Alright! 200 Reviews! Yay! Thanks so much you guys! I got a lot of wonderful reviews last chapter. Thanks for the encouragement guys! I know I don't deserve it.
I also... Er... Have a lot to apologize for.
Lol... I'm watching Mulan and the old lady just said "No. Your great granddaughter had to be a CROSSDRESSER!" Lol... Nagihiko...
SORRY ADHD THERE.
Anyway, yes, I was grounded for a long time.
No, not that whole time.
They gave my phone back not long after that update. But, they kept my iPad. My phone won't let me get on FF because the Internet plan restricts Mature content, which FF has some of. So apparently that means ALL of FF is bad for children I guess. Because it won't even let me visit the title page.
Once I was un-grounded, well lets just say there was a typhoon in the Philippines. A huge, devastating one. And needless to say, that messed me up pretty bad emotionally. I've been there. I know people there. I have family from there. I have family who live there. So yeah, no news isn't always good news. Communication is still difficult there and more starve or die of disease or inadequate medical care every day. I just don't know.
I got my report card. All A's except for one B. And that teacher is a bitch. So, that is stressful.
Semester finals are soon. Yeah not fun either.
You all know that the school in this story is based on mine, right? Well, it isn't as fun as it seems sometimes. There's a lot of pressure to succeed. And orchestra has become practically my life. Needless to say, when I sprained a wrist falling in dance class... My director was pretty harsh. We have a concert really soon, and he ordered no unnecessary use until I was fully healed.
I know none of these are legitimate excuses, but please know I feel awful. I keep making promises I don't stick to, and I promise I'm doing all I can.
This chapter will be in Kukai's POV as well, since there's no way I was going to count those (what, four?) little paragraphs as a chapter.
In eerie quiet, Fujisaki and I traveled through the forest. He had climbed a tree not too long ago, and spotted the flag some distance ahead. That's where we were going now. Though I tried, I could not match the dead silence of his strides.
Again, he's a fricking ninja or something, I swear.
I was actually pretty scared he'd turn and double cross me any second. Come on, the dude's practically a trained assassin.
Together, we had wiped out four other players. That left Kairi, Tadase, Hachiro and Ichiro, and of course Amu. Yeah, Amu was playing too. This was "teambuilding" after all, and for about another week, we're all a team. To be honest, she's actually really cool once you get to know her. She acts all cold and heartless, but I think she's just shy or something. Lately at practice she's been laughing a lot more and joking around.
But don't get me wrong, I like her like a sister, or a friend. I wouldn't dare touch her. That would be breaking the guy-code. Anyway, she's not the one I'm interested in, but you all should know that by now.
Hearing a crackle in the underbrush, I turned around, alert for any more sounds. With a gust of wind by my left arm, I knew Fujisaki was up in a tree somewhere.
From the shadows, Kairi dramatically emerged, glasses glinting in the forest light. His mouth twisted into a cruel smirk, just as my own did.
"Where is the flag, Fujisaki-san?"
"Like we would tell you." came the reply from the tree.
"I can think of a reason."
"Yeah? And what would that be?" I snickered.
"I don't think you've noticed your situation." He gestured to my foot. Looking down, I noticed what he was referring to. A thin wire stretched some length from underneath, connecting to a contraption undoubtedly made by the mad genius himself. "As soon as you lift your foot, this paint-bomb will cover everything within a five-meter radius. Sure, if you choose to lift it now, I will be eliminated along with you, but as will Fujisaki-san. I assure you, I can escape the vicinity just as quickly as he can."
"...Well played." I growled. He simply nodded.
"So what shall it be? Abandon a friend? Or give me the information I require?" He directed his question toward the branches above.
I really hated this whole situation. I was being used as a tool for manipulation. That just... just... ARGH!
"What if I just chose to shoot you right now?" the reply came from above.
"You very well could. But I am the only one who can disable the bomb. Even with me gone, Souma-san would still be trapped."
Dang. I really hate this.
"Argh... Fujisaki!" I yelled, staring daggers in Kairi's direction. "... Go."
"Huh? But-"
"You've got to win. Go now, dammit." I growled under my breath. With a rustle of leaves, I knew he was gone. The mastermind nodded once more, in what seemed like admiration, and disappeared as well.
I was alone.
How long had I been here, standing? Why didn't I just release the trigger, and end this?
No. I needed to stay until the very last possible second. I needed to know.
Besides, Fujisaki was out there alone, too. And with five more people still roaming around, maybe I'd get the small chance of eliminating one or two as they walked by.
Still... I could go home. I could go eat some ramen.
No. I had to stay.
It felt like an hour before my prayers were answered.
From a distance away, I saw Amu and Tadase walking by. I immediately lifted my arms, showing I meant no harm. Cautiously, they approached.
"Kukai, I think Hachiro and Ichiro were coming this way too, so watch out." Tadase offered.
"If that's true, then you two had better get moving. You need to be at least five meters away from here when they get here."
"Why? Can't we team up and take them out?" Amu inquired. I gestured to the deathtrap hiding in the shadows. Immediately, a shadow of compassionate despair crossed their faces, and she looked at me with pained eyes. "There's nothing we can do?"
"No. I'm doomed here. But you guys go on ahead, and meet up with Fujisaki. Get moving."
"What about you?"
"The least I can do is take a couple down with me, right?" A fake smile, and a half-hearted thumbs-up. She took the encouragement and left quickly.
They were right. Not long afterward, two pairs of footsteps approached.
Oh? Wait... I only hear one now. I pivoted around to face the direction the person would be coming from.
Suddenly, something cold and hard was pressed to my back.
"Give us your ammunition, and we might not shoot you." I could hear the grin in Ichiro's voice behind me that matched Hachiro's in front of me.
"I'm afraid you won't be needing it." I looked down at my left foot. As did they. "Sorry boys, but it's nothing personal."
"Kairi's pressure trap, huh?" I nodded. Ichiro came around to face me, too. He stood next to his cousin.
"Well men, we had a good run." Both of them gave me peaceful smiles, which I returned.
Taking a deep breath, I closed my eyes...
and lifted my foot.
On another note, I read that short story called Harrison Bergeron. Completely changed my outlook on life, yet confirmed what I already believed at the same time. It's really quick to read, and I highly recommend you do so. Or at least watch the short film based off of it called 2081 on YouTube. It's 20 minutes long or so.
Do you guys mind if I curse? Not so much in the story unless I feel it is truly necessary, but like when I'm doing the author's notes like this? I'll stop if it really bothers anyone. Just let me know.
Please pray for the Philippines.
