Zombie Epilogue turned Prologue

[Prince Kai-Mijo]

((There IS a backstory here. If you wish to join, please ask first, and please be able to write at least three coherent paragraphs per post. Thanks~))

Alright. So, last Hyde remembered, he'd been knocking people out of the way, tunnel vision enabled as only one thing held his attention; the microphone. Bad karaoke is bad. But worse karaoke is worse. Though Hyde would not hesitate to try to figure out which of the two he was, he'd obviously decided that the latter was his victim, and he was intent on strangling the very life from the 'singer's' vocal chords until he no longer cursed the world with his excuse for a voice.

Of course, attempting to sing karaoke at a bar where people know who you are isn't the most wise of things to do. What would have been simple vocal correction quickly escalated into something far more drastic, and soon Hyde was trying to escape the mob of fangirls that had spawned seemingly out of nowhere. Nowhere! Fangirls! Seriously, they were about the least doable girls in the world, yet somehow they found ways to procreate several times faster than the rest of the population!

Wailing helplessly in misery, Hyde had scrabbled for the door, though whether the tears present were because of his jacket being rudely tugged at (he'd just bought the thing) or because his very life was in danger was unclear. Still, he didn't make it far before some haphazard swipe from someone who was probably a defender caught him right on the side of the face, and soon, all was darkness.

He just hoped he still had his pants on when he awoke.

~~~~~~

After what seemed like several hours...or maybe minutes...possibly days, Hyde sat up rubbing his forehead, wincing quietly at the still tender bruise evident now that the foundation was gone. Gah! Immediately his hand went to his jacket pocket, and he rummaged for a compact, but then something seemed to make him freeze...and that something must have been rather significant if it was enough to stop him in his narcissistic tracks.

First of all. THE STENCH. Yelling at some nicely clad aristocrat walking by, Hyde bellowed, "For the love of GOD do you people SHOWER?!" They simply glanced at him strangely and moved on quickly, and it took the JRock trackstar a moment to realize that...wait...aristocrats? Those were only at costume parties and bad VKei concerts.

His heart sank immediately. Oh great. He recalled an instance of this before...some medieval adventure through time or whatnot. Now it seemed he'd ended up in...what, France? Yep, the snobbish accent...the staring-down-the-nose thing...had to be right at the heart of Paris. Of all the places!

"WHY is it always MEEEEE?!" he wailed at no one in particular, causing the radius of empty space about him to increase just a bit more as passerbys made sure to put more distance between themselves and him.

Jumping to his feet and kicking at a stray pebble in frustration, he ignored the fat cat it hit over the head and stomped off in some random direction, pulling a clothespin from his pocket to clamp over his nose.

The smell.

THE SMELL!

[Princess Nazaki ♪]

Aya had a headache.

No, that was an understatement.

The right side of Aya's head had decided that it was not satisfied with its situation in life and the way things were run, so it had decided to stage a bloody coup against the left side of her head, which was putting up a rather valiant fight.

Or at least, that's what she had told her manager so she could - FOR ONCE - get home from her part-time job before midnight. There was this thing called sleep, and she was really anxious to remember what that was like. Never mind that she'd had the job for three days and that she'd signed up for late shifts intentionally; that they kept her there a full four hours was obviously a cruel and unusual punishment. She almost missed her days of adventure and glory and all that dramatic stuff, despite the fact that being on the run meant zero restaurant-ness.

Regardless, Aya was able to fall asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow (she hadn't even bothered to get changed- just flopped down without even taking off her bag) and slept well, waking up refreshed and ready to go.

And somewhere that was definitely not her bed. Or anyone else's bed.

Now, she had woken up on sidewalks before, but in such times she had usually fallen asleep on those sidewalks and had someone else there. She could think of no plausible reason for why she would suddenly wake up in a place so unlike her bed. But, really, as she was unlikely to come up with a solution, she might as well focus on something more important.

Like breakfast.

She sat up groggily, rubbed her eyes, wished she had makeup, and looked around. With a jolt, realized that she couldn't read any of the signs. So she wasn't even in Japan anymore. And, actually...it probably wasn't "now" anymore; it was like she was looking in on some weird EGA outing. But that wasn't important. How was she going to find food!?

Aya looked around, scanning the row of nearby stores. She was just about to give up hope and eat whatever she had with her when she saw a sign. A magical, wonderful sign.

Cafe.

The crowd in front of the cafe never knew what hit them. One minute, they were sitting around all... expensively and frilly-ly, and the next they were on the ground (or close to being there), knocked over by some unseen but incredibly fast force. Aya ran up to the counter, grabbing her wallet and quickly ordering half the menu.

The hostess's response? "o__________________O"

Right. It hadn't occurred to Aya that, since she coulnd't read anything, she wouldn't be able to have a conversation, either. She looked pensively around, hoping she could find a way to get her breakfast before she imploded. There had to be a way...

((OMH. It felt so good to RP like this again. xD))

[Prince Kai-Mijo]

((Lol tell meh about it @_@))

At some point Hyde had probably gotten over his initial shock of waking up somewhere else. He usually did. Come to think of it, he was pretty sure he'd been here before, on some random expedition with Kitty. That had involved opera ghosts and bitchy divas...speaking of which...

"Hey, you, where's the best place to get a decent breakfast 'round here?!" he snapped at another passing person, who just so happened to be a somewhat mischievous looking street urchin.

"You don't sound British, sir. But I'll show you the way for a franc or two."

Seeing as Hyde had none of the local currency on him (a thought that scared him, though of course, bitchy divas like himself had backup), he paused, and then instead decided, "How 'bout you show me the way and I'll buy you a croissant or two?" Leave it to Hyde to find the one English speaking kid in the entire country, while Aya struggled to order her much needed breakfasts at the cafe. Japanese + French = Frapanese? Didn't work here, it seemed.

"Sounds good! C'mon, the best place I know is this way. Lotsa' food for pretty cheap." The kid promptly turned and skipped off in some random direction, and Hyde broke into a jog to follow.

After navigating down a few more streets and earning some strange looks from even stranger looking people, Hyde and the urchin skidded to a stop in front of the little street cafe. It was actually a cute little place, Hyde decided; the sorta' place he might take his date if he...well, y'know, had one.

"Sankyuu maaan! Here, come in with me and pick what ya' want." The kid's eyes sparkled gleefully at this, but Hyde was not concerned; after taking turns buying food for Aya, there was not a single person left in the world, he determined, who could possibly order more than she did.

Uhh...un pan au chocolat, s'il te plait," Hyde pieced together in broken French. The kid put in his order of a croissant or two, and along with some tea, it seemed they were good to go!

But wait!

There's more.

That person over there in the other line looked more than somewhat familiar.

"Aya?!" Wtg are you doing here?!"

"You know her, sir? She's a cutie. Can you hook me up with--"

"She's too old for you," Hyde silenced the kid sternly before proceeding to run Aya over while, with Hyde-tastic talent, managing not to tip over his tray of breads and teas.

[Princess Nazaki ♪]

No amount of pointing and vague gestures seemed to convey to the lady behind the counter exactly what Aya wanted to order, or how much. Even a few broken English words had had absolutely no effect. Every attempt was met by a blank stare and words in a language that Aya definitely didn't know. At the rate this was going, it was very likely that another cafe-related arrest would take place, and this time it would be her that was dragged away yelling about hot chocolate and meds. Unfortunately, she would probably be much less successful at escaping. Maybe she could try the cute thing again. Or re-use her hat trick.

Seriously, though. She was about to start banging her head on the counter in frustration. How hard can it be to order a simple meal? Out of nowhere, she heard a familiar voice. Saying her name. But she was in some random Not-Japan-and-Not-Tokyo place -- how could someone know her? Before she could process the details (she really needed coffee or something, even though she didn't like it much), she was trampled by one of the people she least expected to see in what looked like long-time-ago Europe. A Hyde? Here? She blinked, then grinned.

"Haido~!!" She hugged him, happy that there was someone around here who could understand her. Or, at least, understand what she said.

As soon as the greetings ended, she wasted no time in getting to business. "Okay. So, one, where are we? Two, when are we? Three, who is that kid and why is he staring at me? Four....can you order me food!!?!?!?"

She eyed Hyde's breakfast hungrily, hoping that he would be able to manage to get her a breakfast, too.

[Prince Kai-Mijo]

Hyde grinned widely and ran over to a vacant table without asking to be seated, pulling two chairs out for Aya 'n the little French urchin. "Okay. So uh, we're in France. Two, no clue. Three, this kid is...uh...what's your name anyway? And four, sure, I took French in high school! And college. And in L'Arc~en~Ciel." His tone completely serious about all that, he hopped up again and went to order more food, once more paying with...absolutely nothing. But a psionic cantrip took care of that, as the person obviously thought he had paid. The other counter person looked rather confused, but Hyde just covered it up with a grin before returning to Aya with a tray full of food. Aya definition full, that was. Not just full.

Anyway.

"My name's Pierre, sir! And the year's 1807," the kid replied once Hyde had sat down again. Pierre. Of course. 'Cause every French guy in the history of French guys was named Pierre. Or Bonaparte. Or Edmond Dantes.

"Okay. Uh, right. nice to meetcha'. And thanks for the heads up on the date." There was silence for a bit as everyone chowed down on their food, and eventually Hyde was about to speak up again, but there was a rather rude interruption...

A random guy in a white labcoat rushed into the cafe, from just outside on the street where a few more guys with labcoats were standing about with a stretcher. "A-t-quelqu'un un garrot ? Nous avons besoin de..."

Luckily, despite the number one rule of storylines (that the main characters had to jump in and involve themselves in EVERYTHING, and sometimes more than everything, given Hyde's tendency for ADD), the cafe attendants had taken care of the man's cries, bringing out armfuls of cloth napkins.

Shrugging, Hyde returned to munching, knowing by now that Aya was probably done.

And then, as if one outburst wasn't enough...

"...there he is! You, kid! Get back here! Think you can get away so fast...you've got quite a sum to be payin' us back for what you stole!" A burly man had charged in after spotting the kid through the window, marching up to the table to grab him around the wrist. Pierre wailed and flailed and made a general racket, but in the end was dragged off by the man. The man sniffed and growled at Hyde 'n Aya before disappearing down the street.

What?

"The kid slipped me something," Hyde murmured, sliding a folded up, battered slip of paper across the table to Aya, managing to avoid the several scattered, bare dishes. He only had time to glance at it, though...there was a compass rose in the corner, hinting that it was probably a map...but then the burly man had stomped back in. Hyde quickly shoved the map under his jacket.

"So you his lackeys or something, eh?!" he growled, now grabbing both Aya 'n Hyde by the wrists to drag them off too. "Yer comin' with me then! C'mon! I'll show you what it is to go trying to undermine Francois' operation!" The threats went straight over Hyde's head, however, as he just blinked in an owl like manner and grinned. "Okay!"

So now they were being dragged down the street. The surroundings eventually turned more and more slummy until they stopped outside a beaten, broken down brick warehouse. One of the man's underlings tapped on the door rhythmically until it was opened, and Aya and Hyde were shoved inside. Amongst the dusty crates and whatnot, Pierre was sitting chained to a post, squirming in his spot.

"Hi again! Well guess I just bought a bit of time...hold onto that map though, 's what they're after," Pierre whispered as they were dragged over next to him, and then dumped down beside him.

"Alrighty, which one of you has the map?" Mister Burly Man demanded, towering over them in what was, Hyde assumed, supposed to be a threatening posture. Hyde just shrugged. "Map, what map?"

[Princess Nazaki ♪]

Aya ate quickly and happily as Pierre explained their situation. She'd long since given up being surprised when something seemingly impossible happened, so the news that she was in nineteenth-century France wasn't a big deal to her, minus the language barrier. She'd have to figure something out. Or keep the kid tied to her back as a kind of porta-translator. Actually, that wasn't a bad idea. He seemed light, and he was even shorter than she was (though not by much)... but there was the issue of changing and using the bathroom. Well, she could always just untie him...

As Aya was working out the details of her plan with increasing sincerity (she'd need to find rope somehow...there had to be rope stores around here, right?), a large man burst in suddenly and ran off with the kid. Guess she wouldn't have to find rope stores after all.

She was brought back to reality by Hyde's voice as he passed her a folded paper. Aya looked down at it; it looked incredibly old and worn. Maybe it was a treasure map- or better: a long-lost recipe! She eagerly leaned forward, but Hyde snatched the paper back almost as soon as he'd unfolded it. Large Man had returned, shouting, waving his arms, and generally being angry and French. French stuff happened, and suddenly Aya found herself dragged into a dingy warehouse (of fail) where the kid was waiting, chained up and all. So this was not a good place to be.

More French stuff happened, and she turned to Hyde, annoyed. "What in the Gackt is going on?"

Right. Map. Kid. People with silly French names. Aya rolled her eyes.

"Hey, Mister Dude," Aya began, hoping he understood English. "Can we go? We aren't even French. We don't have anything you want. Keep the kid -- adopt him or whatever it is French people do with street urchins -- but can we go? If you really want a map, I have one or two of Shinjuku. Will that work?" She dug through her bag, pulling out said map and handing it out hopefully.

[Prince Kai-Mijo]

Hyde took the time to translate stuff into Japanese for Aya until a more suitable method of interpretation could be discovered...or remembered. *cough* "What's going on? 'Kay, uh, apparently that dude wants the map that the kid slipped me before being dragged off. The main baddy, I'm assuming, is named Francois. Hah! I hate that name." Hyde grinned while the mean peoples waited patiently for Aya to grasp a more full understanding of what was going on.

Meanwhile, Francois peered at the map Aya offered him. Truth be told, he actually couldn't remember what the map that Pierre had stolen looked like. So, he took the map of Shinjuku and unfolded it. Japanese script? Looked pretty foreign to him. Forget that those little panels were pointing out the many boutiques found within the place; the man obviously thought it was a treasure map, and the 'symbols' were 'ancient writing' or something or other.

"Ah! An ancient treasure map! Excellent! Okay, I will take this one, and you guys are allowed to go." Francois huffed and had his lackeys unchain everyone. Pierre hopped up, looking chipper as ever.

While the idiots went off to pour over this newfound treasure map, Hyde grinned widely at Aya. "Good going! But we're gonna hafta' find some way to solve this language barrier...unless you want me translating everything for you the whole way..."

The kid shrugged. "I don't mind helping! But first things first, let's get outta' here."

Once they were back out on the street, away from the slums, Pierre smiled. "So you guys are really really REALLY foreign. C'mon, let's go get some pocket change for the three of us, 'cause I'ma' bet whatever you have isn't in francs and such." And so, targeting some random tartlet of an aristocrat, the kid walked on past him and attempted to pick his pocket.

But the man, in reply, turned around, made a weird groaning sound, and reached for the boy.

"EEIIYAAHHH! Is that normal?!" the kid yelped, dashing back over to Aya 'n Hyde, with a few notes clutched in his fist. The people out on the street nearby gasped and backed away from the man, and Hyde whimpered, following suit.

He gave Aya a, 'No. Don't tell me...' expression as the zombie-fied aristocrat murmured something about brains and shuffled on over to the nearest lady, who, in turn, was standing petrified.

Rummaging for a handgun, Hyde yanked his own out and took a swift headshot at the shambling figure. "Why is it they follow us EVERYWHERE we GO?!" he whined as the boy winced at the gunshot. "Additionally, sirs," Pierre added, "It looks to the authorities like ya' just murdered someone."

"ARRETEZ VOUS!" came a cry from behind them. But Hyde just grinned devilishly towards Aya. "Zombies...running from authorities...'s just another day in the life of Hyde 'n Aya, right? And these are 19th century police! No biggie!" And with that, they were off down the street with angry cops in tow! Just like the old days. Ah...

[Princess Nazaki ♪]

Aya stood up, dusting her clothes off. She really hoped that wasn't a rat that she'd been sitting on. These were expensive pants. She followed Hyde and the Pierre-kid out, stretching. "Nah, I don't mind you translating, but... oh. Uh.... hang on... I actually used to know a way to auto-translate stuff. Uh......." She walked in circles for a few minutes, then in squares, then (just for the novelty) walked in a pattern that spelled out a message.

G-A-C-K-T-L-O-V-E-S-T-O-S-U-C-K-C-

"OH! I remember!!" She said, smiling happily. She muttered a few words to herself and... her skirt caught fire. After a moment's panic that involved taking a random person's drink and discovering to her horror that it was wine, the flames died and Aya tried again, this time changing one word. She looked around, making sure nothing else was burning, and heard:

"...and zat was ze expensive wine, too! You will be working zat off for ze rest of your life, you weirdly-dressed girl!"

Ignoring the random Frenchie's outburst, Aya grinned at Hyde. "I apparently payed more attention than I thought in that class. I thought I'd just spent the whole time coming up with ways to set the headmistress on fire. come to think of it, that might explain the mistake I made...." She shrugged, watching as Pierre went off to Le Banque Des Urchins Francais to get some cash for them. Maybe she could get a crepe, or some more croissants or... a zombie!?

"KUSO. WTG WTG WTG WTG WHY ARE THOSE THINGS HERE, TOO!?" She tried to find her gun, but right as it came out (accompanied by a stray pair of panties, which she quickly shoved back in her bag while looking around to make sure that no one saw), Hyde shot the Aristo-Zombie with the perfect aim that comes naturally to someone who makes a living fending off fangirls from a distance.

So, of course, they were murderers now. "Wanted: Two short Asians..." She threw her head back and laughed as they charged down the street. "No cars to take this time, ne? Going to have to get creative with our chaos! Kocchi!" And she led them through crowds, weaving in and out of random boutiques (and only stopping once to admire her reflection) and past the residential district. After a while, they ended up in a more isolated area and she grabbed the other two, pulling them to a stop. they listened for the sounds of pursuit, but they'd left the police gasping for breath in the dust long before.

"Ha! Super Asian Track team VICTORY!" She yelled, hands on her knees to catch her breath. But then suddenly she heard a sound that struck the silly grin from her face. It was the cry of a thousand lost souls, a low moaning sound that made one's hair stand on end. A terrible, horrible sound....

Aya looked down at her grumbling stomach. "Stop that!" She said grabbing a random sandwich from her bag and munching. Stomach appeased, she looked around. They appeared to be outside an ill-kept hospital. Aya was glad they weren't sick; it didn't look like a good place. The food probably tasted like cardboard covered in flaming grease, then put out by pond water that Gackt had bathed in. She shuddered, glad that they would definitely not be going there.

[Prince Kai-Mijo]

((Your entire post is made of pure win.))

Hyde couldn't help an immature snicker at Aya's erotic ERRATIC walking patterns. Clapping his hands over his mouth, his eyes went wide when Aya caught on fire, and he's leaped forward to help, though Aya had already beaten him to the goblet of wine he was probably after. Hmm. Seeing as wine had a tendency to make flare ups worse, he decided he was glad she'd been the one to pour the alcohol on the fire. >_>

Eherm. Blinking stupidly, Hyde glanced at Aya as she spoke up again, and he smirked a smug smirk, nodding approvingly. "Indeed. I think that entire school deserves to go up in flames..." ...and there was a brief, maniacal glint in his eye, though it subsided fairly quickly. After all, when on the run...

"....most likely to be found in the presence of mangoes and pocky?" Hyde finished for Aya as the Super Asian Track Star team sprinted off to victory. Though they weaved in and out of quite a few buildings here and there, Hyde also took a moment to stop at a mirror, quickly touching up his eyeliner and, on second though, Aya's own as well. And once they really were tucked away in a safer area of the city, probably where all the non-zombie-fied aristocrats lived, Hyde paused for breath, doubled over and gasping with laughter.

Then. They weren't safe yet! The sounds of the howls of a revenant choir still dared follow them, and yet...

...a sandwich seemed to be the solution. Oh.

"Don't scare me like that you jerk!" Hyde whined, pushing Aya over. Then, he finally took a moment to study the surroundings. Well, on the one side there was the residential area. And on the other, there was the beaten up hospital with the icky bleached walls. Gahhh.

Rubbing his eyes, Hyde let out a sigh and sniffed tentatively. Ewwww. It stank of disease and diseased humans and diseased humans' pet kitties who accompanied them to the ER. Rubbing at his eyes that were beginning to tear up from the smell, Hyde whined and was about to propose leaving the area, when a couple of cops and their silly hats rounded the corner.

"'Ey! Zaire zey are! Get zem!" one bellowed, and Hyde groaned again.

At the groan, the police suddenly yelped and skidded to a stop right in front of Hyde.

Blinking, the JRock Track Star paused, experimentally extended his arms, and then made another questioning groan. The nearest police squeaked. "Francis! Eet ees true! Ze rumors of ze zombies!"

"Ottoman! You speak truly! Zaire ees no need to be 'ere any longer!"

And both bolted.

Right. Anyway.

"Uh...lol wut?"

[Princess Nazaki ♪]

Inside Chateau Robinet, The Creepy Hospital
Jean-Paul Dubois nervously paced back and forth. It wasn't the screams from down the hall that were making him so anxious- one quickly got used to those when working in a "hospital" for the criminally insane. Nor was it the new patient that had arrived last week, though that would be enough to send a normal man into nervous breakdowns. No, it was the prospect that his job would be ending in the very very near future. Like today. It had been his idea, after all, to bring new medical specialists to the hospital, and it was his neck on the line if they didn't show up.

Which they hadn't.

His mind returned to the new patient. Raving mad, like the rest, but violent and possibly infected with something. Rabies or herpes or something equally pleasant. Worse, he had bitten another patient when he had arrived, so they probably all had it now. Jean-Paul hadn't been around and wasn't sure what was going on, but he heard from those who had been working that it had been "horrible," "terrible," and all the other -ibles that one used for unpleasant circumstances.

Which is why he wanted the new specialists to arrive, which they should have done days ago. they would know what to do; specialists always did. That was their job. To know what the hell was going on. Meanwhile, his job was to make sure that they arrived. Which they still hadn't, even after the course of his inner monologue. Boise would have his head on a platter if he messed this up. He made his decision then and there. Grabbing his coat, he stopped pacing and left the building hurriedly. Perhaps they just got lost. Well, in that case, he would have to find them. Two foreign medical professionals, possibly beinging a sidekick. They coulnd't be that hard to find, right?

.......Right. Jean-Paul couldn't believe his eyes. There were two very foreign-looking people right outside the gates. If there had been clouds, he thought, they would have opened up and shined light upon him as he ran up to the strangers.

"Monsieur! Mademoiselle! C'est vous! Bienvenue au Chateau!"


Aya-Vision
Aya was very happy that les cops ran away as fast as they did, because the sight of Hyde the Tentative Zombie was too much for her. As soon as they turned to run, she doubled over, almost rolling on the ground in her hilarity. She wished she'd had her phone out to take a picture! Ahh well. Next time, for sure.

Suddenly, she heard more running footsteps from the other direction. IT'S A TRAP!!!1, she thought, whirling around. But it was merely a strange-looking French guy in a white lab coat running up to them. And...welcoming them?

"Ahh... no.... there must be some mistake..." she said, staring in wtf-ness as the French guy pulled her to her feet.

"Oui, zere must 'ave! You were supposed to be 'ere three days ago! But never mind zat. I am Jean-Paul Dubois, one of ze coordinators 'ere at le Chateau. Come, I shall show you ze patient I wrote to you about!"

Giving them no time to argue, the crazy Frenchman grabbed Hyde and Aya's hands and pulled them through the gates.

[Prince Kai-Mijo]

"Three...three days ago? But we only just got here--"

"Ah, no doubt zaire were travel problems? Or per'aps you did not receive ze mail in time. I never did trust ze post...any'ow, enough wasting time! Enough time 'as already been lost! Come, I shall show you ze subjects under study."

And while Hyde 'n Aya were drawn into the hospital, Hyde continued to stare blankly, a brow quirked as the all-too-pleased Frenchman navigated the bleached white halls. They passed people on stretchers, people carrying people on stretchers, and people waiting for people to carry them on stretchers. "...great at managing their patients, they are," Hyde commented absently as one patient sitting in a waiting chair suddenly slumped over and collapsed. None of the doctors within the vicinity even so much as batted an eye.

"Reminds me why I refuse to get sick." Wait, what? Well, most people tried to get sick, but apparently Hyde could just refuse to. It probably had something to do with his ability to be an absolute diva-esque bitch when he felt like it. The diseases would cower in fear. But now this is starting to sound like some twisted excuse for a sex-deprived yaoi fangirl to write some mpre--

"Anyway~! 'Ere we are!" They'd stopped in front of a glass window portraying the scene of the room in front of them. Strapped to the lab table was a rather bruised up looking person, writhing now and again as if having random seizures. One scientist was in there with the 'patient,' writing on a clipboard as it seemed doctors spent about 90% of their time doing, rather than actually telling you anything useful.

"So! Ze equipment you will need ees in ze closet zaire, and...well, do 'ave fun and let us know if you need a grunt or two to assist! Your arrival 'as been much anticipated by ze staff, so I am sure you will find many willing to 'elp you."

Around the corner, a few heads popped up; eager labcoat clad people just waiting...staring at Hyde 'n Aya as if they were cheeseburgers or some such. Now, Hyde was not used to this; in his right mind he firmly believed it was he who should have been doing the staring. When was the last time he ate properly anyway?

He was just about to suggest that the creepy lurking labcoat people go into the room with the clipboard-dude, when clipboard-dude all of a sudden just collapsed.

"Uh...does that happen a lot?" Hyde inquired with a not-so-sure tone, biting his lip anxiously.

"Oh of course! All the time. Probably has to do with the new patient you see there, though; a lot of people probably caught a whiff of whatever sickness he had..."

[Prince Kai-Mijo]

((stuff in carats is in Japanese))

((Aya repost))

Aya really wanted to leave. The hospital was cramped, filled with people in weird clothing, and smelled absolutely disgusting. Actually, it reminded her of a V-kei concert she had attended recently, with the only major differences being a change in the kind of noise she was put through and slightly better lighting. Foreign fangirls really needed to be introduced to Mr. Shower and Mrs. Soap. Srsly.

As what she assumed to be medical professionals moved forward to inspect their conked-out coworker, she heard a familiar groan. She looked down, annoyed, but realized that, for once, it wasn't her stomach. Which left only one thing. She glanced anxiously with Hyde. <<Neee... that sound... it's gotta be.... uh.... we should leave. Now.>>

"We are very lucky to 'ave you two 'ere now," le Doctor Frenchie was saying, with the expression of someone who was likely to get a promotion in the immediate future. "Obviously, you will be wanting a closer look, no?"

And without waiting for the stream of protests that Aya had ready, he began pushing them both up to the door.

"uhhh waitwaitwait!" Aya said, putting her food on the door frame and resisting le French Guy's pushing. "We...uh... left our supplies in our car- I mean, car....riage. Carriage. That. Our stuff's in there. So we'll be back later. She grabbed Hyde's arm and started to pull him away, only to be held back again.

"Mais non! You must at least give your professional opinion of ze matter. Go on, 'ave a look!"

And with that, Aya and Hyde were shoved unceremoniously up to the lab table. Mister Patient-Who,-Unknown-to-Les-Doctors,-Was-Actually-A-Zombie glared up at her, or rather, did the zombie equivalent: a particularly fierce vacant stare accompanied with an increase in the volume of the moaning. He was struggling to get up and eat everyone, but at least he was strapped down. Aya looked around to Hyde for ideas on how to get out with dignity, but suddenly she heard a sharp snap.

The leather holding the zombie to the table was beginning to rip.

[Prince Kai-Mijo]

"No, really sir, we can see quite well from behind this delightfully thick pane of glass that would provide wonderful protection in case of an outbreak. Just like condo--"

But too late. The two short Asian kids had been pushed inside the study room, and Hyde didn't look too happy about it. <<Yeah, same. I do think we should...holy SHIT is mister zombie trying to-->>

"GRRRUUAAAWRRR!!"

"Ah! Yes, of course! Ze subjects under ze effects of zis strange disease 'ave been known to make ze strange sound! Often, it sounds something like 'braaaaiiiiiiiins,' which in itself sounds oddly similar to 'brains.' Is zaire a correlation?"

Headdesk. Or facepalm, rather, as Hyde did not want a face full of zombie flesh. Wasn't particularly appetizing.

"Right. Monsieur Doctor, 'ere ees what you will...what the Gackt did I just use a retarded French accent?" Hyde wrinkled his nose, looking rather annoyed, and Le Docteur made a sort of 'hmph!' sound, as if offended at the fact Hyde looked offended.

"ANYway. We're gonna lock this guy in this room. Everyone's gonna evacuate the hospital. That pane of glass for the window, the one we were looking through from the safe side....it's secure right?"

"Of course! Eet ees ze strongest lab glass ze 'ospital 'as to offer-"

CRASH.

"Fuck that. New plan. AIM FOR THE HEAD!"

"'Ead, monsieur?"

Bang.

"HAH! Moon Child DID teach me something!"

It wasn't the half-strapped down zombie that was now on the floor with a bullet hole in its head, though. Out in the hallway, through the window of shattered glass, another zombie had stumbled out, destroying said window with a well placed headbutt. Not that it mattered anymore. There was no more head to butt with....

"Evacuation tiem is nao~! C'mon!" Gun in one hand, Aya in the other, Hyde dashed straight out of the lab, kicking the other doctors out as well before slamming the door shut and landing a nice shot in the lab table zombie's head.

"But why are you killing ze patients?! Zaire goes my promotion!" Le Docteur wailed, flailing frantically.

"PARCE QU'ILS SONT RETARDEDS!" Hyde bellowed back. A Hyde-level tantrum was obviously beginning to ensue.

[Princess Nazaki ♪]

As Hyde was talking with Monsieur DoctorMan, Aya was looking around the room. Her attention focused on the darkest corner of the room, where a small door could just barely be seen. What was it Frenchie had said about supplies in a closet? She moved carefully through the crowd of medical assistants, trying not to get too close in case one of them suddenly zombified and started rotting on her. Her day was weird enough already; she didn't need to add 'indecent exposure due to immediate washing of clothes and self' to her list of activities for the day.

Upon opening the closet, Aya was forced to take a hasty step back as a cascade of what scientists call "really fxcking pointy metal stuff" erupted from the closet. Muttering under her breath about how France was supposed to have French maids to clean up their freaking buildings, Aya shifted the pile this way and that with her foot, looking over her shoulder now and then to make sure the rest of le zombie's straps were still holding. Rusted scalpels, pliers, wire cutters, and needles of all sizes (used and unused) scraped against the floor. She grimaced. If she got sick here, no matter what, she was not going to le doctor's. It was worth risking Hyde playing doctor to avoid being treated with--she looked down--a corkscrew? Seriously? Well, it was France....

At the bottom of the pile, however, was a crowbar and a hatchet. Trying not to think about what they could possibly be used for in a medical situation, Aya grabbed both, taking care to avoid being stabbed by a particularly large and rather green-looking razor blade. Again--can has hygiene? Plx? Ughh. She tucked the hatchet through her belt and kept a hold on the crowbar, hoping that dark stuff on the top was just a shadow that didn't want to leave.

Suddenly, several things happened in quick succession. As the window exploded into shards of glass and zombie face, a rotting lab assistant burst from the shadows in the closet. Before she could properly react to either, Hyde had grabbed her hand and was pulling her rather quickly from the room. ESCAPE TIEMS WAS NAO! As she flew past the lab table, she saw Pierre. He had apparently followed them in and was now poking interestedly at the strapped-down soon-to-be-ex-zombie. Aya hooked the back of his pants with her crowbar and the trio made a hasty exit from the building and into safety.

Only not.

Because this was 1807, there were no annoying men in hard hats to go around and tell people that their buildings were made of fail. Thus, the workers at Chateau Robinet had no idea how much their wall-builders had sucked. The result was that the wall of the large holding cell had broken, freeing over nine thousand (give or take) zombies into the walled-in grounds. And of course this had to happen today, because stuff can only go to hell when the main characters are around to watch.

So they were brought to an immediate halt on the steps. In front of them, a sea of zombies were trampling the mums and daisies in a decidedly sinister manner. Behind them, the zombified lab assistant and a few of its bff's were quickly cutting off all possible escape down the hallway. Aya looked at Hyde. "Please tell me you can fly or something...."

[Prince Kai-Mijo]

Whatever previous fantasies Hyde had once had of an ereganto past France had finally been shattered. Well, really, it had already begun to crack upon initial arrival; the smell was enough to induce doubts about hygiene. If French people in the modern world only showered once a week, Hyde didn't even want to begin to consider how often these people bathed! And when Aya finally came out sporting a crowbar covered in rust (that was rust, right?!) and a hatchet (....there were no trees nearby, as far as Hyde knew), the Jrock Trackstar figured thinking time was over, and running tiem was NAO.

Of course, that wall over there just had to collapse the moment the duo -- no wait, trio -- decided to make a break for it. Also, zombies. Lotsa' zombies. Probably not near 9000...Hyde would have made an estimate somewhere closer to ten. Ten was still a lot, particularly when those zombies had taken to causing fire hazards by blocking doorways and consequently providing a blessing by denying millions of fangirls everywhere their autographs of ♥♥♥Edward Cullen♥♥♥. Skidding to a halt, Hyde managed to prevent a three-way train wreck by stepping out of the way of the path of the Aya-Pierre momentum; hooking a quick right, he headed straight through a side exit, kicking the door down with his amazing kung fu panda powers. Or something like it. It was Asian. Good enough.

"Is it just me, or does this really feel like an improvised plot to you? 'Cause I can swear that bad stuff randomly keeps popping up around us, and ONLY around us. I mean, c'mon, you never hear of anyone else in the news getting transported to the mid early-hundreds and then having to deal with a zombie infestation there...what kinda' idiot comes up with this shit?" Hyde questioned absently as he continued to drag the other two in a general away-from-l'hopital direction. When they were a suitable distance away from all the groaning, Hyde began to hum cheerfully, digging out what looked suspiciously like a Molotov from his pockets.

"....♪ a love addiiiict, come liiiight mah fiiire~♫" he murmured to himself. Flip went the lighter, fwoosh went the cloth; a well aimed throw, and eventually...

FWOOM.

"Y'know, I hope there weren't any humans still in there," Hyde commented thoughtfully as a non-zombiefied doctor came running out yelling his head off. "Oh well, we can just say we were...uh, post-revolution activists?" Shrugging nonchalantly, he pocketed the lighter and then looked back down to Pierre, who was busy with his nose stuck in the 'treasure map.'

"'Kay, kid, I don't think now's the time for--"

"Oh, but I thought it was rather odd and coincidental that this here map has a place on it called Zombie Island. Doesn't that sound quite a bit like an island that would have zombies infesting it?" Smiling brightly, the kid shrugged it off and began to fold the map back up, but Hyde snatched it from him with a brow raised.

Looking over the map again, he blinked and then shoved it into Aya's hands. "Well, guess we know where the hospital got its initial specimens. Bet they came by boat or something from far-away-land."

"Yeah, actually, there was a lot of chaos down at the port a few weeks ago. It smelled really bad. Well, worse than usual, I mean," Pierre mumbled, looking embarrassed for the general French population and their problems with odors. "If you wanna check it out, I guess I can show you to it..."