Episode 12
The Biggest Backstabbing Ever
Day 34
Bankai Tribe
That morning, the tribe is eating peacefully around the fire, with even Haruhi getting along with everybody.
"Final five, huh?" Haruhi says to the others. "We sure made it a long way!"
"Yeah, there were some times I never thought I'd still be in the game, but here I am," Meilin says.
"These people are too busy patting themselves on their backs for how far they've come, that they're not going to be ready for what comes next," Light says. "This game isn't about surviving a while, it's about becoming the sole Survivor."
The players all go together to retrieve their tree mail. What they find comes as a complete surprise.
"Come on, let me see it!" Meilin cries, trying to rip the note off Ryoko.
"This is a bit shocking…" Ryoko says. "Listen to this: 'There will be no reward challenge today. Instead you must choose one player to send to Exile.'"
"No rhyme?" Light wonders.
"Well, since I'm the leader of this tribe, I should get to choose who goes to Exile," Haruhi claims.
"No way!" Meilin shouts. "Let's talk it out first."
"Hey, I've been there enough times, I don't feel like going there again," Haruhi complains.
"They've sent me to Exile over and over again, and I'm sick of it," Haruhi says. "It wouldn't be fair to send me back there."
"No, Haruhi's right," Light says. "It's not fair to send her there again. Let's decide by vote."
"But isn't this kind of just like predicting who's going to be voted out?" Meilin asks. "By voting now, we're giving away our votes for the next Tribal Council."
"I can't believe it," Light says. "Meilin's thinking one step ahead too. I can't have someone like that out here, who's thinking beyond the here and now. She now poses a dangerous threat to me."
The players stop for a few minutes to think about what to do. Finally, Light comes up with a solution.
"It's going to have to be a random choice," he says. "We'll rip apart the note, and whoever gets the part of the note with the word 'Exile' on it will be sent to Exile."
The players agree on this idea by Light, and they allow him to tear up the note.
"I wish for the best for me," Haruhi says, as Light passes out pieces of the note.
"Okay, everyone open up your piece of paper, and see what you got," Light says.
The players open up their pieces of paper. Everyone is happy about the result except for Haruhi, who sees the dreaded word "Exile" on her piece of paper.
"This isn't fair," she complains.
"You can't always get what you want," Erika tells her.
"Hmmph! That's what you think," Haruhi whines, as she grabs her bag.
"We'll see you later," Light says to Haruhi, as she starts her trek toward Exile.
Exile
"This is so boring, there's nothing to do here," Haruhi says. "It would be one thing if there were more plushies to find, but there aren't. I just have to sit in this cave in the dark until my time's up. It just isn't fair."
She takes out her bag and uses it as a pillow to lay her head down upon.
"Stupid Kyon," she mutters. "It's all his fault."
Bankai Tribe
The tribe seems to be even happier that evening, now with Haruhi gone.
"Can we all just team up and take out Haruhi?" Meilin asks the others.
"There's one problem with that," Light replies. "She might have an immunity plushie, and this upcoming vote is the last time to use it."
"So you mean all of our votes would go for naught?" Meilin says with a sigh.
"That's right," Light responds. "There's nothing we can really do about it, except hope that she doesn't have a plushie."
"Or that she decides not to play it… maybe she wants to keep it as a souvenir," Ryoko adds.
"This situation is a no-brainer," Ryoko says. "There's three of us in the original Reiatsu alliance. We just band together and take out Meilin, because she's the only one without a plushie and not in our alliance. Kind of an easy call to me."
"I think there's one fair solution, and that's for us all to vote for Haruhi, and then just find out who she votes for," Meilin suggests. "We'll have a random chance of being voted out, but that's better than us all ganging up on each other."
Ryoko looks aghast and is about to express her disgust with Meilin's idea, but Light stops her from responding. "You're right, Meilin, I think that's the only way to handle this," he says.
"Giving Meilin a false sense of security is the foundation to getting her out of here with little trouble," Light says. "Now the only thing to do is to make sure she doesn't cause any division within our alliance."
Day 35
Bankai Tribe
That morning, while Meilin is gathering firewood, Light quickly goes over his strategy with Ryoko and Erika.
"There's no questions asked, we're all voting off Meilin," he tells them. "That way, no worries about the immunity plushie, no worries about any of us going."
"That's my Light, looking out for us," Erika comments.
"But what if she wins immunity?" Ryoko asks. "Then what? It's one of us three."
"Well, obviously, Ryoko, that's the worst case scenario, we just have to vote for Haruhi and hope she doesn't have the plushie," Erika responds. "Right, Light?"
Light gives Ryoko and Erika a grin. "Wrong," he says. "We make a deal to get the immunity necklace off Meilin. We promise her that we'll take her to the final three if she'll give up immunity this time. Otherwise, we tell her she's going in the next vote, and she would be, with two votes being enough to take her out because of previous tiebreakers."
"She isn't that dumb," Ryoko replies. "Obviously you think everyone's all fuzzy like you two and willing to give up their own life in this game at any moment. The only reason I gave it to Erika was to make the two of you mad."
"Ryoko, always spouting her mouth off," Light says. "So stupid, she's just going to shoot herself in the foot."
Suddenly, the three are surprised to see Meilin come up right next to them.
"Hey, guys!" she says. "What are you talking about?"
"Ryoko's stupidity in the last Tribal Council," Light says. "She shouldn't have given up immunity, but she survived anyway."
"What are you talking about?" Ryoko asks. "That wasn't stupid, that was a strategic move! I wanted to see what would happen if I made the two of you mad!"
"Don't you want people to be happy with you, Ryoko?" Erika asks.
"I like conflict," Ryoko replies. "A lot better than this fuzzy getting-along stuff."
"Very interesting strategy," Meilin says. "I don't know if it's the best idea, though."
"I can't count on these people being dumb enough to all vote for someone who has an immunity plushie," Meilin says. "I've got to win this immunity challenge and force their hand."
Immunity Challenge
"Come on in, guys!" Jet Black shouts to the players.
The players enter the immunity challenge area.
"We now bring in Haruhi, returning from Exile," Jet states.
Haruhi walks towards the other players, wearing a scowl on her face.
"First things first, I'll take back the Immunity Beads of Subjugation," Jet says.
Erika quickly hands over the necklace, avoiding the possibility of having to "sit."
"Thank you," Jet says. "Once again, immunity is back up for grabs."
"Are we going to do one of the same challenges as before?" Ryoko asks sarcastically.
"As a matter of fact… no," Jet replies. "There are two parts of this challenge. In this first part, it will be a chance for you to find out exactly how much pain you can withstand. Each of you will hold on to a rope connected to a tree. The rope has a lot of strain on it, making it quite painful to hold on, but if you let go, you're out of the challenge. So this will simply be a battle of wills. We'll draw for positions, then get started."
The players all hold on to their ropes, then wait for Jet's signal.
"This first half of the challenge is officially underway," Jet says.
Almost immediately, Haruhi lets go of her rope.
"Haruhi, out of this challenge as it starts," Jet states.
After about a couple minutes, Erika drops her rope.
"Erika, out of this challenge! Only three remain!" Jet shouts.
A few minutes later, Light drops his rope as well.
"Light's out! We're down to Ryoko and Meilin!" Jet says.
Ryoko tries holding on as hard as she can, knowing that she does not want Meilin to win immunity. But after an hour, with Meilin somehow standing up under all that pain, Ryoko lets go, giving the victory to Meilin.
"Meilin wins the first half of this challenge!" Jet shouts.
Meilin falls over in exhaustion. Ryoko goes over to help her up.
"I'll be okay… but that was awful," Meilin states.
"Meilin, doing whatever she could to have a chance at immunity," Jet states. "You can take a rest while the other four go at it in the second half of the challenge."
Meilin gasps for air as she sits down to watch the second half of the challenge.
"The second half of this challenge will be a simple game of hot potato," Jet says. "I've got a rock here that will be the hot potato. Whoever's left holding it after a minute is out of the challenge. We'll continue this until we're down to one person, who will move on to face Meilin in the final part of the challenge."
Jet tosses Light the rock.
"Survivors ready?" Jet shouts. "Go!"
Jet counts down the seconds out loud, starting from sixty and going down to zero. The players toss around the rock for a while, before Light grabs it and holds on to it.
"Five, four, three, two, one, zero!" Jet yells, as Light tries to toss it at the last second. "Light, you're out of this challenge!"
"But I got rid of it in time!" Light protests.
"No, you didn't," Jet replies. "It was still in your hands as I said 'zero.' Take a seat."
Light takes a seat next to Meilin as the challenge continues on. This time, Ryoko is eliminated from the challenge, ending up with the rock as time expires.
"It's down to Haruhi and Erika!" Jet exclaims. "Survivors ready? Go!"
The two toss the rock back and forth, until the final second, when the unlucky player ends up with it.
"Zero!" Jet screams. "That's it! Haruhi loses! Erika wins this half of the challenge!"
Light congratulations Erika on her victory.
"Now what's the final part of the challenge?" Meilin asks. "Quite frankly, I think I did a lot more than Erika did."
"You did, and that's why you'll have an extreme advantage going into the final round of this challenge," Jet states. "It is a simple game of rock-paper-scissors. Erika must win four times in a row in order to claim immunity. Only one win is necessary for you to win immunity, Meilin. Survivors ready? Go!"
The first round is a simple scissors-over-paper win for Erika.
"One win for Erika!" Jet shouts. "Round two!"
The players go with the exact same choices, giving Erika a second straight win.
"Two wins for Erika!" Jet yells. "Gotta win one, Meilin!"
Yet again, Erika chooses scissors and Meilin goes with paper, giving Erika a third straight win.
"This is it!" Jet shouts. "Winner of this battle wins immunity! Survivors ready? Go!"
Erika chooses scissors for the fourth straight time.
"Meilin chooses… paper! That's it! Erika wins immunity!" Jet shouts.
Erika hugs Light in celebration, while Meilin collapses to the ground in frustration and exhaustion.
"Here you go," Jet says, putting the Immunity Beads of Subjugation around Erika's neck. "Congratulations. I'll see you all for Tribal tomorrow night."
The players slowly walk back to camp.
"I gave it my all, I gave more than I ever thought I could. And yet, I was outsmarted in the end. I can't believe it. Now I just have to hope everyone votes Haruhi and I get lucky," Meilin says.
Bankai Tribe
The tribe is talking with each other that night around the fire.
"It's been five weeks," Light says. "And I couldn't be happier to be here, especially with you, Erika."
"Oh, Light… I'm even happier than you," Erika replies.
"Making it this far is such an accomplishment, you should all realize this," Light tells the others. "No matter what happens tomorrow night, just remember, you've made it a long way, and the decision that was made was nothing personal, just part of the game."
"He's just trying to soften the blow," Meilin says. "I guess I should just give it up – this is my last sleep in the forest."
Day 36
Bankai Tribe
That morning, the players are calmly eating rice around the fire.
"It's hard to believe this is the thirty-sixth day out here," Ryoko comments.
"Yeah, I can barely believe it myself," Erika adds.
"This is the day of reckoning, the day I make the move that wins this game," Light says. "I have been a sleeping giant, and now I awaken. I've lulled everyone into a false sense of security, and now finally it all pays off."
Light waits until the afternoon to make his first move. He is talking to Erika all alone.
"Who would you rather have in this game, Meilin or Haruhi?" Light asks.
"Oh, I'd rather vote out Haruhi, if we had the chance," Erika replies.
"Then I've got the perfect way to save her," Light says. "I need you – only you – to talk to Haruhi, and ask her to give up the immunity plushie to you, in exchange for you giving her the immunity necklace at Tribal tonight."
"But Light, I can't lie," Erika responds.
"Relax, you won't be lying, because you'll add this to your request," Light adds. "You'll also say that she must tell you who she's voting for, or you won't give up the necklace. If she does tell you, then we're going to have to vote out Meilin, like it or not."
"Okay," Erika says. "But what if she refuses to give me the plushie?"
"Then you'll have to vote for Meilin," Light replies. "We won't have a choice, because Haruhi would play the plushie and possibly take one of us out."
"Wow, I can't believe how far you think ahead," Erika tells Light. "You're amazing, Light."
Erika then goes off to talk to Haruhi. As soon as she is out of sight, Light hurries over to talk to Ryoko.
"You're voting for Erika tonight, and you go tell Meilin to do the same," Light whispers to her.
"But – what – you mean – I-" Ryoko sputters.
"Just do it, and I keep you both around next vote no matter what," Light says.
"But, but, Erika has immunity!" Ryoko exclaims.
"She won't," Light says. "Trust me."
"I don't know exactly what Light is thinking, but if he's planning what I think he's planning, it's the biggest backstabbing ever," Ryoko says.
Meanwhile, Haruhi is in the middle of refusing to give Erika the plushie.
"No way!" Haruhi yells. "How do you even know that I have it?"
"Light thinks you have it," Erika says. "That's enough for me."
"I don't trust that you'll give up the necklace," Haruhi replies. "People have given it to you, would you give it to them?"
"Of course I would," Erika states. "If Light was in danger and needed immunity, I'd give it to him."
"And what about me?" Haruhi asks.
"Yes, if you give me the plushie," Erika responds.
"I don't believe you!" Haruhi shouts. "Sorry, but you're not getting my plushie!"
"So, you do have it!" Erika exclaims.
Angrily, Haruhi reaches into her bag and pulls out a plushie, showing it to Erika.
"Here it is, and you're not getting it!" Haruhi shouts.
"What does she think she's doing?" Haruhi says. "There's no way she's stealing my immunity plushie."
"We're going to have to vote out Meilin, whether I like it or not," Erika says. "We'll have to go to Light's second plan."
Erika comes back with the news to Light.
"I thought so," Light tells her. "That's bad news, because while you were gone, Ryoko told me that she and Meilin are turning on me and voting me out."
"But – but – Ryoko's our friend!" Erika exclaims.
"That's what I thought," Light replies. "Apparently she's a snake in the grass."
"I don't believe it," Erika says. "I wish Haruhi had given me the plushie, so you could have it."
"We'll just have to hope that Haruhi doesn't vote for me," Light responds. "If she does, I'm a goner."
Tribal Council
The five remaining players walk into the Tribal Council area with their torches. They set them down in their respective places, then take their seats across from Jet.
"We now bring in the members of our jury," Jet states. "Rei, Kaji, Misato, Kyon, and voted out last time, Rangiku."
The jury members take their designated seats across from the players.
"We're even – five jury members to five players still in it," Jet says. "Now, the question is: which two of you will join the jury? We'll add one tonight. First, I want to start with you, Meilin. You went all out to win immunity, and you came up short. How does that feel?"
"Terrible," Meilin says. "I mean, I gave it all I had, but I got outsmarted by Erika."
"So, you think it's going to be you tonight, since you didn't win immunity?" Jet asks.
"Actually, Ryoko and I have a strategy that's going to save my butt tonight, with a little help from Haruhi," Meilin replies.
Erika suddenly looks nervous, and she looks over at Light, who puts on a worried face as well.
"So, perhaps a shift in alliances here, Ryoko?" Jet asks.
"Yeah, we'll see," Ryoko replies. "All I can say is, we're not friends anymore."
Erika continues to look over at Light nervously, who looks very depressed.
"Haruhi, they say they need your help," Jet states. "How so?"
"They probably want my vote," Haruhi replies. "As does everyone. Right now, I'm quite fed up with Erika and Light."
Erika begins to look in a state of panic.
"Light, seems like a lot of animosity towards you tonight," Jet states. "Ryoko and Meilin aligning, Haruhi mad at you – it seems you've only got Erika on your side now."
"Yes, I'm very worried, for one big reason," Light replies solemnly.
He then turns to Erika.
"Erika, I truly love you with all of my heart," he tells her. "If this is our last night together, just remember that I will always love you."
"Oh, Light," Erika replies.
"Okay, let's get to the vote," Jet states. "Erika, you have individual immunity, but if you would like to assign that to someone else, you may."
"I'm giving it to Light!" Erika exclaims without hesitation.
Erika quickly takes off the necklace and puts it around Light's neck.
"Erika – you didn't have to," Light says.
"Anything for you, Light," Erika replies.
"Okay, suddenly you are safe, Light, and with that, it is time to vote," Jet says. "Erika, you're up first."
The Tribal Council theme "Tally the Vote" plays as Erika gets up from her seat.
Erika goes to vote.
"Meilin, you're not sending Light home anyway," Erika says.
Haruhi goes to vote.
Light goes to vote.
Meilin goes to vote.
"I really don't understand what's going on," Meilin says.
Ryoko goes to vote.
After Ryoko comes back from voting, Jet says, "I'll go tally the votes."
Jet goes to get the votes, rearranges them, then returns to the players.
"If anyone has an immunity plushie, and you would like to play it, tonight is the last night you may do so," Jet states.
Everyone looks over at Haruhi. She pulls out the plushie, which looks like the modsoul Nova, and walks over to Jet with it, handing it to him.
"The rules of Survivor state that if an immunity plushie is played, none of the votes cast against that player count, and the person with the second-highest number of votes is eliminated," Jet says. "This is an immunity plushie."
Haruhi claps her hands.
"Once the votes are read, the decision is final, and the person voted out will be asked to return to the world of the living immediately," Jet states. "I'll read the votes."
He pulls out the first vote.
"Meilin," he reads.
Meilin looks nervous as Jet pulls out the next vote.
"Meilin," Jet says. "Two votes Meilin."
Jet pulls out the next vote.
"Erika," he reads it, much to Erika's surprise. "Two votes Meilin, one vote Erika, two votes left."
He pulls out the next vote and opens it slowly.
"Erika," he reads. "Two votes Meilin, two votes Erika, one vote left."
Erika looks around in panic, wondering what is going on.
"Twentieth person voted out of Survivor: Seireitei Forest, and the sixth member of our jury," Jet states.
He opens the final vote.
"Erika," he says.
"What? Light? What happened?" Erika asks in a state of panic.
"That's three, that's enough, you need to bring me your torch," Jet cuts off Erika.
"I don't know," Light tells Erika. "I voted for Meilin…"
Erika begins to cry as she embraces Light, then walks over to get her torch. She holds it out in front of Jet.
"Erika," Jet states, "the tribe has spoken."
He snuffs out her torch with his snuffer.
"It's time for you to go."
"Bye, Light," Erika says, with a wave, as she walks into the gate to the world of the living in tears.
Jet turns to the four remaining players with a huge smile on his face.
"Tonight, you pulled off what may have been the biggest blindside in the history of Survivor," he states. "Grab your torches, head back to camp, good night."
The players take their torches and begin their trek back towards their camp. And walking back with a huge smile on his face is none other than Light Yagami.
"I don't believe it, I just can't believe it," Erika says. "What happened? Why did Ryoko turn on me? Why did this happen? I thought Light had the whole game under control. Why, then, did I get voted out? How did this happen to me?"
(Who voted for whom:
Erika – Meilin
Haruhi – Erika
Light – Meilin
Meilin – Erika
Ryoko – Erika)
Scenes from our next episode:
A strategy is formed to oust a certain player:
"As long as Haruhi doesn't win immunity, she's out," Light tells Meilin. "All three of us gang up on her and take her out."
But a player goes back on that strategy:
Later, Meilin talks to Haruhi alone.
"I could help you out," she tells her.
And the winner is finally revealed:
"We're about to crown the champion," a player says. "Which I think will be very obvious."