifted.

They pulled me and a few others into a new team, trying to understand what this virus was, how it spread, and how to stop it."

Ryo nodded, feeling the tension in her voice as she remembered. "So you went from growing food to studying zombies."

"Exactly." Sachiko sighed. "But the more we studied, the more hopeless it felt. No matter what we did, the virus kept spreading. We couldn't find a cure, only ways to slow it down... And then things fell apart. The government stronghold became...

well, you know what it became."

Ryo could feel her body tense against him, remembering the horrors she had escaped from. He placed a hand gently on her shoulder, squeezing it reassuringly.

"But now, you're here," he said quietly. "And you're with me."

Sachiko smiled, her eyes softening as she looked up at him. "Yeah, I am. And I wouldn't want to be anywhere else."

Ryo's voice was firm, but there was a possessive warmth beneath his words as he looked down at Sachiko. "You must remember," he said quietly, his hand moving to her chin, tilting her face so she looked directly at him. "You are mine, and mine alone."

Sachiko's eyes widened slightly, feeling the weight of his words. A mix of emotions ran through her, but she didn't resist. She knew this was the way things were with Ryo. There was no escaping it—and, if she was being honest with herself, she didn't want to. Deep down, she had grown to like the way Ryo claimed her. It made her feel protected, secure, and strangely connected to him.

She nodded softly, her lips forming a slight smile. "I know," she whispered, leaning in closer to him. "I'm yours, Ryo."

Ryo smirked, satisfied with her response, and leaned in to kiss her forehead. He wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her even closer as they sat in silence for a moment, feeling the cool evening breeze and the quiet presence of Sayako standing not far away.

He whispered in her ear, "Don't forget it."

Sachiko then smiled, reaching for Ryo and kissing him passionately. "I am yours, Ryo," she breathed, her voice a mix of sincerity and warmth. She wanted to tell him that her heart had already melted for him, but she understood that Ryo wasn't searching for love or anything beyond pleasure.

Still, she didn't mind. All she truly cared about was being beside him, feeling his presence, and knowing she was his.

Ryo returned the kiss, deepening it, his hands gently gripping her waist. In that moment, the chaotic world outside faded away, and all that mattered was their connection. He pulled back slightly, his gaze locked onto hers, reading the unspoken feelings behind her eyes.

"Good," he said with a smirk, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Because I have no intention of letting you go."

Sachiko's heart raced at his words, and she leaned back into him, feeling a sense of belonging wash over her. In this harsh, post-apocalyptic world, they had carved out a sanctuary—one that was imperfect but undeniably theirs.