Chapter 6, Day 6
We woke up in the Miyashita Park Underpass and I stretched my arms. My jaw was just fine now, and hopefully it stays that way. I sighed then looked around and got up from my place on the street. I looked down to the left to find that Ariena was sleeping peacefully, the only time she's quiet.
I gripped my shoulder. When she glomped me yesterday, it felt weird. She crossed the personal space line and physical contact. In short, I don't like it when people get close and hug me. Especially this bi-polar chick that doesn't get the rules of this Reaper's game.
This game was for survival, not for making friends and not having your own opinions on whether we live or not. She was too much of an idealist; and an idealist never has the guts to face reality. They're too fragile.
That's probably why my… I scoffed at the thought. He never cared about me, that's must be why he stabbed me in the back so easily.
I growled a bit then heard the tone of the mission mail.
I flipped open my cell phone and read it silently, but was interrupted by a shadow looming over me. I quickly jerked it off and turned to see that the ever annoying partner of mine was up. She didn't seem very bothered by what I did anyway.
"Mission mail?"
What was your first guess? You thought I was checking to see if my mom was gonna call me?
"What's it say?"
You have your own cell phone.
"Stop a marathon of prehistoric beasts before it hits the Crossing.
Keep your feet firm on the ground.
Fail or face erasure."
No time limit?
And what does he mean by prehistoric beasts anyway? I adjusted my hood. This guy was really getting on my nerves with these missions. I bet that there's either gonna be a fix in here or me trying to do a dodge roll to save my life.
"I wonder what the prehistoric beasts are." Ariena questioned out. My thought exactly.
"Well no time to stall, I don't wanna deal with a bunch of animals."
We both walked out from the Underpass towards Towa Records. Ariena brushed passed me to the record store to look at all the new CDs. She must've been looking for some Prince CDs or something, news flash, we're dead. Does a bunch of CDs matter at the moment?
Answer: no.
Where was this marathon anyway?
At 104 building
"A marathon?" A girl with a long coat decorated with chains questioned as she pushed a few strands of black hair back. They stood at the top of the large building of 104, overlooking the large crowds of people walking back and forth through the streets. The citizen's voices buzzed around with delightful conversation about the newest trends becoming more and more popular.
Aoan nodded with a crazed grin on his lips as he punched his fist into his palm. "Yeah, these Players need to be done and erased. I don't think that they had enough of my 8-bit missions."
She adjusted her seat on the building's ledge and crossed her legs. "You sent Ventus to attack Dante, any reason why?"
"She wanted to have a good time, so I let her try to destroy a player. No harm, no foul."
"Leave the sayings to me."
"Of course." He answered back with a shrug. Then swung his left foot up on the ledge as he leaned forward to look down at the growing crowds of people. "Look at all those NPCs." The girl did so, amused at how many people were walking around so freely even with all the Noise hovering in the air.
The two were in silence as they listened to the wide spectrum of different voices, all speaking at once. Each voice trying to up the other until their attention was spared of the noise and everything was silent. No thought scanned by either of them as the girl looked up and stretched her arms. The Game Master of the week then brought hopped onto the ledge, with his hair covering his face even still.
"Those NPCs haven't got the clue about what's happening thus making them useless and uninteresting."
"In the ideal sense nothing is uninteresting; there are only uninterested people." She informed and then got up from her seat and straightened out her long coat. She then flicked at her black strands, pushing them away from her glinting eyes. "Have fun, Game Master."
With that she walked off, disappearing from sight as Aoan crossed his arms and smirked. It was time for some real fun for the players.
Towa Records
"I wonder when his new album is going to come on sale..." Ariena said thoughtfully herself and I shrugged my shoulders when she looked at me. "Do you like the Prince? His songs are so good." She squealed, and I strained my ears. Darn fangirl.
"Thought I heard a fangirl sound." The ever so cunning Lenali stated. I turned to find the girl crossing her arms with an annoyed look. Can't she look like a regular twelve year old?
Phoenix was standing by her with his arms crossed. I can't even stand the sight of him at the moment, but I'm sure that today or tomorrow is the day I don't have to see him anymore. He's such a bastard; I just have the urge to throw a punch at him.
Ariena gave a curious look to Lenali who still had her arms crossed in annoyance. It's a girl vs. girl stare off now.
"Excuse Lenali here," Phoenix stated as he put his hand on the girl's head. I pulled at my hoodie's zipper, bored of the conversation already. If it weren't for that mission, I wouldn't be here; actually walking away sounds like a good idea. "She's not fond of Prince fangirls."
"More like annoyed at them." The albino girl added.
"Well I think he's good, I even got this shirt custom made." Ariena commented, pulling the hems of her "F Everything" blue T-shirt. You can get something like that custom made? Wow she IS a fangirl. "His vocals are usually off-key but that's why most people like his music." She said dreamily and I nearly gagged. What kind of singer sings off-key? Wouldn't that kill someone's career if fans heard his music like that?
"What kind of singer is that then?" Lenali remarked jerking up her shoulders with her white jacket sleeves following.
"A unique singer."
"Still no winning this argument."
"I'm just telling you I like Prince's songs. His style is really good too." Ariena droned on and I wish I had something to drown away this fangirl's ranting.
The chat began to die away and as relieved as I was to that, the ground began to shake. No maze this time though, the shock wasn't very strong. It felt like some rapid crowd of people coming through but unlike their usual screams and yells it sounded more…I guess video game like. …Oh crap.
I turned around with the other three looking in the same direction with sheer surprise.
Idiots!
I quickly grabbed all of them and tried pulling them as much as I can. Sad fact is I was only strong enough to pull back Lenali and Ariena while Phoenix was already moving on his own. He glanced at me and I glared back as he grabbed hold of his partner and dashed towards the side of the street while I was left with the blue haired chick. Her eyes were wide and what came close was this huge herd of dinosaur looking Noise.
Their large feet stomped against the streets, creating uproar and panicked vibrations on the street. They all rushed in a huge parade of a rainbow of dinosaurs. Each with their big eyes wide open and their stumpy arms forward as they charged with intense concentration. The 8-bit prehistoric Noise was bunched together, taking charge of the streets.
Seriously, what the hell?
"Yoshis." I whispered sharply then dragged Ariena quickly and clumsily to the doors of Towa Records. The herd of multicolor Yoshi charged through the streets without a care in the world. I watched with wide eyes and utter confusion.
Aoan or whatever, you're seriously mental.
This goes against the laws, I'm sure.
"No time to waste." I heard Phoenix say to Lenali and I shook my head, trying to get rid of this foolish look I had. "Time to stop the marathon." The two nodded in agreement and ran off while I turned back to my utterly displaced partner and shook her. She snapped out of confused and looked at me while I scowled.
"We need to stop that stampede!" I told her with frustration. She winced. Actually I don't even know why I shouted, she didn't even say anything yet. I brushed it off then ran off, trying to figure out how the hell I was supposed to stop this.
What was this guy thinking!
The herd entered Cadoi City and then made a sharp turn towards Molco. Good, that'd earn me some time to try and think if a way to stop them…I hope. The others weren't here so I couldn't bounce around ideas, not like I wanted to discuss anything with them anyway. But what to do? I can't just jump in the middle of the street and yell at them to stop.
When has that done any good anyway? They'd run over me like road kill. Gotta think, gotta think.
"H-How…" Ariena panted as she caught up with me when we rushed into the streets of the Shibu Dept. Store. I looked at her, waiting for her to finish what she was saying while clutched at her chest to help her breathe better. "…about we…feed them something?"
Feed them something? Like what?
"Any bright ideas on what to feed them?"
Seriously, what were we gonna feed them anyway? I don't think we'd have enough pins to cash to buy so much food for those beasts.
"We could try giving them fruit or something."
"And where?"
"Look I'm trying to help; I don't see you coming up with any ideas." She snapped and I backed off a bit. That was a first; she'd usually cower back or just stay silent like before. What's gotten into her?
This time it was my turn to stay silent.
She gave me a look then sighed and began looking around. She's too wishful.
"Like it or not…" She began with her back facing me; I looked up while adjusting my open jacket. "We're partners, and I don't care if you don't think of me as your friend, I'm at least trying to be friendly." When she finished she turned to me with an angry look and her fists clenched tightly.
"Fine, then I'll hate it."
Ariena didn't speak and tapped at the suspenders that were clipped to her mini skirt. "Dante…" She lowered her head and gripped at a suspender. "What was your entry fee?"
Now that I think about it, I never really did care about what was my entry fee. Actually the more I did, I back tracked and realized that even I don't know what it was. What was it? What was my entry fee? I know all players had something taken away from them from whoever started this twisted Reaper game, but what was taken from me?
A knot formed in my throat and I began getting annoyed at how I can't even remember was taken from me. What was it? What was it dammit!
"I…" I breathed out almost sounding sincere. "I don't know." Even with that sense of sincerity, my words felt hollow and so did my breath. Ariena must've picked that up also.
She gave me a sympathetic look and I waved it off.
"I don't care about what my entry fee was. If I don't remember it, it must've been crappy."
For some reason she walked up to me and slapped me across the face. What the hell!
This was girl was beyond bi-polar now.
"What was that for!" I barked angrily, demanding an explanation.
"A player's entry fee was something important to them!" The blue haired chick yelled with determination ringing in her voice. "If you don't care about yours, you're just a…just a…a heartless bastard!"
"What's your problem!"
Seriously, what WAS this girl's problem? First she's all confused, and then happy, then acts mature and now went mental! I'm really wondering why I couldn't get a partner that knows how to keep their mouth shut.
"Lenali's entry fee was her ability to see color." She breathed out with her hand bawling into a fist. "Phoenix's was his sense of humor."
Where was she going with this?
"Don't you see?" My partner continued. "Lenali used to have a gift and love for art, while Phoenix would always rely on his sense of humor to cheer everyone up. Why do you think they're like this? They had something important to them taken away!"
It came crashing down to me. Lenali cursed off Phoenix for something he thought was funny, but most likely wasn't. Then there was Lenali with her clad entirely in white except her red eyes that pierced through it all. If she wasn't able to see color then black and white must've been what she had a thing for now in art. I feel like such a bastard.
But…
For some reason none of that mattered to me.
For some reason I felt annoyance rising up in me and I shoved my hands in my pockets and stomped off leaving Ariena stunned.
Why did I do that?
Why didn't I respond?
And why couldn't I remember anything of my entry fee?
Everything was so confusing along with us having to stop some freak stampede that's most likely breaking several laws. Why did I care? I just wanted one freaking day to make sense.
Actually there was no use in questioning at the moment. I needed to stop some stampede right now, and I don't think I have any idea on how I stop it. C'mon think. Think! I growled, already pissed off and in the back of my head I wondered why.
Everything was so hectic.
"Something wrong, players?"
The mental Game Master of the week was here. I glared up as he jumped from up in the air and down to the street. He didn't even flinch or anything, what kind of guy was this?
"What do you think is wrong!" I growled viciously. This guy's cockiness was already tempting me to throw a punch and more at him! "We're two people trying to stop this herd of Yoshi who are in no way near wanting to be stopped!" I yelled so loud and harshly that I felt my lungs searing with pain.
Aoan brushed me off and I glared up at him. He crossed his arms, his hair was making it hard for to glare even harder at him.
"Dante!" Ariena yelled, finally coming near. She tossed me an object and I caught it, fumbling a bit. An apple? Where'd she get the fruit?
She skid to a stop with a whole basket of them that hung in her hands giving me a hard look. "Where'd you—" Ariena cut me off when she waved her hand and unleashed her dagger straight at the ground in front of Aoan who jumped back. What the hell was she doing! And how could she miss? Maybe she should've gone up and slapped him because my cheek was pretty sore from that.
"I went shopping." She answered curtly then controlled her dagger to slash even further at Aoan who evaded with ease. The blue haired girl took a step forward and looked up in the air. "Now!"
I was confused then I heard really loud barking coming from behind me. I froze when it was coming really close behind me that I could feel a warm gust of air breathing at me. Cautiously I looked back and I jumped at the sight of a Chain Chomp sniffing at the ground.
What. The. Hell?
"Don't be scared." Lenali's voice called out as she walked from behind with a whip in her hand. Since when did she have that? Yesterday I saw her throw fire balls at Noise and now she had a whip. This twelve year old was starting to get me curious on her upbringing. "Nix has the leash on the Chain Chomp secured."
"Uh…right."
And I thought that I was acquainted with weirder people back at school. …actually no these people are actually tamed.
I looked to find Aoan jumping back every time Ariena motioned her dagger to attack him with the fruit still sitting in the basket. When he backed up all the way to the entrance of the Center St. the same rumbling the Yoshi herd caused came back again. They made a round trip from Molco to here.
I looked down at the fruit and picked up on their plan; when they came closer, Aoan disappeared in the frenzy.
As close as they came, Phoenix released the Chain Chomp with Lenali having intense concentration on her face. She gripped the whip tightly, lashing it on the street with the Chain Chomp growling and scaring the Yoshi to scatter around and going into smaller groups. They tried avoiding the huge beast until the white obsessed girl lost her concentration and the Mario monster began to shrink and turn into a pin.
Where'd she get that!
"Dante!" Phoenix yelled and I snapped out of my trance.
I tossed up the fruit in the air that made the majority of the Yoshi look up while Ariena did the same by stabbing her dagger at the basket's handle and using her ESP to move it. She focused the dagger to hover high in the air with the Yoshi stopping their frantic escape and trying to jump for the fruit. I looked at Ariena, nodding as she did the same and silently ordered for her dagger to return to her with the basket of fruit falling to the sea of Yoshi.
"We did it!" Ariena and Lenali cheered as they jumped in excitement.
I dropped to the ground. While I was being pissed off, my annoying partner actually did something to complete the mission so we could survive. "I'm such a…"
"Bastard? Yeah you are." Phoenix answered, cutting me off from my thoughts. I looked up at him, not with a glare, but just a blank look. He adjusted his skull imprinted beanie and then placed his hand on my head. "Ariena convinced us to help out, lucky for you; I'm not such an asshole as Lenali said I was yesterday."
…oh because of that 'joke' he made about me yesterday.
"As for the pin, it was something we found a few days ago. Before today, Lenali tried to use it, but gave up until it miraculously did today. Coincidence, yeah we thought so, but we didn't question it."
"…so how'd you know to come here?"
"When we left you guys, we got to Spain Hill and then mad dashed back to the Scramble Crossing when we were almost run over by the herd."
"I see…" I couldn't believe I was having a peaceful conversation with this jerk. I didn't think a fist fight was a very good impression.
"Yeah, then we saw Ariena trying to look for food, she told us everything and we came up with a last minute plan."
So that's how they knew what to do. "Why'd you come to tell me this anyway?" He lowered his gaze and then looked up with the girls still talking happily.
"You just remind me of him, just not as well…"
"Are you talking about—"
I got cut off, once again, by the sound of a whipping snapping in the air. I jumped and heard the girls laugh at this.
"I forgot to tell you that you lost The Game." Lenali giggled, making both me and Ariena make a fuss out of this.
The timer on our hands disappeared, but that's not the reason I felt relieved. I don't even know why I felt that, maybe because tomorrow was our last day in this twisted game of theirs.
Hachiko Statue
"I'm thinking, what if I had my fun earlier than I thought I would have it?"
He jerked his shoulder as he leaned against the statue. "Why are you so persistent?"
She jumped swung her legs, while sitting on the wall. "Why are you so into my business of me being interested in the proxy?"
"Whoever said I was?"
"I did, and you implied it. Don't worry, I promise you that I won't do anything to your precious proxy."
"And the sarcasm returns." A new voice cut in, with the two looking through the crowds. "Mind if I join in?"
"Whatever you want to do." The girl said as she jumped down from her seat on the wall. "I'm just wondering why Composer is always out while I have to stick around with this guy." She rubbed her left arm, soothing a painful bruise.
"I see that you got punished, Ventus." The newcomer said with amusement. She waved it off.
"You use a little sarcasm and try and have play time early, and only get a beating in return. If my fan didn't break I would've been able to fight back."
The mysterious young man lifted himself from the statue and gave a shadowy look at the girl who glared back at him. "This isn't just for your amusement."
"Yeah whatever." She rolled her eyes and adjusted her clip. "I'll have my fun anyway, be sure to visit, okay~?" The girl trailed her words trying to give a false sickening sweet tone. However, she quickly reverted back into a regular one and stretched her arms.
"What did the Composer say about this anyway?" The new comer questioned, not wanting to be left out as he crossed his arms.
The only girl in the conversation gave a satisfied look on her face. "Oh she was more than happy to let me join, unlike the jerk there who wasn't too thrilled at the idea. I think he's jealous that I can spend more time with his brother than he ever did."
"I never knew that you and the proxy had the whole brotherly love thing." The new guy observed with amusement while the girl laughed and held her stomach tightly. "All joking aside, what about the progress of the project?"
The shadowy person of the group stayed silent.
Day 6:
"Entry Fee"
