"Have you been watching it?" asked Yumi. Jin nodded his head slowly and glared over at the table where the black tablet was now resting. "Have you?" he asked her in return. "I have but…" She took a breath before continuing. "It's really hard. I… I don't think she's okay." Yumi stated. Jin once again nodded. "I know she isn't. The way she looked, the things she did, I didn't know she could be like that. I think she's worse than I originally expected. I thought it was just some kind of depression at first but now… Now I think it's something more serious, though I don't know what to call it. Maybe a split personality? Maybe…" Jin's words trailed off as he put his hand to his chin and allowed his thoughts to wander.
"Jin?" Yumi questioned. He shook his head. "Sorry about that." he said, showing the best smile he could muster. "Either way, she needs help, a lot of help. She likes doing those things but at the same time it makes her sick, and the way she mourned the man she killed, I can't figure it out." "Is there anything we can do? I hate sitting here and just watching her suffer like that." Jin shook his head once more. "I don't know. I promise I will find a way though. I couldn't help her back in SAO and I wasn't much help when she got back. Now, more than any other time before, I need to be there for her so I swear I will find a way." he said with a ferocious determination.
"How's your parents been taking this? Have they been watching as well?" Yumi inquired. Jin sighed heavily. "Dad says he watches but I don't think he does. I don't think it's due to not caring, I just think he's scared to. He doesn't want to see Luna get hurt or if the worst was to happen and she died, I can't imagine him wanting to see it. Mom is different, she watches it religiously. She watches, and she cries while doing it. She sees her little girl fighting and getting hurt in a place that she can't get too. It's taking its toll on her just as much as it is us. Zin and the others have one too and they all watch it. Zin only smiled and said to have faith in her.
He said that Luna would never let something like this beat her. He told me of things in SAO and tried to convince me that she would be fine but I couldn't believe him. Now though, I'm not too concerned about whether she will come back or not, I'm more concerned about what she'll be when she does. That wasn't the Luna I know. She never could have done something like that, not to anyone for any reason. That smile, it… It scared me, Yumi. My own little sister scared me." Jin was nearly in tears as he looked into Yumi's sky blue eyes. Tami came up from behind and draped her arms around his chest. She kissed his cheek and smiled. "She'll be okay, Jin. She'll come back and be the same girl we all know and love." she said with an unfound confidence.
"You didn't see her, Tami. That was not Luna, that was a…" "A monster?" Yumi interjected. She gave a weary grin and looked towards the ground. "I called her that before she was taken, at the party that one night. It just came out, I didn't mean it but I think it hurt her. I won't call her a monster again, I need to have faith she is still herself." Yumi declared sternly. "I wish I had your conviction in that matter." Jin said sadly. He kissed Tami's cheek and pushed her away from him. "I'm going to meet with Zin in Somerant tonight to chat about all of this. Zin said Piper would be there as well, I guess she's seen Luna like that before so I wanted to talk to her. No, you can't come." he said before Yumi had the chance to speak.
"It's just us, I want a private word with her. I know you care about her but this is something I have to do, as an older brother." Yumi nodded and reluctantly agreed. "Good. Tami will take you home while I'm gone." He pulled Yumi into a tight embrace. "Take care, Yumi. Try to get some rest, okay? You look horrible." Yumi let out a muffled giggle. When she pulled away she looked into his eyes and smiled. "You don't look that well either, Jin, I should be telling you to get some rest." "Hm, I can't sleep." Jin stated. "Nor eat or drink or talk or go out or do anything else." said Tami, taking her boyfriend's arm in hers.
"I just can't, Tami, not while Luna is there and going through this." He grinned and bid the two of them farewell as he headed down the hall into the room he shared with Tami. He pulled the AmuSphere over his head and stretched out onto the bed. "Link start." he murmured. Before long he awoke in an old dusty cabin with long brown hair draped in his view. He swept it from his eyes but the unruly hair he shared with his sister went back over his right eye. It sat at a shoulder length and draped loosely over them. As he went out into the living room, a black haired man, a couple of years older than himself, sat upon the sofa.
"Ah, Jin, you showed up." he said, gesturing for Jin to sit next to him. "Zin, it's good to see you, man." "It's been a while, huh?" asked Zin. "A little over a week since I logged in so yeah, I guess it has been a bit. Where's Piper?" "She'll be here soon, her and Fi. I figured it would be good to have both of them here." Zin answered. "What good will talking to them do? How will they know what Luna is dealing with?" Zin shrugged his shoulder and let his smile fade away. "The only thing I know is that Luna attacked Piper when Clair died. Honestly, I'm hoping Luna opened up to her at some point and mentioned something useful. I don't think it will be much help besides that." Jin wasn't encouraged by Zin's sudden doubts but he figured any information was better than none.
"Luna was always pretty shut in about what happened there." he muttered. Zin nodded in agreement. "Even to me she was. It's not something we can talk about too easily. Taking a life and living with it changes a person in many ways and some crumble under that pressure. Luna blames herself too much I think and that is what ails her now. I think all of that burden finally caused a cave in and she couldn't bear it. If I had to put it bluntly, I think she snapped." "You can't mean that. She's just a little lost right now." "I'm sure she is, Jin, but I don't think that's all of it." Zin sighed deeply and placed a hand on Jin's shoulder. "Look, I'm just trying to be honest with you. I love her too, I want her to come back safe and whole, but…" "But?" Jin interrupted with a growl.
"But, the person I saw and heard, that was not your sister, at least not how I remember her. I think this is the person she is deep down, so deep down that even she didn't know about it. I told you that SAO changed everyone involved, I think this is what it turned her into, it was just buried. Whatever's been going on with her lately brought it to the surface and now she's far away and taken from everything that grounded her. She's alone and confused and scared and I think the longer she's there, the worse she's gonna get." "Then I need to find a way to her, I need to be with her." Jin stated. "How would you eve…" Zin started but the door's creak as it opened stopped him.
"Hey guys." Fi said, her voice soft but clear. Piper closed the door and the two girls sat on the chairs in front of the couch. "Girls." Jin said in greeting with a subtle nod. "How are you holding up?" Fi asked. "Fine." "Okay." both Zin and Jin answered simultaneously. There was an awkward silence in the air for a minute before Jin cleared his throat. "I know we haven't really talked much before but I was hoping you could help me with something." "Zin already told me that it's about Luna. He showed me what she did and asked me if she was ever like that in SAO." Piper said before putting a hand to her throat. "She was like that one time as far as I saw, it was in the boss chamber the day Clair died.
I… I had never seen someone lose it like that. Something in her snapped and she finished the last half of the boss's health in the blink of an eye. After that she was just sitting there and she wasn't moving so I went to check on her. When I did, she lunged at me and put her hands around my throat. The look in her eyes, I… It still keeps me up sometimes." "You're scared of her?" Jin asked. Piper shook her head. "Not really, it's complicated. I'm scared of that version of her. I've seen her lose her temper before, hell, I've been the cause of it more often than not, but in that room…" Piper looked up to meet Jin's eyes. "That wasn't Luna, not really, I know it was because of grief." She took a deep soothing breath and Fi put a hand on her shoulder to pull her close.
"When Zin sent me that video of what she was doing I realized something, that's not the same Luna from SAO." "What do you mean?" Jin questioned. "I mentioned before that was due to grief, she stopped and ran off after gripping her senses. This time she looked to be enjoying it." "Until she wasn't." Jin interjected. "She did stop but by then it was too late. I don't want to lose faith in her, Jin, but I don't see the same girl I go to school with when I watch that video. I hardly even recognize her." Piper's voice trailed off into a quiet whisper as she turned her head away from Jin's gaze. "I'm sorry if what I said isn't much help but I want you to know that I do and will always care about her. I hope she comes home safely, I think she just needs help before or when she does." "Do you know anything that could have happened recently to cause her to get like this?" Zin asked.
Piper thought for a moment. "The last thing she really talked to me about was…" She paused again and put a finger to her mouth as she thought. "It was about Yumi right?" Fi asked. "Yeah it was. We were eating lunch the last time she was at school and talking about helping Yumi with her family situation. She didn't mention anything in detail and as ashamed as I am to admit it, I just shifted the topic away from it. The last few times Luna talked with me, she was pretty spacey, like she wasn't really there all of the time. Then she took all that time off of school and we hardly ever spoke. I'm sorry I couldn't be much help, Jin." "It's fine, Piper. Thank you anyways." Fi took Piper's hand and the two stood up to leave. Just before reaching the door Piper stopped and turned.
"I do love her, you know that right? She's like a sister to me now and I want her to come home. I know she'll come back to us, she's strong enough to get over this. I've seen her do harder things in the past so I'm sure she'll be fine." With that Piper and Fi took their leave and left the guys alone on the sofa. "That wasn't much help." Zin said, donning a weak grin on his lips. "I knew it wouldn't be. The only thing I heard was another person that thinks she's gone. How do I defend her, Zin? How can I convince people that she isn't like that? How do I convince myself?" "I told you, she's lost and confused. The most important part is that she is still regretful for her actions. It's not too late for her, she just needs help." Jin nodded and stood from his seat. "Thanks, Zin. I have to go see my parents now. Dad is supposed to be home tonight and I haven't talked to him in a few days."
"See you, bro." Zin said, raising a fist to Jin. "Later." Jin hit Zin's fist with his own and signed out of Somerant. Within the hour he was at his parent's door and unlocked it with a spare key he still held onto. The house was dark as night, with only a faint flickering glow from the living room. "Mom?" Jin called out as he closed the door behind him. "Dad? Are either of you here? I told you guys I would be coming today." Jin removed his shoes and tossed his coat onto a hook by the door before moving into the living room. He saw a thin silhouette on the sofa and a shadow dancing on the walls around it. "Mother?" he asked, creeping closer. "Tell me that wasn't real, Jin. Tell me that this is just a game or a dream. Tell me that wasn't my daughter that I saw." It was Akira's voice. It was quiet and the words were slightly slurred but he knew it to be his mother's tone.
"Are you okay?" he asked calmly. "Was that really her? Answer me!" Akira's yell startled Jin. Throughout his entire life, her voice had hardly ever raised to a yell. Even now as a grown man, it caused a fear in him. "Tell me the truth." she said, more softly now. Jin swallowed his fear and took a breath. "That was Lunasara. It was all real and you're not dreaming." "My daughter, a murderer. The way she looked, that… that grin on her face. I-I don't…" "She wasn't herself." Jin said gently. He heard Akira shuffle in her seat and heard the sound of metal touching glass. Jin knew she was picking up a cup, as the sound of her ring tapping the glass cup she always used was a sound he had grown used to. Every night at dinner, the sound would ring out constantly as she sipped from whatever drink she had that night.
"You defend her?" Akira asked sharply. "She's my sister, what do you expect me to do? Condemn her when she needs my help the most?" Jin shot back. "You saw what she did, she killed that man and injured the others. One of them was just a boy and there was so much blood everywhere. She smiled the whole time she was hurting them." "She wasn't at the end of it." Jin pointed out. "Feeling remorse afterwards doesn't make it right." Akira hid her face in her free hand. "I knew I messed up with her." "Messed up?" Jin gasped. He was surprised, astonished to hear that from his mother. "I gave her too much freedom. I gave her too much of my trust. She said she was fine so I accepted it even though I knew she wasn't.
She said that it would all blow over so I sat back and waited and then she wound up in the hospital, near dead from starving herself. Still, I wasn't going to do anything. I was going to trust that she was better and let her go home with Yumi and keep sitting back and watching. I failed her, Jin. I failed as a mother and this is what that came too. Your father thought she needed therapy when she got back from that place, I took Luna's side. Come to think of it, your father never approved of those games to begin with. Enji never wanted either of you to play any kind of games, he said they were too distracting from what's important in life. I knew Luna snuck into your room all of the time to play them. I know she stayed up all night on weekends with you to play them.
Once again I took Luna's side and said that your father was just being an old man. "These are the new things for kids, it won't cause any problems so there's no harm in it." That's what I would always tell him. He never agreed with me but it made you and Luna happy so I persisted. Now I can't help but agree with Enji, about everything. If I was more strict then Luna never would have gone there and my baby girl never would have become this… this monster. Did you know about any of this, Jin?" "I knew she was going through some stuff but she never told me what it was. She always said that it would be fine and if she needed my help, she would ask for it." "You trusted her too then?" "Of course I did! What kind of stupid question is that? She's my sister, your daughter, is there a reason not to trust her?!"
Akira threw the tablet against the wall causing Jin to jump. "That is the reason! Right there! I didn't just see my daughter kill that man, I saw all of my mistakes as a mother coming back in my face! When she told me about the two she had killed in SAO, I swallowed it down. I told myself that it was self defense, I took her word that she had no other choice in the matter. There, she could have spared him. She didn't even look like she wanted to." "You're not a failure and you can't turn your back on her, not now." Jin said. "What am I to do then? Say that I'm proud that my baby killed a man with a smile on her face? Or should I be proud that she cried and got sick about it afterwards? Answer me that, Jin." "I'm not saying you should be proud, I'm asking you to accept what she is and to prepare to help fix her when she comes home."
"I-I don't know if I want her to come home." Akira's voice broke and Jin heard sobbing coming from the darkness in front of him. "You can't mean that." Jin said, taking another step closer. "I do. Maybe it's best if she d…" "Don't finish that sentence." Jin growled with a growing fury. "I never thought I would hear you of all people say that." Jin felt tears burning in the corner of his eyes and knew they were running down his face. "You were the perfect mother, the best we could have asked for, and now you're sitting here, drunk and wishing for your child to what? Die? To not come home to her family or friends? Does she not deserve that anymore? Does she not have your love anymore because she's hurt and lost?
How could you say something like that? How could you even think of it?" Jin's voice was as loud and intimidating as he could make it. "What do you expect me to do?!" Akira screamed back before throwing a half full bottle of wine against the wall. Jin heard the bottle whizz past his head before shattering across the floor. "Yes I am drunk and yes I did think it's better for her to die! What else am I to do? Pray that my murderous daughter comes back to me just so I can give in and trust her again? Am I supposed to lie to her and say that I understand and that I forgive or approve of her actions? Well! Tell me, Jin! Tell me what I'm supposed to do if you know so much!" Jin was speechless as he listened to his mother. The woman he always had so much faith in, the woman he always turned to when he was feeling down or weak.
She was the only person he ever showed weakness to and now here she was, yelling at the top of her lungs and wishing his sister dead. "Where's dad?" he asked quietly. "Working! It's where he always is nowadays. He hasn't been home in days and the last time he was, it was only for a minute to grab fresh clothes. It doesn't matter anymore." Akira dropped back onto the couch and turned to face the turned off television as if staring at her own dim reflection on the screen. "I understand you're hurt but you shouldn't say those things about her." Jin stated. "I'm more than hurt, Jin. My heart can't take anymore right now, it feels shattered enough. I want you to leave, right now." "You don't me…" "I do." Akira interrupted. "Leave and go home, go away from me. I'm sure you can't stand me right now anyways. I know I'm making you sick, don't try to hide it."
"I'm not leaving, mother." "You are. Get out of my house." Her words were faint and barely audible but they still cut deep besides. Jin lowered his head and felt a pain in his chest that he had never known before. His heart had been broken in many ways, plenty from would-be lovers, once from his sister being stuck in her virtual prison, and other times had been from friends going their separate ways. This was a different pain altogether, it was like watching someone you looked up to, someone you thought invincible, cry and break down in front of you. This was watching someone he held so much respect for and had so much love for, forsake everything he had ever pictured her as. The image he held of his mother cleaning his cuts and scrapes as a child, the memory of her brewing fresh tea for him when he was sick, all of it was now tainted by this one encounter.
Tears drenched his face but he quickly wiped them on his sleeve. "I won't stop loving her. I won't call her a monster or a murderer just because of this. I refuse to believe my sister can't come back to me! Damn you and damn everyone else that thinks otherwise!" He turned his back on the sofa and took a step towards the entryway. "One final thing before I go. Don't expect my forgiveness when this is all said and done. I can never forget what you said here tonight and I will never allow this to just fade away." WIthout another word he pulled on his shoes and coat and softly closed the door behind him as he left.
The drive home was a somber one. I can't believe she said that. My own mother. Jin felt more tears coming and his vision was blurring until he wiped his eyes again. When he got back home he practically fell onto his bed and laid there, staring up at the ceiling. The room was pitch black so there was nothing to look at but he kept his eyes open anyways. He draped an arm over his forehead and laid in the dark silence. Before he knew it, Tami was wrapping an arm around him. "Tami?" he asked, rubbing his eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you. I was tired so I crawled into bed, I guess I should have stuck to the couch." she said with a smile. "No, it's fine. It's our bed, not just mine." "I know but you haven't gotten any sleep lately so… Nevermind, what's done is done." She leaned close and touched her lips to his.
"How were your parents?" she asked. "I really don't want to talk about it." "Don't keep me in the dark." she said, pinching his ear. He grabbed her hand and kissed it. "Can we just leave it for now?" "Is it that bad?" Tami inquired. "Let's just say that I don't think my family will ever be the same again. I won't go into details right now, I would rather try to go back to sleep." Jin turned on his side and pulled the sheet up over his head. Tami moved under it as well and shifted to be pressed against his back. She wrapped an arm around him and he took her hand in his. "She'll be okay, Jin. All of this will work out in the end, it always does." "I'm not so sure this time. I need to do something soon or I don't think there will be anything left of my sister to save."
Tami gave a quiet giggle. "I was trying to be positive, could you not ruin it? You sound just like her now." Tami kissed his cheek before resting her head against Jin's back. "Sorry, I'll try to be better tomorrow." "No worries, dear. I know you just miss her." More than you will ever know. "Let's try to go to bed." he said before yawning. She yawned as well and shifted once more to get comfortable and soon she was mumbling in her sleep. It was always incoherent but Jin loved to listen anyway. It brought a smile to his face and sometimes it would bring a laugh with it. "I love you." he said so faintly that the words seemed to vanish on the air. He closed his eyes and was soon sleeping for the first time in what felt like weeks.
"Hey, Jin, Zin is here for you." Tami said as she shook Jin awake. He wiped his eyes and sat up to look at her. "Zin, what's he doing here so early?" Tami laughed and grabbed his cheeks to turn his head. She guided his gaze to the clock on their nightstand. "Early huh?" she questioned jokingly. "Noon already? I never sleep in that much." he said, scratching his head. "You've been tired lately so it's to be expected. Zin is in the living room so get dressed and go talk to him, I have to go to work." She kissed his cheek and then waved before leaving the room. Jin brushed his hair with his fingers to smooth it out as much as he could and then slid out of bed. He pulled on a pair of jeans and headed for the restroom to clean up a bit.
He examined his face in the mirror as he brushed his teeth and saw that his beard had grown longer than he expected it to be. "I should shave but I'm really not in the mood." he said after rinsing his mouth. His hair had also grown out to the point where it was now level with his shoulders. It draped loosely over his face so he swept it over his right eye which had always been a habit since he was a kid. Whenever his hair would grow out, his hand would just instinctively do it without thinking. "Morning." he said, smiling as he walked into the living room. He tried to sound cheery but knew that Zin didn't believe the fake gesture. "You could have at least put on some clothes." Zin stated. "I'm wearing pants, isn't that enough?" Jin replied, examining his body.
Zin smiled and Jin moved to sit next to him on the sofa. "So, doing any better?" Zin inquired. "Since you talked to me yesterday? Not really, no. Did you expect a different answer?" "I was hoping your parents would have cheered you up." "Well then, you'll be just as surprised as I am when I tell you that they did not. My father is now married to his job and my mother is now a drunk who was talking about how good it would be to be short of a daughter. Let's just forget about that though, we talked only yesterday, why did you need to come see me?" "Because I had to be out this way anyways so I figured I would stop by. I forgot to mention it before but I wanted to discuss this game that Luna is a part of."
Jin gave a curious glance. "What about it?" "The reason your sister was being targeted. I think there has to be some explanation to it. When we first started watching the thing a few days ago we were given a brief video describing the game. We were told it was a free-for-all and yet, those people were hunting Luna while in a group." "And? What's the point?" Jin asked impatiently. "The point is, those games don't usually favor groups or parties. The rules stated that each person was worth points depending on their rank and level, much like Somerant. In Somerant a group could benefit off of that due to the team based nature that exists there but in a free-for-all it is normal to assume that only the killer gets the points. I would say even more so in a game that doesn't have a respawn system in place." Zin explained.
"So you think that whatever she is worth gets divided between the party?" "Somewhat. I can't be certain but my worry is that the rules are a lie to some extent. If it was a free-for-all then a party wouldn't prosper, so I want to think of it more as an all versus one. Luna has to be worth quite a bit and every player knows about it, that's the only thing that makes sense. My worry is that every player is going to be gunning for your sister." Jin pondered for a moment as he took the assumptions in. "That would make sense I suppose. I heard one of them say she was too valuable to let escape. If all of that is true then I need to do something soon. If this keeps going like this, Luna will be forced to kill again." Jin said. "And the more she kills, the more we lose her." Zin interjected.
"Yumi knows something and she hasn't spoken up about it." Zin proceeded to say. Jin gazed at him in a hurry. "What are you talking about?" "I think she knows who set this whole thing up. I asked her about it the other day and she got nervous and started avoiding the questions or trying to change the topic. Talk to her and I think you will find out who is behind this, I don't think she will refuse to answer you." "Then I'll go there right now, the sooner I find this Fox guy, the sooner I can go help Luna." Jin stood swiftly and moved towards the hall. "Hey, Jin. Be careful, okay? And be kind to her, I'm sure she has her reasons for not talking." Jin gave a nod and went to get dressed.
By the time he returned, Zin had left. Jin hurried to the girl's apartment and knocked loudly on the door. After a second he started knocking again and continued doing so until Yumi opened the door nervously. "Jin?" she gasped in surprise. "We need to talk, now." he demanded and pushed his way into the room. "I'll make some tea then." Yumi said, closing the door and proceeding to the kitchen. Jin sat at the dining table and waited for Yumi to return with steaming mugs in hand. "Who is it? Who is Fox?" Jin asked bluntly once she took her seat. "I-I couldn't t-tell you." she stuttered out her answer. He watched as she took a small sip from her glass and returned it to the table. "Yumi, you need to be honest with me. I need to know who took my sister and I'm not leaving until I get an answer."
"You wouldn't believe me. Nobody did last time I brought it up." Jin's eyes widened. "Giza Kushina? You were telling the truth?" Yumi nodded. She went and fetched the tablet before returning to the table. Engraved on the back was "Kushina Tech." in fine silver letters. "Mine doesn't have that." Jin noted, grabbing the tablet from her to examine it. "My mother owed a bunch of money to Giza and so I got roped into it. I never knew that Luna was also involved with him back from SAO where he was known as Fox. After he took Luna, he told me that she was his true prize and that I played my part well. After nobody believed me during the investigation of Luna's disappearance, I figured they wouldn't believe me now. That and I was ashamed that I had a hand in all of this.
I didn't want everyone to blame me for what happened to her, I was already blaming myself as it is." "So you kept it to yourself." Jin said, astonished. "I told everyone who took her, it's not my fault nobody listened. That doesn't matter now, now you know who Fox is. What are you going to do with this?" Yumi questioned. "I'm going to find him and get my sister back." Jin said before rising from his chair. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, I should have told you at least. I should have made sure you knew everything I did as soon as I found out about it." "You should have. However, I don't blame you for hiding it, your reasons are good enough for me. I only wish you had more faith in me to not put this on you. I have one more question before I go. What started all of this? What broke her after so long of her doing well?"
"She killed a man in Somerant, back in March." She killed people all of the time there, why was he so different?" Jin inquired. "She said it was because she didn't let go. She said that whenever she gets close to dying, she loses herself and begins to fight as if her life was on the line. She did it once when she was saving me from Giza's brother at the dojo. She wrapped her jacket around his neck and wouldn't let go. He would have died had I not gotten her to stop, she would have killed him. She mentioned it happened before in SAO as well but Clair had stopped her there. This time, she said that nobody was there to stop her and so she didn't. She killed him in her anger and fear and then said that every other time would have been the same.
I think it made Luna look at herself in a way she had tried to avoid doing for so long. Luna always knew she would have killed them but now, it actually happened, even if it was just a game. She said that it proved all of her darkest fears about herself to be real. Luna was getting better though, for a time. I think Fox talked to her during the party and that was what finished her. That was the final thing that shattered her heart." Jin listened intently before giving a nod to her final words. "Thanks." he said before opening the door. "That really helps, to know what happened to her. I appreciate it and I apologize if I scared you at all. I don't blame you, Yumi, you're like my sister now so I will never hate you or think any less of you for being scared to talk." He gave a smile before leaving her apartment behind.
His next stop was to Kushina Technologies headquarters in Tokyo. It was a decently long drive but he was willing to do whatever he had to do to get to Luna. After parking near the towering skyscraper, he pocketed a pen and made his way inside. The lobby was exquisite as the floors were like polished granite and every light from the ceiling was reflected in the surface. An oversized chandelier with crystal panes hanging from metal hooks around the bulbs was hung over the center of the room. Reflective stone columns were lined throughout the lobby, leading to the stairs at the far end. "Welcome to Kushina Technologies, how can I help you today?" asked a younger woman at the front desk. She smiled brightly and had a gleam in her eyes as she scanned Jin up and down.
"I'm here to see Mr. Kushina. It's urgent, so if you don't mind, could you point me in the right direction to his office?" "Do you have an appointment?" she asked kindly. "No but I assume he will be glad to see me. Could you just tell him I'm here, he's a friend of the family and I haven't seen him for some time." "Your name?" "Jin Mirahai." he answered sternly. She picked up her phone but before she started dialing, it began to ring. "Yes, sir?" she asked. "Right away, sir, I'll send him up." She hung up the phone and handed over a white plastic card. "This will take you to the top floor. If you take the furthest elevator on the right side, you'll go right to Mr. Kushina's office. It was nice meeting you." she said, grinning and waving as he left her.
He strode up the stairs and impatiently awaited the elevator's arrival. To him, it felt like dozens of minutes wasted away before the elevator finally arrived. Once inside he scanned the multiple buttons before finding the highest number. "Thirty." he muttered as he pressed it. A red light flickered on a metal panel next to the list of numbers. On it was a black box with the picture of a card and so Jin pressed the white pass to it. Then he pushed the button once more and the light flickered green before the elevator began to ascend. The ride up felt even longer than the wait at the bottom had been. Finally the door opened and revealed a room with black tiled floors ahead of him. The room was nearly empty with only a desk with a computer atop it and a few chairs to decorate the area. On the far wall, behind the desk, was a wall of windows to give way to a perfect view of the city outside.
Jin moved closer to the desk and took a seat in the chair opposite of the window side. Giza was nowhere to be found but Jin was determined to wait, no matter how long it took, he would wait. Fortunately he did not have to wait long as the elevator's door opened only a few minutes after his arrival. "Mr. Mirahai, it's a pleasure to finally meet you in person." said Giza as he took a seat opposite Jin. He moved the computer's monitor out of the way and rested his chin on his clasped hands as he leaned on the desk. "So, what can I do for you?" Fury flashed in Jin's eyes as he stared intently into the black pits that were Giza's. "I want my sister." he growled.
Giza smiled and slightly shook his head. "No can do, Jin. Your sister is in the middle of a game and I'm afraid she has become rather engrossed in it. Pulling her out now would be just plain cruelty." Jin slammed a hand on the desk and nealy lunged from his seat. "Calm down, boy. I have worked much too hard to give her up now and I'm so close to getting what I want." "You want to make her worse than she already was. I won't sit back and let you do this to her." "So you found out my goal, I must applaud you. Yes, I want to break her down until there is nothing left of that little girl. I want her to kill every one of the others until she wins or dies.
I want there to be nothing left in her life that makes it worth living, beit her family, herself, anything and everything, I want gone. When this game is over your sister will be nothing but an empty husk with too much blood on her hands. I know your mother is not exactly happy how these events have played out already. Man, what a cruel thing for a mother to desire, right?" Jin's lips were quivering in rage as he bit his tongue. "So, you want to save her, do you?" "Even if it means killing you." Jin stated, pulling the pen from his pocket and clutching it tightly in his hand. "Luna threatened me the same way with the same weapon before the game started. I guess stupidity runs in the family. Very well, boy, I'll make you a deal and don't think it unfair.
I won't pull your sister from the game but I will do this for you. I will let you go in there to try to save her. I will not bend any rules for you however, you will play by the same rules as the rest of the players. I will grant you an ability, give you some gear, and even give you Luna's signal so you can track her. I will, however, put the same bounty on your head that is currently on your sister's." "Bounty?" Jin questioned. "Luna is a one way ticket out of there. Whoever kills her gets to go free, if they kill her as a party then the whole group goes home. You will have the same bounty and to make it more interesting, if you kill her or if she kills you, the reward is still given. So, the quickest way to save her would be to find her and have her kill you." He chuckled at Jin's dismay.
"What's stopping me from killing you right now and just ending it all?" "What good would that do? Then your sister will be there forever as I am the only one who knows where the facility is and I am the only one who has the proper codes to release them. Plus if you kill me now then you will be arrested and then what good would you be? I would much rather you use your life for my entertainment." Jin gritted his teeth and without hesitation, he nodded. "Fine, I will play your game. If it means getting to her, I will play it." Giza grinned widely and moved to begin typing on his keyboard. "Tell me the equipment and ability you desire." "Ability?" "As in a power of some kind. I didn't give Luna completely accurate information. Everyone has an ability that resembles her lightning, I thought it would be more interesting than skills from other games.
Everyone has their own version of a superpower. Luna's is lightning and another guy could control fire or somebody could heal wounds of any kind. Give me a power for you and it will be much like your sister's, it can be controlled at will but it will tax the body if overused. Honestly I see a fire in your eyes that even your sister didn't have so maybe that will do." "Hah, fire, no. It's more like ice." Jin stated, staring coldly at Giza. Jin gave a desired list of clothing and items and Giza typed in a rhythm as he nodded along to Jin's wishes. "Perfect, meet me here tomorrow morning and I will log you into the isles as a new contestant." He handed Jin a piece of paper with an address written on it. Jin frowned but bowed his head as he stood up. "Tomorrow then." he hissed. "Tomorrow." Giza repeated, smiling and gesturing for Jin to leave.
By the time Jin returned home from his venture, Tami was already cooking dinner. "Smells good." he said, closing the door behind him. "It's just some curry, nothing too praise worthy." she said. Jin smiled. "I wasn't praising the effort, I was complimenting the smell." She smiled back and left the kitchen to hug him. "How was your day?" he asked. "Work was boring and I have school to look forward to tomorrow. I'm getting tired of all of this stuff I have to do." I told you to get a job that you don't have to go to university for. Find something simple, you don't need to make a lot of money, we're doing okay as it is and school might just put you in debt in the future." Jin said. "Maybe, I'll give it some thought. It's starting to become too much to handle, especially with everything going on right now.
But, enough of my worries, what did you get up to today?" she asked, pulling him down onto the couch as she sat. "It was… productive." He paused for a moment before clenching his hands into fists. "I'm leaving tomorrow and I don't know when I'll return." "Leaving? Where are you going?" "To see Luna. I'm joining the game she's trapped in. I talked to the man that took her and he offered the chance to go and find her." Tami was stunned and sat there speechless for a minute. After a quick shake of her head she stared into his yellow eyes. "Do you have to go?" Jin smiled and nodded. "I couldn't be there when she needed me last time and for these last few years I just haven't been able to forgive myself for that. Now I have a chance to be there, now when she needs me more than ever. Tami, I have to go."
"What if you die there?" she asked softly. "Ha, die? Think about who you're talking to. Do you really expect me to die in a place like that?" Tami looked up with tears in her eyes. "I'm being serious, you idiot. I know you have to go for Luna but… But what if you never come back to me? What am I supposed to do then?" He grabbed her cheek and wiped a tear away with his thumb. "I'll always come back." "You can't know that." she said sternly, grabbing the hand that was pressed to her cheek. "No, I can't, but I can fight my hardest to make it true. Have faith in me, I won't die there. I'll find Luna and together we'll come back home and the first thing I do when I get back is pull you into my arms."
Jin wrapped his arms around her body and pulled her close and leaned in until his lips were almost touching hers. Next he kissed her softly before kissing her cheek. "Then I'll do that." he whispered. Tami smiled softly and kissed him back. "I'll miss you." she murmured. "I know." A beeping from the kitchen caught Tami's attention. "Dinner's done." she said, smiling. Jin rose and helped Tami to her feet. "Then off you go." he said, nudging her to the kitchen. Jin watched as Tami walked away. I'll miss you too, Tami. I'll be back soon enough though. I promise. "Hey, Jin, can you help me out real quick?" "Coming." he called back. After they had finished eating dinner the pair of them began doing the dishes.
"So, were you thinking about taking anyone with you?" Tami asked while taking a dish from his hands to dry it. "Not really. I don't think the fox would be happy with giving Luna any further help. The only reason he is allowing me to join is, uh… you know nevermind about that, it's not something I really want to burden you with. Here ya go." he handed her another dish and grabbed another to begin washing it. "You can tell me, don't hide it, it only makes me more curious." "He wants to break her down until there's nothing left of her. He expects me to sacrifice myself for her to escape. We have a bounty on our heads, whoever kills her or me wins their freedom. He wants her to kill me to get out, I know she wouldn't do it willingly but honestly, I could imagine myself forcing her to if it means getting her home. I won't let it come to that though." he said to the growing concern on Tami's face.
"Nothing ever works in your family's favor does it?" she asked with a forced grin. Jin smiled back. "Not lately. It's okay though, she's tough enough to hold out and when I get there, I can carry some of that burden." His expression grew more stern as he stared into the reflection in the washed plate he held. "Jin? Are you gonna give it to me?" Jin shook his head slightly and handed it over. "Sorry. Well, that was the last one." He dried his hands on a rag and stretched his arms. "I'm gonna take a shower and get to bed." he stated, moving from the kitchen. "Hang on a sec." Tami caught up and grabbed his arm. To his surprise, she spun him and kissed his lips. He ran a hand through her thick black hair and then caressed her cheek. "Tam…" Before he could finish she kissed him again and gently grabbed his face to hold him there.
He closed his eyes and gave in to the sudden sensation. After a second she pulled away and her face was a bright red. "You still blush around me?" he asked, teasing her. "It's still hard to believe I can do that with you so yeah, I still blush." She rubbed the growing hair on his face and smiled. "You know, I actually don't mind this. You should keep it." "I just might if it pleases you." Tami stared lovingly into his eyes with her amethyst ones and grinned. It was playful, loving, but it also was sad and longing. Jin returned a wider expression of happiness and pulled her into another kiss. They eventually found the couch and Tami pushed him onto it. He was sitting up straight and Tami crawled atop of him with her legs to either side of his body.
"I know now's not really the time but if I won't be seeing you for a while then I want something to remember you by." she said, unbuttoning the white collared shirt he was wearing. He brushed the hair from her eyes and then grabbed her chin. "I would say that now is the perfect time for this. I wouldn't mind another reason to fight to come back home. I'll make sure to keep this fresh in my mind while I'm away." He moved his hands to untie the ribbon around her collar and unfastened her shirt after his own was already undone. She pressed her hands to his chest and leaned in to kiss him. After her own, he planted a kiss on her neck while pulling the shirt down her arms. She threw it to the ground and then reached down below her to start undoing his jeans.
It was a long night, or at least it had felt like one. For what seemed like hours they were together and afterwards Tami fell fast asleep in his arms on the sofa. Jin was left awake as he brushed his fingers through her long tangles of hair. He kissed her and then rested his face against her head while taking in the sweet aroma of her shampoo. "I'm sorry I have to leave so suddenly. I'm sorry I'm putting her before you. You understand though, right? That's one of the things I love most about you. You always understand why I do things, like when I took Yumi in for a bit or when I ran off to Luna's side so suddenly without a word.
I know it hurts you sometimes, I know it makes you a little jealous, but you always understand why I do it. This whole thing is still a little odd for me too, Tami, our relationship that is. Sometimes when I look at you, I remember the boyish girl with short hair that Luna brought home on the first day of junior high. You still looked so much like a child back then. You were cute but more like in a sisterly way. I looked at you like how I looked at Luna back then." Jin chuckled to himself. "I remember how Luna was going through a bit of a rebellious phase, or perhaps she just wanted to make you think she wasn't so attached to me at the time. She would yell at me and push me away every time I teased her when you were around.
It was only ever when she was with you that she acted that way. When she was alone she would follow me everywhere and play my games with me. One of my favorite memories was when a new album from one of her favorite bands was released. This was early into junior high but it was one of the few days you weren't with her. I was sitting at my desk and had my earbuds in and they were plugged into my phone. I was doing homework and I always listened to music when I was working on stuff, it helped me to concentrate more. Well, Luna came bursting into my room, she practically kicked my door down, and then she hurried over to me. Without even saying anything she threw my phone onto the bed and plugged hers in.
She took one of my earbuds and put it in her ear and then picked the album. She made me sit there and listen to the whole thing with her and to mess with her, I acted like I didn't like it. I teased her about it for a bit before finally admitting that I was joking. The look on her face was too much. She began pouting and getting angry and then she laughed and we listened to it again." Jin felt tears forming into his eyes. "I miss her so much, Tami. More than I ever expected to. I miss being that person in her life, the one that she shared everything with before showing it to everyone else. Whenever you were there, you took that role, and I didn't hate it. At the time I even liked the break you gave me.
It was like getting a day off from my brotherly duties. Then she began slowly drifting away from me, once again, I don't blame you, she was growing up and had found a friend. She couldn't be around me all of the time anymore and now looking back, I can't believe I accepted that so easily. Still, I am grateful you were there to take my place, to watch over her and keep her out of trouble. When I look at you, I still see that little girl that took my place by her side. But now I also see the grown woman you became and it makes me a little sadder. I see what Luna grew up to be as well and when I look back, I notice how big of a change that such little time led to.
I don't know if it will upset you to say this but you haven't changed all that much. You're still quirky and upbeat and have a surprising amount of energy. Your hair's longer and you dress a little more girly and your body grew a little but underneath, you're still the same person. Luna isn't and it's hard for me to grasp. I always thought that you two would be together forever and she, like you, wouldn't change all that much. When she got back from SAO I saw how wrong I was in that assumption. The first day, she didn't even pay attention to us while we talked to her. Then she kicked us all out, ranting about how she wanted to go back and how she didn't return home but had left it instead.
Later I found out about Clair but it wasn't through her, it was through Zin that I learned of it. Some random guy that knocked on our door one day, that was who trusted me enough to tell me about her. I was hurt, I felt betrayed almost, I felt forgotten. Why couldn't she trust me enough to speak of what happened there? Why was it this older stranger instead of her own brother that knew her best now? That was when it hit me, she had spent two long years with people that weren't me or you, and in that time she had changed. Not in the way I thought she would have but due to somebody else's influence, she changed into someone else.
After she got a better handle on her grief and began to trust us more, Luna showed me how different she had become. She was still sarcastic and still had traces of that little girl I loved so much but now she was more distant and wary as well. Just like you, she had grown up, except it was away from all of us." Jin smirked and wiped his eyes. "I know you understand what is wrong with her now and I know you will understand why I have to be the one that goes to her. I know that unlike everyone else, you haven't given up on her and I couldn't love you more for that. I don't think you will ever know how much it means to me to hear you say that you still have faith in the little girl that is lost in the darkness that is consuming her."
"I do understand." Tami said quietly. "You know, Luna showed me that album as well. It was probably the day after she showed you. We were at lunch during school and after every song she showed me, she always told me what your reaction to it was. Some of them she pouted or disagreed with and some of them she praised your good taste in music. It was funny to watch." Tami went silent again for a bit. "I can also get why you still see me as a little girl and I won't lie, sometimes it's hard to get you to see me as a woman and not just your little sister's friend. I do love you, Jin. It's more than just a childish crush, I want to join your family and be a part of your life for as long as possible. I want to have kids with you and help you raise them. I would be a real member of Luna's family then, it makes me smile just thinking about it.
But first I know you have to leave and save her. It does make me a little envious, your love for Luna. I know it's not like our love but the fact that she takes so much of your attention does make me a little jealous. It's fine though, I sometimes get the same way." She shifted closer to his body and smiled. "I want you to go and save her, but for right now, you're mine and mine alone. Just for tonight." she murmured the last words and closed her eyes again. Jin nodded and closed his eyes as well. "And for every night after tonight. When I get back, I want to marry you." Tami's eyes shot open after that and he felt her temperature rising.
"R-really? So suddenly?" Jin laughed and kissed her neck. "Of course. We've been together for a while and you'll be turning twenty in a few months, I don't think that's too young for marriage. I want to be with you, even if you are only my little sister's friend. So, will you accept my proposal?" "Maybe, but I was expecting it to be much more romantic than this. I imagined you taking me on some cruise or something and while we were eating dinner in a fancy restaurant, you would get on one knee in front of everyone and ask for my hand. Asking while we're sleeping on the couch in a cheap apartment, it's kind of…" "Kind of what?" he asked after Tami's short pause. "Well, it's so like you I guess. I suppose I shouldn't have expected anything too fancy, that's never been your style."
"Isn't that one of the things you like about me?" he asked. "It is but for this one thing I wanted something a little more, I don't know, romantic." "Well, I don't have a ring yet so when I get back, I'll buy one and then I'll do something that will blow you away. Maybe we'll go to the carribean and I'll propose to you there." Tami laughed. "I highly doubt it. I might as well give you my answer now just in case." She turned so that she was facing him and stared into his eyes. "I will marry you, Jin Mirahai. Just make sure to come back so I have a husband, it would be a shame if I was widowed before I even turn twenty." Jin lightly kissed her lips and put his forehead to hers. "I told you already, I'll come back. Now I have even more of a reason to do so." The two fell asleep like that and within a few hours, dawn broke and casted an early glow into the room.
Jin stirred awake again and Tami roused with him. "I just fell asleep, what is it?" she grumbled while rubbing her eyes. "I have to go. Sorry for waking you but it was kind of inevitable like this." He crawled over her and once he was standing he found his scattered clothes. After a quick shower he got dressed and returned to the living room. "Do you need to pack or anything?" Tami asked. "It's a game, Tami, I can't take anything in there. I'll be fine just like this." "Do you want breakfast or anything before you go?" Jin smiled. "Tami, enough with the stalling and give me a hug." She moved and did as he said. "Be safe." she whispered. "I will be. Stay out of trouble as well, and don't forget about your homework and don't be late for work tomorrow and…" Tami put a finger to his mouth. "I get it, I can take care of myself." she said, giggling. "Bye, Tami, I'll be back as soon as possible."
"Bye, Jin." With his goodbyes spoken, he left and closed the door behind him. After nearly two hours of bus rides and a fair bit of walking, he arrived at a forest's edge where a black car was waiting for him. "Mr. Mirahai I presume." said the driver. Jin nodded and the back door opened. Inside was Giza, waiting with his arms crossed and a leg resting over the other. "Welcome, boy. Come on in, I don't bite." Jin climbed in and in a minute, they were winding up an old trail that leads into the forest. "I have some property out here that's kind of off the grid. It's where I have all of the contestants. I could have signed you in from any place I desired but I assumed you would like to see your sister before you go in there."
"I would but why risk your location on something like that?" "Because I doubt you would expose anything about this. You would still have no proof it was mine and I am doing you a favor here. Were you to dishonor that gesture, your sister would be long dead before I was ever caught." "I figured." Jin muttered before resting his head on his hand. He watched out of the window as they drove through ever thickening groupings of trees. The city was growing further away with every minute passed and soon the cityline couldn't be seen through the tree cover. "You'll enjoy what I prepared for you. I gave you ice control due to your words and I hope you use it well. There are some side effects should you use it too much such as numbness in the limbs, splitting headaches, and if used too frequently without a break, frostbite or hypothermia.
You could potentially freeze yourself to death should you lose control of your power so I recommend you be cautious in its use. I would hate for you to die without anyone taking advantage of what you're worth. For your gear, I gave you a bulletproof jacket, like your sister's, a pistol, and a longsword. Other weapons can be procured from people or chests as well as ammunition. I get the feeling you will be using your gun more often than Luna is. She really is hesitant to take any other lives, so much so that it's starting to grow a bit boring. For clothing, I gave you a black long sleeved shirt and a pair of black cargo pants. You will have a sword belt with a holster on it for the gun and I do hope you treat it with care.
They aren't cheap to re-buy should you lose it. I will start you in a random place on the map but you will have Luna's location so you can rush straight to her if you so desire. You will be given a watch that has all of your menus and your map so you will be as set as if you were a player from the start." "I'll be at a disadvantage. The other players have had days of collecting and traveling, don't I get something to catch up to them?" Jin questioned. "I'm giving you everything you asked for, deem that enough of an offer. I could have just thrown you from my office yesterday so you should be grateful you're even here. That's what I really dislike about you people, so ungrateful when it comes to others.
I helped Luna so often in SAO and still she would keep secrets and never once trusted me. It kind of hurts, you know? Have you ever given so much to a person just to have them spit in your face? It's not pleasant, I'll tell you that much. At least I know it runs in your family. Your mother throws my tablet against a wall even after I give her the opportunity to keep an eye on her child, your father doesn't even bother with my offer, Luna threatens to kill me, and you, you ask for even more than I've already given. Disrespectful is what I call that." "It's not like you don't deserve it. You kidnapped her from the hospital. What is wrong with you? Why couldn't you just leave her alone?" "Because this is just so much more interesting. If only I could drag that blonde bitch from her grave as well, I would throw her in there right next to Luna and watch them both suffer together.
You know, she was the one that convinced Luna to abandon me. If not for her, our relationship never would have gotten rocky. I could have kept taking her money and she could have kept running, nothing had to change. Well, what's done is done and there's no point in reflecting on it now. It's done and here we are, reveling in the consequences." "When will you face the consequences for everything you've done? Have you ever thought about that?" Jin asked, still watching the passing trees. "I have and I assume it will be if your sister wins my game. Should she fail, I imagine I will get away with everything." "Should she fail, I will expose your crimes." Jin growled. "You won't have evidence, once again. On top of that, should she fail, you all will die anyway.
I wasn't lying when I said your lives are tied with hers. Ms. Kisama in particular knows too much to let her live. Now you know too much as well." he said, grinning wickedly at him. Jin saw the uneasy expression in the reflection of the window. "Then she or I will not fail. I will kill you, I will take that burden for myself. Your life will be mine, Kushina. I'm not like Luna, I don't care how many I have to kill to save her. I will get through any obstacle by any means if it means getting her home and getting you away from her. Don't expect me to show mercy." "I don't, Mirahai. I expect great things from you, why do you think I let you join my show? Ah, we're here." Jin looked out of the front window to see a large tower that stood about ten floors high.
It was in a lone clearing in the forest and was the sole structure for miles around. "That's where she is?" he asked. "Indeed. I already have a bed set up for you that's right next to hers." Jin's eyes grew full of fury and determination as he stepped out of the car. He followed Giza to the fifth floor and was led to a door in the middle of the hallway, directly across from the elevators. "After you." he said after opening the door. Jin walked in and nearly sprinted towards a bed that he noticed just after getting through the doorway. "Luna." he gasped, taking her left hand in his. She was lying lifeless in the bed with two wires coming from her right arm that led to a strange machine to the right of her. There was a bed on the other side of the machine with another machine to the right of that. She looks just like she's sleeping. At least she doesn't seem hurt.
"She's not injured yet." said Giza as if reading Jin's thoughts. "However, if she dies then a liquid will flow through that second tube and enter into her blood. Should it do so, her body will begin to slowly shut down and then she will be dead out here as well. The first wire is the nutrient source. It keeps her body alive while she's out of it. "How is she in the game with no machine?" Jin asked. Giza moved and pushed Jin's hand away from Luna's. "This watch." he said, pointing to the black bracelet on her left wrist. "It releases a special machine into the blood that attaches itself to the brain and is controlled by signals sent by the watch. It works just like the AmuSphere or the NerveGear helmets.
My world is however, much more real than those ones. It will be as if you were in your real body over there. The only thing that makes it seem like a game is your abilities. Other than that, you can only carry what would be natural in this world, you can only have your own real strength, and you can only move in the way you would be able to here. While there are levels, there are no stats or buffs that will boost your attributes. I designed this world to be nearly indistinguishable from the real one. The powers were just a fun afterthought to make it more interesting for the viewers. Honestly, I'm quite proud of my creation. You should be as well, your father helped me build it."
Jin looked at him with hateful surprise in his eyes. "My father?" "He doesn't know it's true purpose so don't blame him, boy. He thinks it's for the benefit of bed ridden patients or people with fatal or crippling disabilities. This will allow people that can't go outside the opportunity to travel the world as if they were actually doing it. This will let the blind see the world around them and the deaf can hear birds and rivers and other things. This will let them explore any world they desire. Despite my personal goals for this, it can be used for the benefit of everyone. This will change the world for the better and I am proud of it. My life's magnum opus."
"If it does so much good, why use it for this? Why use it to tear down an already broken girl you met years ago in a game?" "Because I can't let this go. I want to see her suffer, I can't help it. It brings me so much pleasure that it's all I can think about anymore. Plus, this works as a good test to see if it works the way it's intended. Nevermind all of that though, are you ready to join her?" Jin gave another look to Luna to strengthen his resolve. He nodded and rose before kissing Luna's forehead. "I'll save you, Luna. I'll take those burdens from you and carry you home. Just have faith in me and I promise everything will be okay." He took a deep breath and turned to Giza. "I'm ready." Giza held out a bulkier black watch and Jin strapped it to his wrist.
After lying in the bed he closed his eyes and waited as Giza plunged the two tubes into his right arm. "Goodnight, boy, enjoy the game." He felt Giza tap the watch and then a sudden prick on his left wrist was followed by a slight burning pain. Quickly after he was fast asleep and then everything went white.