Seungho and Hyori's gaze met, before he could react Jun Gyu grabbed Seungho's face and pulled him down to meet the old man's eye level. "Welcome back leader." Jun Gyu greeted with the same plastered smile. Seungho gave him a half smile before looking up again. 

Hyori was no where in sight.

Jun Gyu patted Seungho's shoulder then gestured for him to follow. Kyungsoo grabbed onto Seungho's sleeve as everyone poured inside the building. In the living room alone he could see Yoo Jung, her hair had grown a little longer and she wore a fresh smile. "Welcome back Seungho."

"I'm back." He reply. In a matter of minutes the whole house turned into a party. Everyone was smiling, laughing, and cheering. Zelo and Jun Gyu was happily running in circles. Jun Gyu had to admit, ever since he started growing closer to Zelo, he became energentic and childish. 

Jenissi wasn't sure what was happening exactly but partied along. Finally everyone stopped as Hyori stepped down from the second story. In a blink of an eye, Seungho drew the pistol around his waist and pointed it toward her. Jenissi squat down and immediately covered his ears. 

Yongguk was standing closer to the front door with CL, they were at a complete lost. 

Zelo and Jun Gyu had stopped their activities as well as they stood by the kitchen. They stared at the strange intense atmosphere between Seungho and Hyori. Yoo Jung was no different, she was taken aback by the sudden action Seungho took. 

Kyungsoo was only a step away from Seungho when he couldn't help but stare at the gun in his brother's hand. "S-Seungho?" Kyungsoo started. Seungho released the safety notched and Kyungsoo's eyes widen. Seungho slide his finger in between the trigger guard and placed his finger near the trigger. "Seungho what are you-?" Kyungsoo began but Seungho cut him off. 

"How did you get in?" 

Kyungsoo turned toward Yongguk hoping he could stop Seungho somehow. But like Kyungsoo, Yongguk was just as confused and afraid of what Seungho was about to do. 

Hyori placed a hand on the staircase's rail, "I guess no one told you huh? I've been here since the beginning." She answered. 

"Then it's time to leave. Use the back door." He said coldly earning a slight scoff from her. 

"Seungho.... Put your gun away. Hyori isn't a dangerous person." Kyungsoo said from the side. 

Seungho snapped his head toward his direction, "Kyungsoo don't get involve." He said with a harsh tone and Kyungsoo bit his lips a little. Seungho turned his attention back to the woman in her tank top and jeans. 

"Enough!" Kyungsoo blurted and took a large step in front of Seungho. "I don't want to see you point your weapon at the wrong people anymore Seungho. If you keep this up you could  hurt someone you care about and you will regret it! Stop killing people! You were never like this before and I.... I just want my brother back. That's all I'm asking for."

Seungho lowered his gun and switched the safety back on. "Here." Seungho handed the gun to Kyungsoo, "If you want to control my action you'll have to hold onto my weapon." Kyungsoo hesitated for a moment before he slowly placed out two hands together. Seungho dropped the weapon into Kyungsoo's hands and turned away from him. 

Seungho walked over to the front door and Yongguk grabbed his forearm. "Where are you going?" He asked in his usual deep and low voice. 

"I'll be outside." Seungho replied and Yongguk let him do as he please. Then everyone turned their attention to Hyori and the atmosphere grew awkward. Jenissi stood up and watched as Seungho leave, his attention was on Hyori and he froze. 

She's so beautiful!

Seungho was looking up at the blue sky with little clouds. Kyungsoo was slowly approaching him from behind, kicking the fresh green grass under their feet. He stood beside Seungho and held out something in front of Seungho. 

Seungho looked down and noticed it was his Magnum. Seungho wanted to take it but stop himself with a heavy sigh. "Why are you showing me this?" He asked without looking at Kyungsoo. 

"I'm not showing it to you.... I'm returning it to its rightful owner."

"Why? Keep it with you so I won't use it carelessly." 

Kyungoo pulled the gun toward him. Although Seungho was back, he wasn't satisfied, he felt a piece of Seungho was gone and missing. Seungho wasn't really Seungho. "Seungho.... I'm sorry."

"For what?" Seungho asked in a soft and low voice. He wasn't in a mood to talk, yet he couldn't ignore Kyungsoo completely. 

"Everything.... I just. I just feel like you're too strict around.... Nevermind. I just wanted to apologize.... And, I really missed you when you weren't around." Kyungsoo stuttered a lot as he tried to express his feelings. 

"I know." Seungho said bluntly and Kyungsoo froze. He felt his heartbeat stopped as well, then he slowly looked toward Seungho's direction. 

"You know?"

"We're family. It's normal to miss each other." Seungho said as he keep looking up at the sky. He trace the slow moving clouds with his eyes. 

"T-that's true.... But I mean when you weren't around.... I feel like you-a part of you.... A part of me was gone." 

Seungho turned to Kyungsoo and ruffled his hair. "When did my brother turned into a fool playing with words? It's cute." Seungho said as he removed his hand from Kyungsoo's hair. Kyungsoo became flustered; a part of him was shy while the other half of him was slightly annoyed. 

"Is it fun acting like you're older than me?" Kyungsoo asked in a serious tone, Seungho heaved a sigh and hummed. 

"Yeah."

Kyungsoo and Seungho entered and saw that Yongguk had everyone seated in the living room. Kyungsoo came in first and joined the crowd in the living room while Seungho shut the door. "What's going on?" Kyungsoo asked and Yongguk who was the only one standing rubbed his chin. 

"We're thinking about splitting rooms. There are four rooms and nine of us." Yongguk explained. Seungho stood near the door and folded his arms, then he leaned against it. Hyori was sitting next to Yoo Jung who sat between her and CL on the sofa. Zelo and Jun Gyu were sitting together on the ground when Kyungsoo joined Jenissi who sat a little far from them. 

Zelo wrapped his arms around Jun Gyu, "I'm sharing with Jun Gyu." The old man chuckled and patted the young man's hand gently. 

"Alright and would the ladies be alright with sharing the master room?" Yongguk asked, they exchanged glances and nodded in sync. Yongguk looked at Jenissi, "And the new kid will share with...."

"You-" Kyungsoo started but Seungho cut him off. 

"Kyungsoo." Everyone was surprised to hear that Seungho named Kyungsoo as Jenissi's partner. Yongguk paused for a moment. 

"T-then that means...?"

"You and I will share a room." Seungho answered. 

"Why?" Yongguk asked and Seungho detached himself from the door. 

"You don't want to?"

"No, it's just.... I thought you'd rather share with Kyungsoo-"

"Since Kyungsoo brought him here, Kyungsoo should take care of him. yeah?" Seungho asked. Jenissi look from Kyungsoo's expression to Yongguk and then Seungho. 

"You guys are weird." He commented. 

"Which room is ours?" Seungho asked staring at Yongguk.

"Er your room so the first one.... Closest to the stair." Yongguk replied.

Seungho dropped his arms and headed toward the stairs, "Bedtime." He said as he was about to head up but Jun Gyu stopped him. 

"Wait, it's not bedtime yet, let's eat first."

Seungho didn't bother stopping, "It's my bedtime. I'll keep watch tonight." And with that Seungho disappeared. 

"I'm not used to this...." Zelo said softly and Jun Gyu nodded along.

Great.... We're separated again. Kyungsoo thought for a moment then turned to the circle and pointed to Jenissi. 

"This is Jenissi." He introduced, they greeted Jenissi with nods and waves. Jenissi had on a wide smile and greeted each and every one of them back. 

Through the window on the second floor Seungho could see the heads of wayfarers outside the gates. Seungho slowly turned around when he heard the door knob turned and the door creaked a little as it open. It was Yongguk, poking his head through the crack after thinking Seungho must have been asleep. Their gaze met and Yongguk entered while clearing his throat. 

"I thought you were asleep." Yongguk said and Seungho exhaled through his nose before turning back to look outside the window. Yongguk joined him near the window and see if anything interesting was happening. 

Nothing good was happening was for sure a fact.

Yongguk sighed, "Not sharing a room with Kyungsoo, you sure you won't regret it?" 

Seungho looked directly into Yongguk's eyes, "Why? Do you regret not sharing with Zelo?" Yongguk shook his head quickly. "It's the same then. Tonight I'm going out." Seungho stated out of the blue. 

"What?"

"I'm going out once everyone is asleep. You keep watch until I return then you can sleep." 

Yongguk let out a slight chuckle, "Seungho, around here we don't need to keep watch. We've been here for some time now and not once has a zombie gotten pass the gate."

"I'm going." Seungho pushed and Yongguk's chuckle vanished, "And that woman is coming with me." 

"That woman?"

"Yeah, that woman." Seungho said as he used his head to gestured toward the window. Yongguk looked out the window and saw Hyori walking in the yard alone. 

Zelo and Jun Gyu were sitting in the dining room talking and laughing. In the kitchen, Yoo Jun was teaching Kyungsoo and Jenissi good canned food they could mix to make a delicious bowl.  CL was praticing swinging the bats, exercising her arm muscles. 

Hyori was sitting outside alone when the noises made from the wayfarers filled the air around them. But besides the and groaning, like Seungho, Hyori couldn't help but admired the weather this day. 

She shaded her eyes with her hand as she faced the sky. Then after some time she leaned back and lie on the green grasses.

Yongguk came down the stairs and checked on Kyungsoo and the others in the kitchen. They were laughing when Jenissi couldn't open a can with a can opener. Yongguk gestured him aside and grabbed the can opener, with one try he popped the lid open, earning their awes and wows. Yongguk laughed along with them. 

CL made a full swing then as she was about to make another swing, Yongguk grabbed the bat which almost hit him on the head. "Whoa careful there." He said, CL let out an apologetic laugh and lowered the bat. "You're practicing right? Should we practice outside together?" 

"Really? You'll practice with me?" CL asked with a growing smile, Yongguk hummed and nodded. He walked over and grabbed the other bat which was once Mark's. Together they headed outside and practice on the grassy field. Yongguk held the bat upward. 

"Alright, pretend this is the head of a zombie and he's approaching you." Yongguk said, CL focused and nodded. The clanging and clashing of the two metal bats could be heard when Hyori spun her head toward their direction. She saw Yongguk backing up as CL swing the bat at his. "Oh, good, good, good." Yongguk complimented. 

Zelo and Jun Gyu's friendly talk turned into an arm wrestling match and soon Kyungsoo and Jenissi joined on in. 

Yoo Jung smiled when everyone was getting along fine. Maybe it was because Kyungsoo seemed better and healthier, but Seungho's return changed the mood of the house. "If only I can see him laugh with them once." Yoo Jung mumbled as she turned toward the second floor. 

Seungho was lying on the bed using one arm as his pillow. 

While his comrades was enjoying themselves and laughing below, Seungho was planning and preparing himself. 

For the consequences that will follow.

I cannot guarantee your safety even if we're together, Kyungsoo. I'm sorry, but after today, let's never meet again. And with that thought he fell asleep. 

End of Chapter 22.