ZRP-2: Chapter Two, Paradise in Hell

"We do have the rest of the day to ourselves. As for what to do, other then lie here talking, nothing comes to mind that doesn't involve you, inevitably, screaming in pain."

(James)
"Well, if you're up for it we could maybe start my lessons in Japanese?"

She smiled. "Sounds good. We'll start with..." she spoke a sentence in Japanese.

Once to the exit, Abel asked for the guard to open the door so he could leave. Thankfully they were cooperative and did so, allowing Abel to leave. And he did, he left, and started walking.

(James)
=I tried to keep a straight face, as I did my best to repeat what she said=
"What does that mean?"

"I will never do something stupid ever again."

(James)
=That made me laugh, so much that I shook a little. When I stopped, I repeated the phrase again in Japanese=
"How was that?"

"Good." She said another phrase. "Hello, my name James-san." She repeated it in Japanese.

(James)
=Once more, I repeated the words, committing them to memory=

"Once we get paper I can really teach you." Hibiki retur ed to repeating phrases.

Then she started teaching James the curse words.
"Most used words in America."

(James)
"Damn......okay then, let's see now."
=For the next few minutes, that's how it went. She would tell me a word in Japanese, followed by the English translation, and I would repeat the word in Japanese. It was difficult, remembering them all but I figured that if we both kept talking to each other in Japanese it would stick much faster=

Hibiki grinned. "Good job. Now you can say Hello, My name is, I will never be stupid ever again, and every curse word I know."

(James)
=Grinning, I kissed her on the forehead=
"Well, nice to know I have the same dirty mouth as you now."

"Dirty mouth, try dirty mind."
Hibiki grinned.

(James)
=Smiling again, I felt my hand grip her shoulder a little=
"Well, who am I to argue how dirty your mind is?"

"You're the cause. Fucm hormones, ya'know? Ruining my mind. I swear." Hibiki smiled.

(James)
"Well, maybe I shouldn't have fallen in love with you then. Would have saved you the dirty mind."
=I was teasing her though. It was fun seeing her like this=

"Then I wouldn't be so happy." Hibiki gave James a long, deep kiss. "So I'll gladly take this as punishment for this happyness."

(James)
=Honestly, despite my best intentions, and my condition, I couldn't help but think of a few, interesting ways to 'punish' her. But thankfully, despite the thoughts I wasn't that kind of guy, and I returned the kiss, with equal intensity=

Hibiki kept the kiss up for at least a minute before breaking off. "I love you."

(James)
"I love you too. God, now I really wish I was better......"
=My hand ran down her back again=

"It's torturous, being this close to you in bed, and not being able to do a thing."

"Use your imagination. I'm a flexible girl." She grins.

(James)
"Oh, I know just how flexible you are Hibiki."
=Another grin spread over my lips. I burned for her right now, but even then I was unable to do a thing unless I wanted to endure a huge amount of pain. And from what I felt before, the pain would far outweigh the pleasure=

"Mhm. Say it with me. 'I will never do something stupid ever again.'"

(James)
=Smiling, I repeated the phrase in Japanese, kissing her at the end=

Hibiki kissed back. "Good."

--Hotel Villa, Dining Room--

=In the dining room, at the table reserved for meetings, Clarissa and the two other 'heads' of the compound, sat in a meeting from which Slate was absent=

*Clarissa*
"You'll be glad to know that the breach i our security has finally been dealt with. Per my orders, my men have sealed the hole, with the help of our new friends from outside. I called you here today, to discuss an issue that was brought up by their representative, Hibiki: helping them in the war against the Shepherds."

=The two other people, an elderly looking man and a middle aged woman the same age as Clarissa, gained troubled looks at the suggestion. The elder spoke first=

*Old Man*
"Clarissa, I for one would relish an opportunity to remove the Shepherds, but Slate won't allow it, even if it were to come to a vote. He'd probably just have his bodyguard kill us."

*Clarissa*
"That thought has not escaped me, but we can't afford to let what might happen, stop us from seeing the world around us. The Shepherds are at our door, and the dead coming back to turn us hardly helps that matter. Joining this fight, we have a chance of wiping out the Shepherds, and gaining some measure of peace."

*Middle Aged Woman*
"And if in the course we end up dead as well?"

*Clarissa*
"Honestly, it's not as if we'll be on the front lines. We're not soldiers, but we are in control of some of the most experienced, well armed people in the world. Helping now will give this alliance an edge."
=The others sat in silence, pensive looks on their faces=

--Timeskip, 1 Hour--

(James)
=The rest of the hour went by with Hibiki teaching me more words and phrases in Japanese, until there was a knock at the door=
"Uh, hate to ask Hibiki but, could you get that?"

Hibiki just grinned, then got up to answer the door.


Eve yawned, blinking awake. Finding Sam still asleep, she nuzzled her face against Sam's and closed her eyes, waiting quietly as Sammy readjusted herself on Eve's side.

=Cooper stood outside the door=

*Cooper*
"Ma'am, Clarissa wants to speak with you. You and James."


(Sam)
=I stirred a little, when the cat moved. I was barely asleep, so her movements had me on the edge of waking up in full=

=I yawn and stretch now sitting on the bed=

Ahhh...that's much better...

=I look to Mira with a childish smile, my mind flooded with images of the good times we had before the apocalypse=

Those were the days...those were the days...

Eve, unable to resist, licked Sam's cheek playfully, going on deep instincts she had forgotten she had.

Hibiki sighed. "Alright "

(James)
=I moved to the side of the bed, and it was only then that I noticed that the wheelchair was still at the other end of the room=
"Let me just get in my chair..."

(Sam)
=The lick caught me off guard, and my head jerked back at the sensation. So we had moved straight to tongues now?=

"It was the cat." Eve tried to lie, but the mirth on her face was unmistakable.

Hibiki retrieved the chair, smiling.

(James)
"Can you try not to smile so much? Geez..."
=She helped me get back into the chair, and I wheeled off to the door=

"So, elevator to the top?"

*Cooper*
"Pretty much. Just follow me."
=He turned down the hall, and we followed=

(Sam)
"Yeah, I'm sure Sammy licked me while she was lying over there."

Eve snuggled closer. "I couldn't help myself. Was too tempting. Sorry?"

Hibiki grinned. "Aww, now my smile is unwanted?"

(James)
=All I could do was glower up at her=
"Just don't get used to it, how about that?"

=We reached the elevator, Cooper pressing the button for the doors to open=

(Sam)
"Whatever happened to dinner?"

Smiling, Hibiki wheeled him out.


Eve stayed snuggled up to Sam. "Just a few more minutes?"

(James)
=The ride up was short lived, and once the doors opened we got off, Cooper leading us down the hall towards what I guessed was the terrace, or balcony....whatever you called it, just the large section jutting out over the street from the back window. Clarissa sat outside=

*Clarissa*
"Ah, James, Hibiki. Welcome back, I have good news."

"Do I get to spartan kick Slate out a window like I promised him?"

Eve kissed Sam's cheek. "Um...I guess we can go to dinner?"

*Clarissa*
"Not just yet Hibiki, hell I'm not even sure if it will come to that. There was a meeting earlier between myself, and the other two heads of the compound. We've reached an agreement to help....however, they still need the Shepherds at our door dealt with."

(James)
"Well, that can be managed I suppose. How soon do they need to be dealt with?"

*Clarissa*
"Soonest would be best."

"Give me some troops and I can deal with them." Hibiki said.

*Clarissa*
"Well, you'll be happy to hear that after the success of today, my friends are willing to commit some people to help you out with these Shepherds."

(James)
"Oh finally, some help. I can't tell you how much we'll appreciate it."


(Sam)
"Heh, sure why not?"
=I got up from the bed, and looked down at Eve=

"Care to join me for some dinner?"

"Finally. I need some well trained men for the Shepherds. I was afraid I'd have to get cute with my plan."

*Clarissa*
"Well, from what I've heard you're going to need them. A raiding party of Shepherds has set up camp inside a warehouse, South of the city in the docking warehouse district."

(James)
"So they're already fortified? How are we supposed to take them out?"

*Clarissa*
=Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled=
"Cooper, has something to help. And I think you, Hibiki, will enjoy it very much."

"Tell me where to go, I wanna see this." Hibiki said, eyes twinkling.

*Clarissa*
"First thing's first: Slate. My associates and I are more than willing, as of now, to commit resources and people to aid you. But Slate still remains an obstacle here. Getting rid of the Shepherds would give them enough reason to rally behind me, but that still leaves Slate and his own people to be dealt with."

(James)
"So what, a civil war?"

*Clarissa*
"Well, yes. You'll have to help us take them out."

"Cut the head off the snake. Body dies." Hibiki said simply.

*Clarissa*
"Thankfully, it will be that simple. Problem is getting to the head- Slate stays at the top floor, and his most loyal, and deadly people are inside. Getting to him will be a challenge."

(James)
"We could always just cut them off, leave them stuck on that floor."

*Clarissa*
=She shook her head=
"So long as he's alive, he's a threat."

"How big are the windows there?" Hibiki asked.