Ambie: Sorry for the delay. I got new computer and getting all 13 gigs of old crap onto this was taking awhile.

Kit: It would help if 1/3 of that weren't music…

Saren: Got something against music shark bait?

Kit: No ma'm…

Ambie: Right… (puts on headphones and gets to work)

Disclaimers

It's chapter 3. We get the point by now right? I don't own Battle Royal, Furuba, or Azumanga Daioh.


"Chiyo-chan!" Osaka called. "The sun's gonna set soon. Don't leave me alone!"

"Osaka-san!" Chiyo whispered from behind a corner. When she got Osaka to see her she quickly signaled the older girl over.

"Chiyo-chan, I'm so glad to see ya. I thought I was alone and gonna die and… and…"

Without any warning Osaka started to sob. Tomo who had still been trying to joke the bad feeling away was very sobered by Osaka's tears. She never cried over anything, if only for the reason that she was too air headed. The gravity of the situation seemed intensified by just that simple an act.

"Osaka-chan." Yomi began after a while. "I understand your worry. I'm close to having a complete meltdown myself, but we have to keep it together at least until we're safe."

"How do we get safe on this island where everyone is a potential murderer?" Sakaki asked.

"We isolate ourselves as fast as we can. Maybe we can all live somewhere peacefully until it's all over…"

"Since we are going to die anyway, I'm glad it'll be with you guys."

All of them simply gave a sad nod and stood in silence, all thinking of Kaorin and the devices on their necks. It was Chiyo who finally spoke up.

"We should head for a high place and see if there is shelter on the island somewhere."

"Sure, but only if the high place has trees. We all have different weapons and I'm sure guns are somewhere in the mix. If someone with good aim spots us, we're dead meat."

"Ok. We have to keep a pace too. Remember, we need to get out of this area in an hour. A fast walk for you guys will be a jog for me but my endurance is good."

"If you get tired, Kagura and I will take turns carrying you since we're the strongest."

"Ah… Fine. Only since our lives are at stake."

With that they started off in the direction of sunset, hoping they would something as small as a cave where they could be safe for the night.


"Motoko-sempai!" Minami called. "Motoko-sempai, since we three of Yuki's fan club are here we should protect Yuki. We swore to die for him, and we will!"

Motoko felt her stomach tighten. Who did Minami think she was? She had no right to protect Yuki. Just like that Honda Tohru had no right to change Yuki's dark smile to a warm and sincere one. She was on the list of those she would kill here.

"We will protect Yuki." Motoko said, turning to Mio and Minami. "What do you two have for weapons?"

"Ah… I have a gun." Mio said. "A pistol I think."

"I have smoke grenades." Minami said. "I can't tell if they're poison but they are definitely gaseous. What about you Moto…ko?"

Mio and Minami had set their bags down and gone through them. When they found their weapons, their eyes had been on each others hands and not on Motoko. The girl was now gone and they both stood tentatively and walked over to what they did see: her bag. As they knelt, Mio suddenly fell forward.

"What's the matter you klutz? Cant kneel without going off balance?"

Minami fought back an urge to scream as she saw a stabbing wound in Mio's back. Even if she was alive, she was paralyzed. She turned quickly enough to have a glimpse of Motoko holding what looked like a ceremonial dagger in her hand. She got a great view of the blade just before it ran through her left eye and into her brain, hitting a nerve somewhere so that she jerked violently even though she had been killed on impact.

"You two weren't worthy to protect Yuki. Minami, you were too stupid to understand the color code of these grenades… Mio, you're a scaredy cat and still you never even thought to run when I went out of sight. You are both too ignorant to love, understand, or protect Yuki."

Motoko picked up their weapons and her bag, grabbing some of their water while she was at it. Silly Mio had already emptied her first bottle.

"I'll go kill that bitch Honda myself, her witch and Yankee too. A bullet can kill anything…"

Motoko carried the pistol at the ready, hoping she got a clear shot at Tohru since her aim wasn't all that good. If she got too close to them that would spoil it just as badly, because the witch would sense her. This needed to be done carefully…


"Kyo-kun..."

Kyo shook his head softly but apologetically. He was not in the mood for anything or anyone, not even Tohru. Right now he wanted to find a spot where Shisou could be buried quietly.

"Well what's the plan?" Yuki asked.

"We need to get far away from here…" Hana said softly, her eyes closed. "The waves tell me that there are dangerous people being born close by… There are too many too close for me to tell exactly where they are but, I'll try to keep us safe."

"Thank you Hana-san." Kagura said softly, slightly dazed from it all.

"It's so quiet…" Tohru whispered.

"You'll jinx it if you say that." Akito whispered back.

Almost on cue, a bullet came from the tree line and grazed Kisa's arm. Arisa immediately began shouting.

"Everyone scramble! Groups of at least 3, different directions, and we meet later at the center of the island! Go!"

There was a slight confusion before a second round went off that probably would've killed Kyo if he wasn't carrying Shisou. That set everyone running like scared deer. Kyo, Yuki, Hiro and Momiji headed very slightly to the left of the direction Tohru, Kisa, Arisa, and Hana went. Akito, Hatori, went the opposite way with Ayame, Kagura, and Hatsuharu widening the gap between them on the right. A scream made them all run faster though some looked over their shoulders to see Tohru had been shot in her shoulder and was straining to keep upright through the haze of pain. Only Hana and Arisa's help kept her that way. Others tried to come but Hana's waves made them run for now was not the time to stop. The groups all vanished into the woods, hoping in the dim light that they didn't run into any of those other dangerous people Hana had mentioned.


Kit: I thought you said the children were going to die horrible deaths?

Ambie: I never said it would be in this chapter

Saren: K..Kisa-chan... Motoko shot Kisa-chan!

Ambie: Oh come now. Kisa is the innocent, adorable, "never did anything to anyone" character that speak in 3rd person with everyone but herself. You know she has to suffer.

Kit: Cruel... Too cruel...

Ambie: Why? They're all expendable anyway. e.e

Saren & Kit: (gonk)