Nishi's footsteps echoed in the empty street, his suit gone-left back in the room along with their weapons. It was hard to tell whether the events of the previous few hours had even happened. He turned a corner onto a familiar street, he had walked down this path so many times before. This time felt different, like something was tugging him back, pulling him; willing him to stop. Despite this, he carried on, ignoring that subconscious feeling. He briefly wondered what had happened between the time he had jumped and the time he had walked out of that room. If he really was alive, then did that mean no one had noticed that he'd jumped? Did that mean just moments after he had struck the ground, the black ball had brought him back? Though he was positive that it had been daylight when he was standing on the roof. There were so many questions unanswered, he didn't have the energy to solve them all tonight. He stood before the door of his house, he couldn't remember what time it was now but there was no doubt in his mind that his mother would be worried. He side stepped from the door to peek inside the window.

His mother was sat on their red couch, she had tissue bundled in her hand and she seemed to be on the phone. He strained his hearing, her voice was muffled by her sobs but he could pick up some of what she was saying. "Please, just check around again-no I don't-he's never not come home- it's almost two in the morning!" well that confirmed his question of the time. It wasn't all that hard to figure out the one sided conversation, she was obviously on the phone to the police. It was then he spotted his dad walking into the living room. Nishi ducked a little from the window when his dad turned in his general direction. He sneered at the glass of what he assumed was whisky, watching his expression, he didn't look all that bothered about his 'missing' son. No surprise there.

"Stop worrying Emiko" His dad's voice was clearer since he was closer. "He's probably just at a friend's or something, lost track of time" Nishi rolled his eyes, it was obvious his dad didn't know him very well, never really had. Nishi didn't have 'friends' he couldn't bring himself to associate with any of his classmates, nothing but shallow, mindless, spiteful hypocrites. "No real reason to get the cops involved yet" another whisky down, another one poured.

"How can you say that!? Don't you know him at all? Do you have any idea what our son goes through almost everyday at that school? Of course you don't. What if something has happened to him!?"

Was that what she thought? That something had happened as a result of his bullies? There was never a foul thought in her head for him, it had not even occurred to her that he would take his own life. But he had. Nishi was suddenly slammed with guilt, it was a rare feeling for him and he suddenly wanted to walk through that door and assure her that he was ok. Only thanks to the ball was he alive right now, only thanks to the ball had he reconsidered his tragic thoughts of suicide. He raised his hand to knock and suddenly stopped. The night played through his mind, the blood, the aliens...what he had done to survive this night. His hands were tainted, how could he possibly look his mother in the eyes after what he had done? His hand dropped to his side and curled into a fist. He couldn't do it, he couldn't come home, he just couldn't. How could he go in there and reassure her that he was ok, knowing, knowing that he could be transferred back to that room at any point and have her worry for him all over again. He did not want to go back to her, not yet, not until it was all over...

"What do you think it means by-95 to go and you're done?" Yoko said, it was a fair question, one that they were all thinking.

"Maybe something happens once you reach a hundred points" Ryo said

Nishi walked forward and knelt in front of the ball "Hey! What happens when you reach one hundred points?" Nothing happened, the ball remained blank

"What if- what if we just, you know; die?" Ryo said

"You think so?" Yoko said, suddenly feeling more terrified then she was when facing the aliens "But, what is the point of this if we're just going to die when we get to a hundred?"

"We're just doomed to die I guess"

"How the hell can you say that and be so calm!?"

"Everyone calm down, I'm sure there's another explanation" Jiro said

Nishi sighed and slapped a hand on top of the ball "We know you can communicate somehow, what happens at a hundred points, tell us!" suddenly, the black ball began to display writing

"Look! It hears us, it's going to tell us" Yoko said, almost excitedly

In it's obscure font dialect, the ball began to display their answers

100 points menu:

1 – M3mory is wip3d and you go fr33

2 – r3c3iv3 a b3tt3r w3apon

3 – r3viv3 a d3ad play3r

"It would seem we get to choose from those options" Jiro said

"It says revive a dead player, what does that mean exactly?" Ryo said

"Sora died tonight, maybe it means that we can bring him back" Yoko replied

Nishi laughed, "Why would we want to do that? It's not like he was any help to us"

"Don't be so cold"

"I'm just saying, if you had the chance to go free or revive a dead player; what exactly would you do?" Yoko almost looked embarrassed, Nishi snorted, as though he knew that she would pick to go free. "Just as I thought"

"I suppose that reviving a dead player won't help them much anyway. I mean, they'll still be part of this ball and they might die again..."

"Wow, you're optimistic" Ryo scolded

Yoko frowned and placed her hands on her "You know what I mean!" she then sighed and looked at the ball again, her arms dropping by her side "So we have to stay alive long enough to receive a hundred points, that's really the only way out of this"

Jiro placed a hand on Yoko's shoulder "Then we best make sure no one else dies" she smiled at him and nodded "I believe we can all reach those points, together"

Nishi didn't look convinced, he glanced at the ball that had now returned to it's original appearance. He had gained the most points out of their group because he had killed the last alien. Only by doing so had he accumulated that many in one hit. It seemed as though the stronger 'boss' alien was worth the most. Jiro had gained six points because he had killed two of the smaller ones. Ashi had killed one of them and gained three. While the smaller ones were worth three points each, the boss had a higher points gain of ten. To gain the most, he had to kill the boss every time. Nishi briefly wondered whether he would have even made it had it not been for the rest of the group. Jiro seemed to be the only remotely useful in that mission, while he knew he couldn't rely on him or any of these people all the time, they were-for now- his best hope for survival. Until he could gain enough knowledge on the weapons and technology provided by the ball, he had to-Nishi grimaced-work on par with his 'team'

I can't come home, not until I reach a hundred points, I'm sorry mother. Nishi took one last look at her and ran from the house. He continued to run, with no destination in mind, he just wanted to run; distancing himself as far from his house as possible. The tears in his eyes began to cloud his vision and he started to slow his pace. He stumbled to a stop, lifting his hand to cling to a stair railing that led to an underground subway. Out of breath, Nishi collapsed beside the outside of the wall. "Damn it" he punched the ground in anger "Why couldn't you just let me die!"

Jiro smiled from across the garden at his wife; she had been frantic when he had returned home so late the night before. She smiled back at him, just happy to have him home.

"I'm home" Jiro called as he stepped through the house, he was immediately engulfed in a hug, his wife looked at him with tears streaming down her face.

"Where on earth have you been Jiro-chan, I've been so worried!"

Jiro smiled down sadly at her, then kissed her forehead "I'm sorry dear" he then smiled brightly, his hand scratching the back of his head. "I- got on the wrong bus" he let out a small chuckle.

She relaxed in his arms and shook her head with a smile "You're such a silly old fruit, but I'm so glad you're safe" Jiro nodded and embraced her, relieved that he was able to do that because he had survived. "Dear?"

"Hmm?"

"Where are the groceries?"

Jiro watched her pull out a bunch of weeds from the corner of their garden. During the war, there was always that possibility that he may not come home, she understood that; constantly wondering whether she would receive a telegram to inform her that he had been killed in action. Then was to be expected, but now there was no war. He could not tell her anything about what happened, she would surely think he had gone mad. They had all agreed not to tell anyone about what they had experienced, simply for that very reason. He just didn't know how long he could keep lying to her about his disappearance every time. Those times in the war were agonising, for both the soldier and the loved ones waiting at home. He didn't want to upset her or frighten her with fear that one night in that room, he may not make it.

Yoko grabbed her keys from the kitchen side, memories of last night's gruesome escapade fresh in her mind. It didn't seem real to her now that it was all over, but she had to face the fact that it was real. What was she suppose to do now?live her life like nothing happened until a night came and she was sent back to that room? She briefly wondered whether or not her ex boyfriend really thought she was dead, what exactly was she suppose to say if he saw her walking about in the streets-alive and well- no less. She closed the door behind her and walked out of her apartment building, making her way down the steps; she got into her small car and backed out of the parking space onto the busy road.

Why did this happen? What the hell is that black ball anyway? Is this really all some kind of alien technology sent from somewhere in space? If I really am alive, how is this better then the life I had before? Have I really been saved?

A loud horn sounded from behind her, snapping her out of her thoughts. She realised that the traffic lights in front had already turned green. "Shit" she continued to drive toward her destination, it was the only thing that signified as what was real in her life. She turned into a car park that was bustling with other people vacating theirs. Yoko got out of the car and took a deep breath and smiled. The moment she saw her college building, she felt at ease, as if nothing else mattered in the world. As though she didn't just get killed by her ex boyfriend, as though she didn't get brought back to life by a giant black ball; as though she didn't have to kill vicious aliens in order to survive. What mattered was now, this moment, this day; Yoko locked up her car and headed toward the building. "I'm going to live my life, no matter what, this is a brand new start"

Yoko smiled brightly when a familiar person began running toward her, waving happily. "Shin! Hey!" it was her best friend, Yui Kazumi. She stopped just in front of her, panting from the short run. Her friend wasn't very athletic and was just shy of being a bit plump. "Did you see the news last night? That big explosion near Tokyo tower? Apparently a truck overturned with a butt load of c02 canisters"

Yoko stilled for a moment, she had forgotten about that, or rather, she didn't want to think about it. "Um, not really" she lied

"Really? Its all over the news" Yoko smiled, her friend was always obsessive with the latest talk of the day or week, if anyone wanted to know the latest news of any kind; Yui would be the one to ask. She knew her friend would make a great reporter someday. "Did you go to bed early or what?"

Not exactly, I sort of died, you know how it is. Like she could tell her that. "I-had another fight with my boyfriend, ex-boyfriend that is"

Yui rolled her eyes, she snorted as her and Yoko made their way into the school. Since their lockers were next to each other, Yui then continued "So is it over this time?"

"Of course! I would never go back to someone that killed me! I'm totally over him"

"Excuse me?"

Yoko then realised her mistake and fumbled over her words "My heart!" she blurted out "Killed my heart, just stomped on it, over and over"

"Good, you deserve way better then him, I did tell you that from the start" Yui shut her locker and her eyes widened when she looked at her watch. "I've got to get to class! I'll meet you here for lunch" Yui ran down the corridor, leaving Yoko alone.

Yoko closed her own locker and gently laid her head on the door. "Killed my heart" she repeated her own words "That was so lame"

Ryo walked through the door of his apartment, for some reason he expected the black ball to be sitting in the middle of his living room. He sighed in relief when he didn't see it anywhere. He stared around the apartment, old coffee cups scattered about on coasters, left over pizza box from the night before. Yeah, he wasn't exactly living the high life. He looked down and stroked the dog that was laying on the couch, at least he wasn't alone now. He had taken it upon himself to look after the dog, bringing it back home with him, it was good company after all. The important thing was that he was alive, from sheer luck-or was it unluckiness?-given why and how he was brought back; and he wasn't fired.

Ryo was stood in the work's office with a bored expression as his boss continued to yell at him for his 'recklessness' there wasn't a shroud of concern for his well being. "Do you know how much all that stuff is gonna cost me!?"

It always came down to money, that's all it ever was "I'm fine by the way, thanks for asking" Ryo said

"I should fire you on the spot!"

"Then I'm outta here"

"But I wont, just because I'm under staffed, not because I'm nice" Ryo took the key back from his boss "Don't fuck it up any more! Now Get out" Ryo snorted and muttered some obscenities as he headed for the exit "What was that!?"

"Nothing"

"It better not have been, now get your ass moving; that truck load won't get there itself"

What a fucking dick Ryo walked out of the office and into where the next delivery truck was parked. The dog sat happily in the passenger seat, excited to go on a journey. "I wish I was a dog"

Ryo sighed, he thought he was going to get fired for sure. He slumped against the couch and looked around his dirty apartment. "I should just move, man, no wonder I'm single" he grabbed the remote and turned on the television.

~ -middle aged man died while saving a young boy from being hit by a car ~

Ryo sat up suddenly when the man in question's picture popped up on the screen. "It's Sora!"

~ The distraught mother of the child reported the incident to the police, but they have no leads to the driver responsible for the hit and run ~

"I was-I just saw him...then, I guess he's really dead for real now"

~ The man, who has been identified as Sora Tadashi worked in a community centre among troubled kids. It seemed as though Mr Tadashi was a local hero, saving many teens and kids from the streets. This apparently isn't the case ~

"Huh?"

~ Many of those who lived in the community centre have come forward with claims of sexual abuse from the man who had allegedly saved them ~

"Oh come on!"

~ Two girls age fifteen and a boy of thirteen claimed that he forced sex on them and threatened to throw them back on the streets should they report anything to the police ~

"Are you kidding me? But- but he seemed so-nice" Ryo switched the television off again. "Well, I sure as hell ain't gonna wish his ass back, not that I was really going to anyway; but I won't feel bad about it now"

Nishi paused the computer screen and sat back in his chair with a sigh "I knew it" he was currently inside the city's library, he knew no one would recognise him here and he was free to come and go as he pleased. He tore his tired eyes away from the screen to the clock on the wall, 19:00. He hadn't slept at all the night before since he hadn't found another place to stay. He couldn't use his emergency card for fear that the police would trace it, he wasn't ready to be found yet. He needed to remain low key, he was sure that in a few days, the police would be sending out search parties upon his mother's request. So he assumed at least, if he knew his mother well enough-which he did, that would be exactly what she would do.

"We're closing now" the man told him as he walked passed, stopping at the light switches on the far wall.

Nishi got up and left the building without a word, the building darkening as he stepped outside. He checked his wallet that had been with him, there was enough cash to at least grant him a couple of nights in a motel. Although judging by how much cash, it wasn't going to be a luxurious stay. He cursed under his breath, wondering if he was making the right decision; hiding himself away from the one person who loved him. But it was for her that he was doing all this in the first place.

Three days later...

Yoko smiled as she parked her car at her local grocery store. She had actually been having a great week, she didn't even think about the black ball or how it was going to effect her life. She carried on with her daily life at college, laughing and joking about and then happily attended her part time job with Yui.

She entered the store, grabbing a basket on the way in. She always did her shopping around this time since it wasn't all that busy. She walked down the first isle, browsing through the different kinds of fruit and veg; silently debating whether or not to make a stir fry. She placed some onions, beans, carrots and peppers in the basket. Wandering down the second isle she grabbed some rice and noodle packets. As she turned on her heel, she bumped into someone who had been browsing the shelf labels. The tin in his hand fell to the floor and she jumped back with an apologetic bow. "I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention I-" she looked up into a familiar face. "Ashi?"

"Hey!" he greeted back as he picked up the tin that he had dropped. "I didn't know you shopped here"

"My apartment isn't that far from here" she replied and they continued to walk together down the next isle. "Do you live locally?"

"Not really, I just prefer this one, it's got a better selection"

"It's funny how we never noticed one another before"

"We might have done, just passers by I guess"

Yoko smiled and then said "Well, I've got all I needed, so I guess I'll see you-soon"

"Wait" Ryo called before she could leave "I've just gotta get some dog food and I'm done, do you wanna get a drink or something?"

Yoko thought about it, while the drink sounded good-and it would be nice to talk with someone who knew her situation-she shook her head. "Sorry, I'm pretty tired from college actually. Maybe next time?"

"It's cool, I forgot you like the younger ones" Ryo laughed

Yoko frowned "That's not funny!"

"I was joking, honestly. But did you see the news about Sora?"

"No?"

"Well they were talking about how he died saving that kid he told us about"

"Really? So then, he really is dead?" she was surprised that her friend hadn't said anything about it.

"For real now. But that's not the disturbing part" Yoko gave him a sceptical look "Turns out, that he was actually sexually abusing some of the kids he helped"

"No way!" Yoko couldn't believe it, that time that they spent with him-while only short, he never came across as someone who would do that. She genuinely thought he was a nice guy. Come to think of it, Nishi didn't really trust him from the start, I guess his instincts were far better then ours. "So did they find evidence?"

"Don't know, but several kids made statements as soon as they found out he was killed"

"But- but he died a hero"

"Not sure whether that really justified his actions"

"No, I guess not"

"Well, I'll see you soon Shin"

"Hopefully not too soon" She smiled, he knew what she was referring to.

Ryo laughed "Same here"

They parted ways and Yoko walked to one of the registers to pay for her items. Nishi was at the forefront of her thoughts, she wondered how he was handling his daily life knowing that they could be be sent to that room at any time. The cashier rang up the last item and said "4000Yen"

Yoko blinked and realised that the cashier had spoken "Sorry, what?"

"I said 4000Yen, sheesh, there is a queue ya know" the woman looked like she wanted to kill her.

"Sorry, I spaced out for a moment there" Yoko took the cash out of her purse and handed it to the woman with a smile. She then bundled her groceries in her arms and muttered "Old hag" as she left the register and walked out of the store.

She placed the groceries in the boot of her car, when she slammed it shut she yelped. A man with baggy clothes and missing teeth was standing beside her. He was clearly homeless, if the smell was anything to go by. Shaggy looking hair and holes in his shoes. "Do you have spare change?"

"N-no, sorry"

"Sorry to bother you then"

She watched him walk away and placed her hand on her chest, coming down from her scare. "Damn" she quickly got into her car when she noticed that it was getting dark.

Nishi made his way up the steps of the small motel he was staying at. It wasn't the greatest of places for a fourteen year old to stay, but the owner never asked his business and Nishi was going to make sure it stayed that way. There weren't many people staying in the rooms, at least not that he had seen. The ones he had seen didn't question or even really glance at him. "Yo, kid!" a male voice called from below the steps. Nishi turned and looked down, he hadn't seen the man around before.

"What?"

"Got a light?"

"No" Nishi turned to walked the rest of the steps and the man called again

"Come on! I know you types of kids smoke"

Types of kids? Nishi turned to the man again, hands in his school pants. He had washed them in the motel's laundry room, but sooner or later, he was going to have to find some other clothes; especially if he wanted to remain hidden from people that might recognise him. "What 'type of kid' am I suppose to be exactly?"

"Ya know, typical hoodlum trouble maker; high school drop out"

Nishi's fists clenched within his pockets. "Maybe you should ask yourself what kind of 'man' you are. Lurking at a motel in the middle of the night, trying to bum a smoke off a kid," Nishi noticed how badly he was dressed, shoelaces untied, shirt buttoned wrong and pants scuffed. "And obviously with something to hide"

"What!?"

"The way you're dressed indicates there's something going on that shouldn't be. Hurrying off to be back somewhere? I bet you're having an affair right?"

"You-little-brat!"

Nishi laughed "I was just guessing, but it seems that I'm right" Nishi walked the last of the steps, his hands still clenched in his pockets. The man stared after him and then continued on his way.

Nishi watched him go from the shadows of the wall, he extended his arm out and pointed his index finger and thumb. "Bang" he whispered, only wishing he had that gun he had used on the alien.