-I saw Far and Away yesterday. Let me tell you my opinion: Far and Away is possibly the worst movie I have ever seen. And that means I can make fun of it! Please forgive me.


Here's the Plan

He had taken two bags. Two bags and a load of frustration. Shinji Mimura (male number twenty) had been the last one to leave. But lucky for him, one contestant hadn't taken their bags. Shinji had been kind enough to be the one to take it for him, all because he wanted two weapons. Some people got complete jokes as weapons. By taking two bags, he had twice the chance of getting a useful weapon. And Shinji was all about tactics.

From the moment he left the school he already had an idea formulating in his head of what he was going to do. Get the collar off. As soon as he did that he could do anything he wanted. As soon as he did that, he would escape.

Shinji already knew the secret of the collar. There were microphones in them that picked up his voice and sent it back to that Snape guy, and there were about three backup systems, in case one malfunctioned. But who ever said they couldn't be hacked into? Shinji was going to try to hack into his own collar and defuse it, then escape this wretched island for good.

He immediately went to work. The first thing he did was look at his map. There were houses, probably a complex to the west of the school. He didn't want to go there. It was perfect for a hideout, and it was more likely that place would be chosen for a forbidden zone sooner or later. There were farms to the immediate south, and more shops beyond that, but they weren't labeled. There had to be though, due to all the empty space in the map. It really wasn't that detailed. But he could use that to his advantage.

If there was a location that wasn't marked on the map then Shinji could go there. No one else would know of its existence, unless they saw it themselves. Perfect. Shinji headed south to set up his headquarters.

He passed the farms that were marked on the map, and continued south in the dark. It wasn't as hard as he had thought. The ground was generally flat, and because of this he made good time. The farms had scattered crops growing, probably seeds that had fallen and planted themselves. Shinji could come back here if he ever ran out of food. Not only that, but there was a well nearby. This was turning out a lot better than he first thought.

The walk wasn't all that interesting. He ran into some livestock, but rendered them useless to him and moved on. Once or twice he stepped into a mud puddle. The well was probably nearby, but he didn't take time to go look for it. It wouldn't be logical to look for the well in the dark. He continued on, looking for some form of shelter.

Shinji was right. To the south of all the farms, there were buildings, shops, and apartments. It looked like a little marketplace. It wasn't big at all. There was one fish market, a barber shop, two apartment buildings, a café, and further down the road more apartments with shops underneath them. So Shinji could get supplies if he needed them right in this town. He was a lucky kid. But he wasn't about to depend on luck.

He continued his march through the town until he came upon a store he liked. It was a shop that dealt with tractors. The reason he liked this store was because he could used a tractor's motor to power his project. There would be plenty of little gadgets and gizmos to play with that could help him. He pushed open the door to hear a little bell sing with his entrance. Shinji quickly shut the door to the shop, defining the ring of the bell to the outside world.

He took one step into the store, but then dust began to tickle his nose. Every step was softened by the hard layer of dust coating the floor. This shop obviously hadn't been used in years. Still, the window said 'Tractor Supplies' and the paint in which it was written wasn't peeled, cracked or had any sign of being worn. From the outside it looked like a fairly used store.

Shinji began to examine the shop, wondering what use it would be to him. If there were no tools that he could use, Shinji would find another store to utilize. He spent the next hour kicking up some dust and browsing through the back of the shop for suitable appliances.

He succeeded in his search, and found a bunch of old tractors in the shack behind the shop. There were six of them, and Shinji could easily dismember them and take the parts he needed for himself. With this thought in his mind he found the stairs to the upper floor.

Shinji climbed the stairs and found a healthy living quarters. He could set up his machinery here. He decided that he would work on this tomorrow, though. The night was already half gone, and Shinji was fairly tired himself. But first he would check his weapons, just in case someone tried to attack him in the middle of the night.

Shinji set his bags down in a dark room. The dust was the only covering to the wooden floor. He kneeled down next to his two bags and began his search for his weapons.

He unzipped the first bag. He pulled out a map, the water, the food, a flashlight, and his weapon. As he pulled out the orange ball, he stared at it in disbelief. Irony was a cruel fortune.

A basketball.

Shinji's first weapon was a basketball. He laughed. A basketball?! He couldn't believe how unlucky he could get. Shinji, the all star player on the high school basketball team, number three, nicknamed the third man, had gotten a basketball as his first weapon. Life really sucked.

Shinji let the ball roll out of his hands onto the floor. It rolled until it hit a wall, and eventually lost its momentum.

The disappointment had settled in. Luck was on his side tonight, but he was slightly hesitant to see what his second weapon was. What were the chances it would be a gun? A gun was ideal in this game. That was the best way to quickly eliminate players. But wishing did nothing for Shinji. He might as well find out what his second weapon was so he could relieve the stress and begin to plan his victory.

He zipped open the second bag, and neatly took out each item. He put the water on the ground next to the map, the bread, and the flashlight. Then he took out, to his surprise, brass knuckles.

"Well, not a win, but not a loss." He said to himself, trying them on for size. If his knuckles were any bigger he would have been out of luck. It was a tight fit, but it fit all the same. At least he had a satisfying way to defend himself if necessary.

Shinji would kill if he needed. That was the key: If he needed. He would have to be threatened or provoked first. But wasn't that enough excuse for anyone to kill? But Shinji didn't have time to think on morals right now (although he knew what this game was testing: morals.) His first priority was his life. His second would be to get off this island; perhaps with others who were willing to come with him. This was a familiar game to him. He was going to use that to his advantage.

Something interrupted Shinji's thoughts. He froze where he was standing. It was the reaction of a deer in headlights. He stopped all motion for a moment to figure out what was going on, because something was amiss. Footsteps. From the stairs. Someone was here.

His mind was racing on what he could do. He clenched the brass knuckles in his right hand. They were already assembled. He carefully and quietly put his weight on his feet and lifted himself up so he was standing. Then he tiptoed over to the closest wall, which was to the right of the doorway that lead into the room. It was night, and maybe he would fade into the shadow of the wall.

The footsteps did not cease. On the contrary, they grew louder, which made sense since they were ascending. Shinji stood there, as still as he could manage. But his nervousness was competing with his alarm. The brass knuckles were slipping out of his grip due to sweat, and he wasn't exactly breathing quietly.

And still the footsteps echoed and creaked on the old flight of wooden stairs. They were almost there. The person was so close. Shinji could hear it. And then-

Silence.

Whoever it was had reached the top step, and spent just a moment looking around the unlit room for a sign of a threat. Shinji didn't move. He didn't even breathe. He was waiting for them to make their move first.

Then he heard cloth move- another step forward into the room- a swift motion- and suddenly, in the middle of the room was a flame. It was like some sort of magic. The flame just sat, hovering five feet off the floor, growing bigger and bigger…until Shinji realized what was going on.

Alright, so he didn't exactly understand, but whoever was making the flame was trying to light up the room to be able to see who was in it. There was no point in hiding anymore. He might as well run while he still had a chance, however slim that chance seemed.

Shinji tightened his fist and ran at the silhouette, which was making gestures with its hands towards the flame, controlling it however they pleased. He pulled back his fist to throw a punch at the persons head, but at the very last moment the figure ducked and let Shinji's fist fly right over them.

She spoke first. "Stop this madness. I didn't come to fight. If that's all you wish to do I will not hesitated in killing you." She told him directly and solidly. Shinji stood there for a moment, looking at the woman. She had turned toward the flame she created and Shinji was able to see her features.

The first thing Shinji noticed about the woman was her bosoms. A tight black dress that was probably very restraining, clamped itself around her chest, defining its features. He glanced up at her face. She was pretty, with full red lips, piercing black eyes, and long, braided, black hair that fell to her lower back. Her bangs fell into her face to cover one eye. Shinji didn't move his body. Instead to answer her comment he lowered his fist. He had no chance against a magic user.

Lulu (female number 5) watched him. She was content when he lowered his fist. She waved her hand and the fire went out. "We don't want any prying eyes exploring where they shouldn't."

Shinji didn't know if it was because of her figure, but that sounded provocative to him. "Who are you?" He asked her, wondering why she was creating a peace treaty with him so soon.

"My name is Lulu. I have friends here that I wish to meet up with. I saw you come into the shop below us about an hour ago and I was curious. I decided if you weren't one of my friends then you might be able to help me find them." She said, speaking out of honesty. Lulu's motivation for survival was to find her friends. They had more of a chance that way. As long as her friends were still alive she would fight.

"I guess you failed." Shinji told her.

"But what did I fail in? Finding my friends, or finding a person who will help me?" She asked him, taking on a pose that suggested she would fight if she had to.

Since she seemed to be speaking with honesty, Shinji would repay her with that. He took no motion to her fighting stance. "I can't fight a magic user. At least I know how to pick my fights." He told her.

"I should call you wise." Lulu responded.

Shinji liked her already. "So you're looking for someone?" He asked, moving the subject on. Time was a pressing matter in this game. The more direct, the better.

"More than one person." She corrected him, relaxing her stance now, but still keeping their distance. "I could give you a list of names, but I doubt that's going to help."

"True. And I doubt I could help you tonight anyway. I had plans of my own to accomplish." Shinji admitted.

"What sort of plans?"

Shinji looked around for a moment. They had speakers in their collars. He wasn't about to forget that. He had discovered it the last time he played this game. But he had to think quickly if he didn't want to look suspicious in front of Lulu. "Erm…" He said, trying to come up with an idea. He didn't have a writing utensil. Could he possibly substitute anything for that? "I'll show you." He said so he didn't sound suspicious.

He walked over to his bags. How can I tell her with out telling her? I need a way to speak that isn't verbal. I need to write something down. He thought to himself as he started picking up the water bottles, the maps, the flashlights, and the…bread.

Perfect.

"Just watch." He said, taking the two loaves. He broke one of the loaves into small pieces. He began taking the pieces of bread and laid them on the floor. He began arranging letters with the broken bread pieces. Very soon he had spelled out the words: He's listening to us.

"Snape?" Lulu asked.

Shinji only replied with a nod. He swept the bread crumbs back into one pile and began rearranging them into other letters. I think I can get the col- He spelled out, but soon ran out of crumbs. He picked up the second loaf of bread and broke this one down into multiple crumbs as well, and continued the sentence. I think I can get the collars off.

Lulu looked skeptical. "And just how are you going to do that?" She asked him.

"Alter a few things…poke around in places I shouldn't…maybe borrow a little magic from you, and bam." He said. "We should be set." She raised an eyebrow.

"You're making this sound too simple." She replied, her arms crossed over her body to show her disbelief.

"You have to understand…I've played in this game before." Shinji told her. "My class was once chosen to participate. I've dealt with things like this." He said, sweeping up the bread crumbs incase he had to deliver another secrete message.

"And you won?" She asked him. He was still alive, which only meant he must have won the last one.

"Erm…not really. I died." He admitted.

This confused Lulu, as it would any normal, sane person. "Say that again?"

"I don't know. The author must like me a lot, because she brought me back to life. It happens all the time in Anime. Popular characters always find ways to come back to life. …And in Far and Away too. Just go with it, okay?" He told the woman.

She brushed the matter off. "Fine."

"Now what was I going to say?" Shinji asked, looking back to his bread crumbs. "Oh yeah." He began spelling out more words, placing the pieces of bread in the proper places to create the sentence: I grew up working with computers. I know I can do it.

Lulu read his sentence. If Snape really was listening to them, she would have to choose her words carefully. "I'd be of no use to you in that category." She told him, referring to computers.

This boy was being vague. Not just vague, but his theory for survival in this game seemed ridiculous. Lulu had a small sense of mistrust, but she couldn't decide between her doubt and her hope. Her goal so far was to find her friends. If he could help her with that then she would trust him. Lulu just wanted to see Yuna again. She was Yuna's guardian. This was the perfect place to execute her duties…

"So if I help you out with your computer thing, will you help me find Yuna, Rikku, Tidus, and Pain?" She asked. He had mentioned before that he could use someone's magic to help him with his computer thing. And as long as she had some leverage she was going to use it.

"Alright. Although I think it would be faster if we found your friends first. Once I get things started, I'd like to stay in one place. It's just easier." Shinji told her.

Lulu nodded. She was hopeful on getting the collars off. Once they did that, they could do anything they wanted. A small wave of excitement washed over the woman, but she didn't show it. Not yet. She wanted to be sure she could trust Shinji completely, although he seemed fair enough.

"Then in the morning we'll begin our search?" Lulu confirmed.

"Sounds good to me." Shinji said, gathering up the bread crumbs. He would throw these out and get more food from those farms he ran into before.

Well, so much for my plans on using the tractors in the back. He thought to himself. I can always get some parts before I leave.

Lulu was quiet. Shinji watched her for a moment, than decided to ask a question. "How are we going to sleep? No offence or anything, but I'd rather not sleep in the same room." This was odd, since Shinji was usually trying to get into girl's bedrooms. Then again, he valued his life more than…well…you know.

"I'm a light sleeper, so if you're setting me up for anything, I'd watch your back. Which reminds me…I'd like to see your weapons. It's possible that you might have sleeping powder for a weapon." Lulu then told him, giving her reasons.

Shinji showed her the brass knuckles. "You already saw that one." He told her.

"But you have two bags." She pointed out, remembering how he had to break two pieces of bread before hand.

"I was getting there." Shinji said, as he pointed to the sphere in the corner of the room. "I got a basketball as a joke. It's my other weapon." He told her. "Pretty useless, huh?"

She didn't respond. "Then I guess it's fair to show you this." She said, pulling out a bottle. There was a very large label on the front that said: Poisonous Gas. Then she pulled out a gas mask. "And these are mine."

Shinji looked at them. So that's why she had wanted to know if he had sleeping gas. She could easily fill this place with the gas and have him die as he was sleeping. Biochemical warfare.

"Don't take this personally, but can I sleep with the gas mask, and you can sleep with the gas itself? Better safe than sorry." Shinji said, wanting to eliminate the threat of death while he slept.

"I assumed a clever person would suggest something along those lines." She tossed him the mask willingly. "I'll sleep in that room." She said, and pointed to the left side of the living room the two were standing in. This lead into a room with a carpet, but all the furniture was gone. It was just empty.

Shinji nodded. "And we'll close the door." I suppose I can trust her once she proves herself. I'm defenseless while I'm sleeping, and completely alone. If she really wanted to kill me, she'd do it while I was sleeping. Shinji decided to trust her if he woke up alive in the morning.

"That's reasonable." She replied. "Goodnight, Shinji." She said to the boy and glided into the room next door, shutting the door behind her, closing the gap between them.

Shinji just watched her go, thinking about Lulu to himself. He wasn't going to deny it…she was pretty. And she seemed to know what she was doing too. He liked her. Although he knew he shouldn't make a move on her. That would lose all her trust in an instant. For now he had to keep a straight head. Keep focus on what was important.

He picked up his brass knuckles. He was going to sacrifice these for now. He went over to the closed door and carefully balanced the weapon on the doorknob. He made sure it would stay there unless disturbed. The point of this was to make sure Lulu stayed in her room. If she opened the door, the doorknob would turn, and the knuckles would fall to the floor, and hopefully wake Shinji. But he was confident in his ability to wake at small noises. And if he didn't wake…well…at least he'd be killed by someone hot.


This is a status of all those alive and dead on the island so far. Characters names who are bolded are still alive. The names that appear in normal font have died.

Male

1.) Ash Ketchum

2.) Mokuba Kaiba

3.) Mello

4.) Link

5.) Spike Spiegal

6.) L

7.) Raito Yagami

8.) Matt

9.) Seymore Guado

10.) Seto Kaiba

11.) Tidus

12.) James

13.) Edward Elric

14.) Vash the Stamped

15.) Vicious

16.) Rurouni Kenshin

17.) Anakin Skywalker

18.) Sora

19.) Legolas Greenleaf

20.) Shinji Mimura

Female

1.) Leblanch

2.) Seras Victoria

3.) Julia

4.) Milly

5.) Lulu

6.) Jessie

7.) Edward Wong Hau Pepelu Tirvrusky 4th

8.) Tea Gardner

9.) Mai Valentine

10.) Faye Valentine

11.) Winry Rockbell

12.) Rikku

13.) Samus Aran

14.) Pain

15.) Padme Amidala

16.) Rukia Kuchiki

17.) Misty

18.) Yuna

19.) Kairi