-1Comrade Game Start

Amu's heart was beating fast. She couldn't take her eyes of this guy anymore, Ikuto Tsukiyomi. He was the person that caused all her misery, he was her enemy. But he was also the one who saved her life. She couldn't believe it. Her voice was shaky but she asked, "are you the infamous swindler Ikuto Tsukiyomi?"

She waited as there was silence. She waited with a unsteady heart for his answer and reply.

"Yeah. I am Ikuto Tsukiyomi."

Amu flipped at his answer. She ran towards him and grabbed onto his

clothes. She raised her fist in the air and was about to hit him from her absolute rage, but her fist never reached with his hand blocking her punch. He was relaxed and didn't seem at all fazed by her actions.

"WHY? Why did you do that to my family, to my dad? What would you gain? You monster, you devil? I hate you, I hate you, I want to kill you…" Amu screamed at his face.

"Then make sure you do a good job of it then," Ikuto said, gripping onto Amu's fist harder, "I've heard the recent tale of me destroying the Hinamori company. I guess that's true then judging by your reaction."

Amu tried to snatch her fist from his grip but he was strong and she could do nothing but hopelessly try to hold back her tears now.

"It's a pathetic sight if you cry now," Ikuto taunted, "your facing a guy whose driven your family to suicide. No matter what you do, crying in front of someone who hurt you isn't good. Stay strong and handle your emotions."

"SHUT UP-" Amu shouted, "SHUT UP! STOP TALKING NON SENSE!"

"You're the one screaming a load of rubbish," Ikuto said, "if you stop talking trash then I'll let you go."

Amu glared at him. She really wanted to do something to hurt him at this very moment, knowing he was the one who killed her family through his doings.

"Now there Ikuto, calm down and let her go," Nikaidou commanded. "We don't recommend violence between players."

"We haven't started the game officially yet have we?" Ikuto retorted, "so don't stick in to our personal business."

Nikaidou gulped and then turned away to look elsewhere. Ikuto turned his attention back on Amu, "listen carefully Amu Hinamori. Before you go crazy over lies, let me tell you now, I didn't destroy your company. I don't even know your father."

"As if I'd believe a swindler like you," Amu continued to shout, "you said yourself how powerful a swindlers words are. Don't even bother to mess with my mind. I won't trust you."

Ikuto stared at Amu who glared at him, holding his gaze in her angry one. "Then what do you plan to do to me then? You can't physically hurt me in any way."

Amu gritted her teeth, "I don't care. I promise I'll take revenge for my parents. You taught me revenge and I'll do it. I'll crush you and destroy you the same way you did to my parents."

There was a loud clapping noise. Both Ikuto and Amu turned to see Nikaidou smiling as he clapped his hands. "A wonderful conviction Amu Hinamori," Nikaidou said, "shall we resume to the game at hand. I assure you Amu, defeating this guy in the Judas game is the best way to crush him and take your revenge."

Amu looked at Nikaidou, "how does that work."

Nikaidou grinned, "as a personal thing aside from this game Amu, I shall personally promise you I'd hire assassins to kill Ikuto Tsukiyomi for you should you win this round."

"Are you really going to trust this guy?" Ikuto asked, "how do you know he's not a liar or swindler like me?"

"I can sign a contract with you Miss Hinamori," Nikaidou offered.

"No need," Amu finally said after having considered Nikaidou's words. "I'll trust you on your words." She turned to Ikuto, "let go off me. Don't touch me with your filthy hands. I won't let you win."

Ikuto let go of Amu as she wished. He stared at her with an unimpressed expression, "the most you'll achieve is a draw or we both loose. There's no way you can win me. Besides, I've already told you, I don't know your dad and I have nothing to do with his companies bankruptcy. You should rethink of what's best for you to do."

"The best thing for me to do is win you in this game and obtain the chance to take your life," Amu raised her voice, "Nikaidou begin the game. I won't let his lies distract me."

"Very well," Nikaidou said. He was pleased, very pleased of the result before him. He wanted to create as much trouble for Ikuto as possible. After all, it would be nice to see a swindler of his level be defeated in a game where persuasion, the basic skill of con artist is needed most. "One more thing to add," he continued, "the office shall assist each player in this game once and do as they wish to help them in the game if they need. However, we will not lie. Everything we do here must be fact."

"Before you start," Ikuto interrupted, "I want to ask a few things."

"Go ahead," Nikaidou said though annoyed he was delayed again.

"First off, what is the purpose of such a game?"

Despite Amu was consumed with hate and anger and anguish this moment. She cleared her mind to listen. This was something she'd like to know as well. The Judas game, what was it? She still didn't fully grasp it. But to win this game and gamble that Nikaidou would keep his personal promise to her, she needed to first understand this game - the Comrade game.

Nikaidou answered, "to eliminate the weak willed and convicted players. They aren't necessary. You'll find the Judas game is much more."

"Next question," Ikuto continued to ask, "what happens if we both vote TUST? What do we get from it if we don't get the reward of 1 million pounds?"

"We will put both of you through as a team for the next round of Judas Game."

Ikuto glanced from Amu then back at Nikaidou, "last question. What's the point in us establishing a partner here? There will be some that'll win on their own so…"

Nikaidou breathed heavily, "I cannot say for exact the purpose of winning a partner from this round. However, having a partner for the next round should you get through is more beneficial - that is if such established comradeship isn't a handicap. Now I really cannot delay anymore time. Please start the clock. Both of you need to vote within 30 minuets. The game officially begins."

Replacing the rules on the massive screen was a digital clock that began it's 30 minutes count down. Amu turned away from Ikuto and headed over to sit quietly at one far side of the warehouse where a chair was set. Ikuto went to the opposite side of the room. She couldn't help but glare at him a few times before completely turning to face elsewhere. Maybe this was a sign from God, to let her meet him in such a way; giving her a chance to take her revenge. However, winning Ikuto won't be easy. She was up against a swindler and this game wasn't easy. The only way a player can loose on their own is if they ever cast a TRUST vote. How will she ever get Ikuto to cast that vote; at the minute this was beyond her capabilities.

On the other side of the room Ikuto had been closely observing Amu. She was turned away from him but that didn't mean he wouldn't catch onto a few things. If she was smart enough, she would have realised the only way to win is to get the other player to vote TRUST. In a situation like this where they weren't going to even talk to each other, it'd be impossible for either to vote TRUST, because there was no way in assuring the other that you personally would. Ikuto was a swindler and knows too well that a swindler could only work his magic through communication. He continued to stare at Amu. He had to make her speak to him otherwise, there was no chance in him winning.

"Amu Hinamori, are you so certain that Nikaidou will keep his promise to you?" Ikuto asked. There was no reply or response from Amu. He knew it wouldn't be easy. He tried again, saying a load of stuff to her. He tried provoking her and even tempt her to pay attention to him by trying to make up the story of how he had tricked her father which he didn't. She was like a phantom of a corpse with no response whatsoever towards what he said. Ikuto hit the wall behind him, irritated.

From the side Nikaidou was very amused by Ikuto's effort to try and get Amu to talk to him. He suppressed his laughter and whispered to himself, "struggle more Ikuto. If you are the best swindler there ever is then prove it to me. I won't acknowledge you yet." He glanced over at the digital clock behind him. 17 minutes have passed already. He grinned again, excited at the turnout of this game.

Ikuto held back a breath watching Nikaidou submerge himself in his own sadistic happiness to see him loose. The Judas game was a game of betrayal was what that person had told Ikuto before he entered. The purpose of the game itself is a secret amongst those who had hosted it. Players just needed to participate and win. Ikuto thought back to what Nikaidou had said from the moment they met him up to now. Ikuto started to laugh, having found the weakness to the game and what Nikaidou thought was an impossible situation for Ikuto to win, he'd prove it wrong. There was a part of the game and its rules that Ikuto could exploit.

Ikuto turned his attention back on Amu. "I know you hate me to the core now. You won't speak to me and choose to ignore me because you're afraid that you'll be influenced by me if you communicate with me." Ikuto smiled seeing Amu still not responding, "your wrong if you think that way. You think your at risk if you talk to me but equally I am too. Influence amongst people works both ways. Besides, you must've realised by now it'll be impossible for you to win if you don't get me to cast a TRUST vote." Ikuto stood up and began to walk towards her, "how will you win in this current situation. Amu Hinamori, you've wasted enough time in this game. Will you start playing for real?" He placed his hand on the wall above Amu, cornering her. This was his last chance, if she didn't respond then he won't win. "You want revenge don't you? So act like you mean you hate me and do."

Amu slowly turned to look at Ikuto. She studied him and his serious but wild expression. She moved her lips at last, knowing she couldn't avoid any longer; all the things he had said were fact. She'll just have to bet that she will be the one to influence him and not the other way around. "We'll get down to business then Ikuto Tsukiyomi. Everything between us…"

Ikuto smiled, knowing now that he will definitely win for sure.