Three days ago.
Nishi winced when he reached inside his pocket for his motel key, his body ached from moving around too much, and the meeting at the Ratenin temple lasted two hours. Nishi froze when he noticed the door to the room was already open. What the fuck? Nishi was certain he had locked it when coming back for his suit before going to the temple, except that he had left his gun at Kurono's in his other bag since he came straight here after the hospital. Shit. Even though Nishi wore his suit, he had already been injured prior, so he didn't know how the suit would work. Nishi was confident there was an intruder since he technically lived here, so there'd be no reason for the owner to enter the room and never had before.
Nishi pushed the door wider and cautiously stepped into the room. There stood a tall man with long black hair, way too long for a man to have, in Nishi's opinion, at the back of the room near the closet. The man was dressed in slightly baggy pants and a dark-blue waistcoat. "You picked the wrong room to steal from," Nishi said as he stepped further into the room.
When the man finally turned around, he was a lot younger than Nishi expected; early twenties at most, but that didn't matter. The man was an intruder, so Nishi had the right to defend. Before Nishi acted on his instincts, he spotted something awfully familiar showing just under the young man's plain white t-shirt and froze. He has a Gantz suit! But how? Nishi took a step back. This could be bad.
"Don't fret boy. My name is Shion Izumi, and I've come to warn you."
Nishi remained calm, and even though the guy just broke into his room, Nishi was curious about what he had to say for himself. After all, he had a Gantz suit, so attempting to fight him off was risky if the man carried a gun. "Warn me about what?" Nishi curled his hands defensively by his side. "Don't think I don't see what's under your clothes. Just who exactly are you?"
One side of Izumi's lips curled upward. "I told you already."
Nishi scoffed. "Your name means shit to me. Explain to me how you got that."
Izumi chuckled. "Relax, your head won't blow up or anything. I think you of all people would know that. Go ahead and ask me. Ask me how I'm part of the black ball's room."
Nishi's eyes widened slightly. So I'm right. He is a Gantz member. I've never seen him before, so how…
"I guess there are things that even you don't know about. Understandable I suppose."
Nishi pursed his lips. "Don't act like we know each other, and don't tell me what I know. Tell me what you're doing here and why the fuck do you have a Gantz suit on."
Izumi placed his hands on his hips and clicked his tongue. "You really are just a middle-school brat, aren't you."
Nishi was getting pissed with this guy. "Answer me now before I demonstrate the power of my suit and throw your ass out of my room."
Izumi shrugged. "Empty threats since I know you're probably injured. Those reporters and armed forces might be fooled into thinking a wild animal incident occurred, but I know the truth."
Nishi bared his teeth angrily. "You're full of shit, and I'm losing my patience with you."
Izumi raised an eyebrow in amusement. "I saw the news and I got curious, so I used the stealth mode on that handy device from, as you like to call it, Gantz, to hide myself so I could watch without hassle to keep back from the cops and who did I see escaping the building? You and one other, presumably another member."
Nishi couldn't believe it. Son of a bitch. Who the fuck is this guy! "Fine, you saw me. What's your point?"
Izumi rolled his eyes. "I'm not gonna tell anyone; that would just be stupid. I was just shedding some light on what I know since you asked so politely."
Izumi was getting on Nishi's nerves, almost as much as Kato, yet, there were some similarities to Kei. "Then stop fucking around and explain why you came here. Let's start with how the hell you know who I am and where to find me."
Izumi stalked forward slowly, and Nishi turned to face him instantly when the guy shut the door to the room, never wanting to take his eyes off Izumi for a second.
When Izumi turned to lean against the door, he laughed. "Wow, you're really distrusting."
Nishi narrowed his eyes. "That's affluent coming from someone who just broke into someone's motel room."
Izumi placed his hands in his pants pockets. "I admit that was a little unorthodox, but it was the only way I could be sure you wouldn't run away."
Nishi snorted. "What made you think I'd run away?"
Izumi huffed. "Alright, bad choice of words, I'm sure you're a very courageous kid. Just listen already, I came all this way to warn you, so be grateful."
Nishi was sure Izumi was stalling on purpose just to piss him off and didn't take kindly to being on the receiving end of such taunts for a change, that, or he was trying to provoke him into a fight. "Talk," Nishi gritted out, becoming extremely impatient.
Izumi grinned. "That's more like it."
Nishi really wished he had his gun. "How do you know who I am?"
"Good idea, let's start off simple."
Nishi refrained from lashing out, eyes trying to bore holes into the stranger. Does this fuck think I'm some kind of moron? "If you thought I was slow, then you would not have come here. Stop goading me and get on with it already."
Izumi laughed. "Okay okay, you got me." Izumi's face fell into a neutral expression. "Firstly, there is more than one Gantz ball."
Nishi was startled at the information. "How the fuck is that possible?"
Izumi shrugged. "I don't know, but it just is. Tokyo is not the only city with a black ball. Why did you think I had a suit even though you hadn't seen me before?"
Nishi simply stared at him. If that's true, what does that mean? "Are the balls connected?"
Izumi inclined his head up in thought. "Maybe, but I don't think anyone can communicate through the other. I merely think the balls are just placed there with the same set rules. Probably even the same man inside it, sorta like a clone."
"How did you find out about this?"
Izumi smiled. "That's the fun part. I had no idea that another ball existed until I saw your webpage a few months after I was transported to my own Gantz room."
Nishi gasped. He didn't realize anyone had even found the page, let alone read it.
"I have to say, the idea of your page was pretty clever. I was shocked to learn there was another room somewhere out there, but since I was always the only one to come back on missions, it seemed kind of pointless telling anyone and it was kind of fun to read other missions." Nishi didn't know what to say or think and was surprised he hadn't thought about other Gantz balls existing in the first place. "Anyway, that's how I know you."
Nishi frowned, placing his hands in his jacket. "But I posted that page anonymously and didn't expect anyone to really believe it."
"Yeah, but I was obviously already part of Gantz when I found it. And the only reason I found you was because I tracked the IP address to this location from your last update which was last night. Wasn't too hard considering it's just a motel."
Nishi became slightly agitated due to Izumi's shifty personality, that he would go to the trouble of using the IP address and whatever else just to find him, which meant he could have done that at any point. At least it confirms he doesn't know about the skip back in time. "Were you the first into your room?" Nishi didn't know why that was important to know, but he couldn't help being curious; regardless of his own agenda, he was interested in learning more about Gantz.
"There were two others who knew what was going on when I arrived, and they pretty much explained everything to me and the other newbies." Nishi scoffed, causing Izumi to huff a laugh. "I know. I certainly didn't offer the same help once they disappeared. I guess you and I have the same feelings when it comes to newbies."
"Does that mean they reached a hundred points?"
Izumi nodded. "Sure did, but the fools chose to go free." Izumi sighed dramatically. "I don't see why anyone would want to quit such an experience."
Nishi frowned, becoming slightly alarmed though he didn't show it; after all, everyone was entitled to their own opinions on what Gantz was to them. Even though he never denied the excitement for various reasons, it was still a means of survival until he could gain enough points to go back for a second chance to live. Actually, most of the people he knew and had known felt that way. Nishi hadn't met someone who wanted to stay, who would gain enough points to earn freedom only to choose a different option just to stay in the game. We might have the same views regarding new players, and he obviously likes the rush too, but I wouldn't trade my points for anything other than freedom. Still, I guess I can relate on some level.
Izumi shrugged. "It most definitely beats the normal everyday mundane life." The tall male grinned. "Don't you think?"
Nishi nodded, although he was in impartial agreement because the other part of him didn't want to fucking die again and wanted to – just – go – home. "So now that you've told me in great detail how you know me, what's next? Is that what you came to warn me about, the other Gantz balls?"
Izumi laughed and shook his head. "Oh, something much more exciting than that."
Nishi almost sighed; he really just wanted to sleep for once, but there was no way he would let this guy walk out of here now without all the information he could offer. "Go on."
Izumi smiled. "The aliens are becoming more aware of us. They've probably known people like us exist for a while now, and it's only a matter of time."
Nishi frowned. "For what?"
Izumi's eyes widened in excitement. "An invasion."
00:00:19.
00:00:18.
Hojo tilted his head to the side as he looked at the Gantz ball. "Is that thing supposed to be still counting down?"
The team turned their attention to the ball in surprise.
"Why hasn't it stopped?" Kato asked.
Kurono frowned in thought and then gasped. "Kato, on our first mission when we thought you were dead, the Gantz ball didn't stop counting down until all survivors were transported back to the room."
Kato gaped at Kurono. "Really?"
Tetsuo tilted his head. "Then – does that mean someone else is alive, and it's what, looking around?"
Kurono nodded. "I'm sure that's it. Someone else made it."
Kishimoto looked at the ball. "Do you think it's…"
The team stepped back when Gantz began to transport another player into the room. Kishimoto could barely stop the smile on her face when a show of black hair formed, followed by the rest of the body. "You made it!"
Kato and the others gaped in shock, sure that Nishi had died. "You're alive, I can't believe it," Kato said in disbelief.
Nishi almost couldn't believe it either. Nishi looked down at the dog, wondering if it was because of him. His small body warmth must have bought me extra time. Nishi was reluctant to show any kind of gratitude, especially in front of everyone when they were all staring at him, awaiting an explanation that he couldn't possibly give anyway. "Don't sound too surprised," Nishi replied instead with a roll of his eyes. Nishi glanced at Kurono, who looked more than a little pissed at him and suspected it was due to going after the boss on his own again. Whatever, it's not like I give a shit whether he's angry or not. I always went after the boss on missions before. The memories of his days with his team were still fresh in his mind like they happened yesterday. Although I can't deny the aliens were tougher than I expected. That fucking Buddha alien was relentless.
Kurono glared at Nishi despite the relief he felt that the boy had survived. It's like he doesn't care! I made it as clear as I could how dangerous those aliens were, and he still fucking goes off alone! What the hell is the point of teamwork if all he's going to do is piss off to get the best points. Well, I'm not saving him next time. He can just die. Kurono knew that wasn't entirely true and would probably, indeed, help Nishi out if it came down to it, but it still pissed him off.
Okay, here are your scores.
Kato-cha.
0 points.
Total 0 points.
Did you even fire your weapon?
Kato sighed; he was sure he'd gain some points this time.
Kurono felt sorry for Kato. Even though he tried, it would never be enough if he didn't kill anything.
Bikie number 1.
0 points.
Total 15 points.
85 more to go.
Tetsuo scoffed. "Again with the bikie shit."
Dog. (Nishi's new friend.)
0 points.
Total 0 points.
You're good for something after all! Guess that's why they call dogs man's best friend.
Nishi glared at the ball. That was the second time Gantz made a quip at him due to the dog helping him. "Fuck you Gantz! Asshole."
Kurono tilted his head to the side and chuckled. "Nishi's new friend? The hell?"
Nishi bared his teeth. "Shut the fuck up. He's a useless mutt, and I resent the friend remark."
Tetsuo huffed. "Well he got you outta that building pretty well in that Suzuki thingy mission."
Nishi narrowed his eyes. "Fuck off biker trash."
Tetsuo raised a fist. "What'd you say punk?"
Togo stepped in the way, wrapped his hand around Tetsuo's fist, and lowered it without a word, surprising the team with the odd sentiment. Tetsuo backed off reluctantly since the guy was at least a foot taller than him.
Nishi watched with frustration; he didn't need a damn bodyguard!
The fag.
0 points.
Total 0 points.
Hojo growled. "Goddamn it I'm not gay!"
Fag hag.
0 points.
Total 0 points.
The stalker got the stalkee. Good for you
Sadako hunched her shoulders and lowered her head to hide her face behind her hair.
"Oh for the love of… I'm – not – gay!" Hojo looked at the team staring back at him. "I'll prove it!" The males of the team stepped back from him, but Hojo rolled his eyes and turned to face Sadako, lifted her chin up, and lowered his lips to hers. Sadako's eyes widened, and a stray tear fell from her eye. "Don't hide anymore. You're less creepy looking when you don't," he told her with a smile. Sadako nodded.
Nishi grimaced. "Spare me," he muttered with disgust and turned back to Gantz. "Get on with the rest of the scores already."
Yuta.
0 points.
Total 0 points.
Tough chick.
0 points.
Total 0 points.
You totally dig boner boy, haha.
Sei laughed with a hand on her hip as she looked at Kurono. "Well, it's not wrong," she said with a wink.
Kurono scratched his cheek nervously, and a small blush covered his cheeks.
Sniper dude.
4 points.
Total 4 points.
96 more to go!
You got game!
Togo gave a small smile, satisfied with the compliment.
Terminator chick.
4 points.
Total 19 points.
81 more to go.
Hell yeah, it must be a big tits thing.
Kishimoto blinked in surprise. Even though Gantz gave her yet another boob joke, she was happy with her new nickname.
Kurono smiled. "Nice job. Even Gantz can appreciate a tough chick when it has one."
Kishimoto and Sei exchanged smiles and giggled.
Kurono.
15 points.
Total 37 points.
63 more to go.
You don't give up, do you?
Kurono grinned. "Damn straight."
Nishi.
11 points.
Total 106 points!
Congratulations! At last!
Choose from the 100 points menu.
1: Be free with your memory erased.
2: Receive a powerful weapon.
3: Resurrect a player from Gantz's memory.
The team gasped lightly at the new display. "Lucky bastard," Hojo remarked with slight jealously.
"Does – does that mean he doesn't have to come here anymore?" Sei asked Kurono.
Kurono nodded and stepped beside Nishi, clapping a hand on his shoulder. "Well, you did it. Congratulations I guess."
Nishi frowned at the ball. He finally had one hundred points, so he should be happy, but he wasn't.
Kurono grinned. "Don't take this the wrong way or anything, but I don't wanna see you again."
Nishi shrugged Kurono's hand off, and the team watched Nishi stand in front of Gantz, hesitation in his answer for a moment. "Gantz. I choose option two."
A/N: Nishi's alive, yay. :)
Anyway, my brain hurts haha. I really hope you like where my ideas are going with the explanation (They'll be more information soon) I didn't want my story to completely copy the manga, or any of the other storylines, so I tried to make my own spin on it hehe.
Thank you all for your support! Loves you!