----- G9

"It would be advantageous to fortify this building if we are to stay here." Kazuo said, staring at Yuko plainly, as if he had just answered a simple question in the classroom.

Yuko stared up at him with big fearful eyes. Ryuhei had been a bad boy... an evil boy... but this was Kazuo, he was even worse! He had shot at them, and he didn't look like he cared! It was as if he hadn't even noticed Ryuhei! There was a dead body of his friend in the room and he didn't care at all!

"OK" she mumbled weakly.

Get away! Get away from him! He's evil!

"I... I need to pee!" Yuko shrieked melodramatically. It was a tactic she had used at school when she got too scared. It was much easier to say than explaining in front of everyone that simply being in a room with them made her scared. And teachers never refused her when she asked. After all, she was sweet Yuko Sakaki! Who could say no to her?

Kazuo tilted his head to the side. "If you wish to urinate, I suggest you use the facilities."

Yuko nodded, and gut up, shaking as she did so, before running at full speed to the nearest door.

Kazuo looked on in interest. How peculiar. According to his memory of this style of architecture, Yuko had just run into a room most likely used as a bedroom, rather than a bathroom, which is what he had intended. He would have called out to her to inform her, but he really had no reason to do so.

Yuko slammed the door shut, and placed her hand against her chest. Her heart had been pounding so much that it was beginning to hurt. Calm down... just calm down...

Yuko looked up, and found that she wasn't in a bathroom, but a bedroom. It didn't matter anyway, just as long as she wasn't in the same room as Kazuo.

There was a window in the room, but Yuko had left her bag and the tessen in the room with Kazuo, so if she were to run away, she probably wouldn't last long. But would she anyway? What do I have? I can't run fast, I can't fight anyone, and I get scared of everything...

What do I have?

But no answer came. All Yuko could hear was the sound of Kazuo's footsteps. She shuddered. An evil boy...

Yuko looked up...

And almost leapt out of her skin. There was someone standing outside the window, looking inside! Yuko could tell straight away that it was a girl. Oh, thank you God... not a boy... not a demon boy...

The girl seemed to be gesturing Yuko over to the window, and Yuko responded, getting up and walking over cautiously. After a few steps, she could make out exactly who it was. Mizuho Inada.

She was a girl that Yuko hadn't talked to much, mainly because Mizuho only spent time with Megumi and Kaori. She always seemed a bit weird to Yuko. Talking about strange things... blasphemous things...

But she was only a girl, not a girl like Mitsuko though. She was probably scared, just like Yuko was. She isn't evil... she just hasn't found God... she's not evil like Kazuo...

Mizuho was motioning with her hands for Yuko to open the window. Yuko nodded. She just hasn't found God...

Mizuho smiled graciously as Yuko stumbled over to the window. She is not a magi, but she is pure of heart... Mizuho thought, as the window swung open.

Yuko gazed in awe. Just as she had been opening the window, the sky behind Mizuho had begun to lighten. She didn't realise that this was simply because of the now rising sun. To her, it looked... saintly, as Mizuho was outlined in golden light.

"Shh..." she whispered as Mizuho stepped in. "Kazuo..."

Mizuho nodded. "Are you unharmed?" she asked in a hushed voice.

Yuko nodded. "I'm fine."

"I seek refuge myself." Mizuho explained. "It seems a daemon had caught my scent. I was chased by Kyouichi. It seems his soul has already been lost..."

"What?" Yuko asked in awe.

"The daemon within him!" Mizuho explained melodramatically, still somehow managing to keep her voice down. "It had taken his soul, and he was no more!"

Yuko couldn't believe what she was hearing. Mizuho knew about the daemons? She believed in them too? She wouldn't laugh or look away like the others at school. She too knew and loved God!

"Mizuho!" Yuko hissed. "What are we going to do about Kazuo! He is the purest of evil!"

Mizuho stared out of the window for a brief moment, gazing at the sunset. Yuko's question is a worthy one. What about this daemon? Must I flee once more, or am I to vanquish it?

It was Melodius who answered first, in his cold yet somehow loving voice. This is not a case of demonic evil as naive Yuko believes. Kazuo is possessed...

By an infernal daemon. Lucien added. A most grotesque enemy of Ahura Mazda. Killing the host will only strengthen it. You must banish the daemon from the body...

Mizuho turned to Yuko and smiled. "We must vanquish the daemon from Kazuo's heart and restore him to his body."

Yuko gasped. "He's possessed? How do you know?"

"Child of little faith? I was instructed to vanquish the daemon by the divine forces."

Yuko's mouth broke into a wide smile. Divine forces! All this time, she was a warrior for Jesus, and I never knew! "But we're only children!" Yuko said. "We can't excommunicate him!"

"It is our holy duty." Mizuho said, as if it were the simplest of facts. "We must try. If your conviction will shatter when put to the test, maybe it is best I undertake this alone..."

"No! My faith is as strong as anyone's!" Yuko said assertively, almost scared by her own self confidence.

Mizuho smiled again. She is indeed a holy warrior of Ahura Mazda. Thank you for leading me to her...

Melodius smiled, which was rare from him. Do not thank us, daughter of destiny. It has been written in the starts that this must happen...

Kazuo closed the cabinet door. Apart from rice, the clinic offered very little sustenance. In his mind, he searched for the memory of a cookery textbook.

In an instant, it came, and Kazuo began to busy himself with making some rice. He was perfectly aware that someone else was in the room with Yuko. For one, he had heard the window being opened, and a heavy footstep afterwards, suggesting that someone had climbed in. For another, the footsteps had now become out of time and more frequent, when he could quite clearly remember that Yuko's footsteps had been perfectly synchronised on their own when she had run into the room.

But there was no need to investigate. Whoever it was seemed to be trusting Yuko, as there was no signs of a struggle in the room, which was what Kazuo had kept her for. If they turned on him, he had the superior weapon, unless the assailant also had a machine gun, which was statistically unlikely. It would be much more productive to prepare some food than to get into a gunfight which might prove unnecessary.

Of course, it could be a student who had an escape plan. Kazuo knew that no one had escaped before then, but it was possible. The programe had all sorts of flaws in it that could be exploited. Kazuo would have investigated them himself, but it didn't really matter to him. Someone with passion about escape would be more productive in formulating an escape plan than him, even though he was naturally far more intelligent and creative.

Mizuho had taken out a water bottle from her hit bag, and was busy casting a blessing on it to make it holy. Yuko watched, inspired by Mizuho's moving yet silent lips as she cast her hand over the water. Yuko had also found a crucifix on the table next to the bed, and she was beginning to feel a lot safer. She had also taken Mizuho's gun, though she didn't know why. Mizuho had told her that "The sabre of light is better off with you. I am protected by my purity." And while Yuko hadn't understood, she took the gun, and nodded, though she didn't intend to use it.

Mizuho looked up. "This water is now pure and blessed with the favour of the Gods." she said.

Yuko nodded. For a moment, she could swear Mizuho had said Gods instead of God, but she must have misheard.

"Are you ready, disciple of light?"

"Yes, I am truly ready!"

Kazuo had just finished preparing the rice when the door to the bedroom burst open. He looked up curiously to see Yuko and Mizuho standing in the doorway, both looking determined.

"Greetings Mizuho Inada, girl number 1." Kazuo said in monotone. "Yuko Sakaki, have you now relieved yourself?"

"Silence daemon!" Mizuho screeched, opening the lid of the bottles water. "Do not mock a warrior of light!"

Kazuo tilted his head to the side. She appears to be delusional. How interesting.

"Leave this body!" Yuko cried, tears pouring down her face as she raised the crucifix. "You have no place in God's creation!"

Mizuho rose up as tall as she could, before waving the bottle around, sending droplets of the blessed water flying around the room.

"I vanquish thee, oh pitiful daemon, in the name of Ahura Mazda! The power of light compels you!"

"Ahura Mazda." Kazuo repeated. "A figure from the mythology of Zoroastrianism."

"Mythology?" Mizuho screamed angrily. "Did you just say mythology?"

Yuko had shrunk back a little, clutching the crucifix to her chest. Mythology! Blasphemy! Mizuho was a heretic all along! Oh, what have I done?

"Ahura Mazda is not mythology! She shall cast down her revenge on you for this scorn!" Mizuho screamed passionately, advancing on Kazuo, who simply gazed at her.

"I am not aware of scientific proof of religion." he said calmly.

Mizuho sneered, and threw the remaining water at Kazuo.

She gazed in wonder as the golden liquid flew forward, forming the shape of a holy arrow as it did so. It smashed into the scaly daemon, extinguishing the foul fire of it's mouth.

The daemon screamed in anguish as it's very skin was burnt by the purity of the holy water, before smoke began to gather. Huge puffs of smoke, whirling around the daemon in a tornado of redemption! A holy example of justice! Mizuho screamed gleefully. I can feel it! I can feel the power of Ahura Mazda! I can feel it running through my body!

Pelephion called down from the heavens to her. Ahura Mazda has accepted you as the holy warrior! You have fulfilled your destiny! You are the daughter of her holy destiny!

"Yes! Yes!" Mizuho shrieked.

It is done... Lucien whispered.

Mizuho gazed at the daemon once more. But there was no daemon anymore, just a handsome youth, dressed in the traditional robes of the passage of manhood. Mizuho smiled. "It is done..." she repeated.

Kazuo looked down at his wet clothes, and then up at Mizuho, who was standing between him and Yuko, gazing up at the ceiling, and looking as if she was about to loose balance. Her limbs moved without grace, angled oddly, as if she was beginning to loose control of her body. She was dribbling from the nose and the mouth.

"I am the chosen one..." Mizuho gurgled happily.

"Heretic!" Yuko said in a deep and grining voice from behind her, sounding as if she herself was possessed. "I trusted you and you were a heretic..."

Mizuho wobbled, almost as if trying to turn and face Yuko.

But then Yuko erupted in a fit of absolute hate. "A dirty! Filthy! Heretic!" She screamed, her voice echoing unpleasantly around the clinic as she raised Mizuho's gun, and began firing it at her. "A traitor! You are Judas incarnate!"

Mizuho could feel the bullets fly through her, but it hardly mattered anymore.

Make me one with the light...

Now, the holy trinity answered in unison. Prexia Dickanne, you shall be lifted up and make at one with the light. Feed from the holy light of Ahura Mazda, the divine creed has been fulfilled. You have passed the great test...

Mizuho's body fell over with a sickening thud. What interested Kazuo more than anything was the fact that Mizuho's face was still smiling, as if she was the happiest girl in the world.

I am one with Ahura Mazda! I am the daughter of light!

Yuko was shaking in the corner, sweat dripping from her face as the gun fell from her hands and clattered against the floor. Heretic... An apostate of hell...

She gazed up at Kazuo. "I thought you were the daemon but it was her... I had to, didn't you see? She was an apostate of hell... I had to shoot... it was God's will..."

Kazuo didn't respond.

"You saw!" Yuko shrieked. "It was God's will! You saw that! Tell me you saw it!"

It took Kazuo a while to respond, as he stared at Yuko with mild interest. "Rice?" he asked coldly.

----- H6

Kazushi Niida had been hiding out at the Farmer's Association Building. As far as he was concerned, it was just a huge shed full of crap you'd use on a farm. Nothing of any use to him at least. That was a pity really, considering his weapon was only a pencil sharpener, something he hadn't bothered to keep hold of.

He hadn't run into anyone either, apart from Kayoko's corpse outside the school. He didn't know anything about Battle Royale, so he had no idea what the chances of him having met someone by now was. He hadn't met any friends like Yoji or Ooki, and no enemies either, like Sugimura. What a cock. Thinks he's so fucking tough just coz he does martial arts. Only reason girls like him and not me is coz of martial arts. Who cares! It's all faggy...

Nor had he met Chigusa. Kazushi smiled. Oh, now that bitch has it coming! He was simply dying to find her. Just to get his own back...

"All those kids in class C think we're going out..." Kazushi muttered as he passed Chigusa's desk.

She smiled up at him with sarcastic sweetness. "Good for them... do they think Kazuo and Yuka are going out too?"

Kazushi sneered. "What the hell is your problem? Why you always got to act like you used an icicle as a dildo and it got stuck?"

Chigusa laughed cynically. "Get a clue Niida..."

"Thinks she's so fucking high and mighty..." he muttered under his breath angrily. "Stupid bitch..."

However, an electronic cracking sound broke his malicious thoughts. He stared up. "What the fuck?"

"Good morning class! I do so hope you all had a lovely night!"

Kazushi smiled, and reached out for his map and class list. Let's see who I've beaten now then...

"Not a bad start to a game, though I hope you intend to all try harder! Let's start with the list of those who have unfortunately failed this class! The boys..."

Kazushi could hear Kamon rustling some papers, evidentially trying to find the right list. "Hurry up..." he muttered.

"Number 4! Toshinori Oda!"

Down goes froggy!

"Number 10! Ryuhei Sasagawa!"

One of Kazuo's bum chums! Good riddance to that cock...

"And last for the boys, number 12! Yutaka Seto!"

Damn! Hiroki's still alive... stupid cunt...

"Now for the girls! We start with Number 1, Mizuho Inada!"

Kazushi nodded in remembrance of the time he had asked her out, and she had told him he was not pure enough. Same as the rest of them... thinks she's so much better... I guess not hey Inada? Ha ha!

"Number 2! Yukie Utsumi!"

She was fit... Oh well, she wasa bitch too.

"Number 8! Kayoko Kotohiki!"

Well duh!

"Number 11! Mitsuko Souma!"

Jesus Christ! Someone took down hardcore? Sweet!

"Number 12! Haruka Tanizawa."

Kazushi's face screwed up. Ugh! Feminists! Good riddance!

"Oh, and silly me! It looks like I've left someone off the list! Girl number 4, Sakura Ogawa! That's it! 34 of you to go! Now, danger zones!"

Kazushi flipped the class list around to the map on the other side.

"From 7, H7!"

Kazushi cursed, realising that meant he had an hour to move. "Aww you tit!"

"From 9, F3, and from 11, G9!"

The speakers were turned off, and sneering, Kazushi got up and began to walk out of the farmer's association.

BOYS

#1 Yoshio Akamatsu
#2 Keita Iijima
#3 Tatsumichi Ooki
#4 Toshinori Oda
#5 Shogo Kawada
#6 Kazuo Kiriyama
#7 Yoshitoki Kuninobu
#8 Yoji Kuramoto
#9 Hiroshi Kuronaga
#10 Ryuhei Sasagawa
#11 Hiroki Sugimura
#12 Yutaka Seto
#13 Yuichiro Takiguchi
#14 Shou Tsukioka
#15 Shuuya Nanahara
#16 Kazushi Niida
#17 Mitsuru Numai
#18 Tadakatsu Hatagami
#19 Shinji Mimura
#20 Kyouichi Motobuchi
#21 Kazuhiko Yamamoto

GIRLS

#1 Mizuho Inada
#2 Yukie Utsumi
#3 Megumi Etou
#4 Sakura Ogawa
#5 Izumi Kanai
#6 Yukiko Kitano
#7 Yumiko Kusaka
#8 Kayoko Kotohiki
#9 Yuko Sakaki
#10 Hirono Shimizu
#11 Mitsuko Souma
#12 Haruka Tanizawa
#13 Takako Chigusa
#14 Mayumi Tendou
#15 Noriko Nakagawa
#16 Yuka Nakagawa
#17 Satomi Noda
#18 Fumiyo Fujiyoshi
#19 Chisato Matsui
#20 Kaori Minami
#21 Yoshimi Yahagi