A/N: I wanted to give this story the ending it deserved and tried my very best, and I for one am super proud.
It's been an emotional ride writing this version of Gantz' end, and I really hope you enjoy these last two chapters.
The players stared at the visible large alien vessel with anxiousness, wondering if anyone else in the city below could see it too; did they make themselves known already, or was it just like before when the aliens were only visible to those who were part of Gantz? None of it would matter if the vessel began attacking. What kind of vessel was it anyway? The shape and structure of it certainly didn't look like your ordinary alien spaceship, but then again, this would be the first time they'd ever seen one in real life, and the aliens had come in all kinds of forms over the time spent fighting for the Gantz ball, so this might just be their version of a ship. It was doubtful that any other city could see the vessel even if it were visible to ordinary people since it appeared too close over Tokyo Tower, which gave them slight relief that their families would be safe for now as long as they destroyed it quickly.
"I thought we still had two days left! From when you guys told me, I'm positive the days aren't up yet," Ryo shouted; it was abundantly clear he was entering a full-blown panic mode, to which Nishi, Yoko, and Jiro were used to from the time spent with him on missions; it was just the way he dealt with any impending danger.
Without taking his eyes off the vessel outside, Nishi's lips curled up slightly with amusement. "He probably has a calendar with each day marked with a red cross or something lame like that." Nishi had forgotten when it was that he'd started to converse with his team as though they really were his friends, the type that bantered with one another but was always there to help you out in dangerous times. The feeling was still new to him, but since his breakdown in the motel, Nishi had gradually tried his best to come to terms with what might be a permanent part of his life, well, for however long it might last since they could possibly be facing the end of the world.
"Well forgive me for trying to stay prepared! I kinda like to remember the day I'm going to die thank you very much!"
Yoko huffed, never realizing how Ryo was such a pessimist. "No one said anything about you dying you know."
Ryo looked at the vessel; surely that wouldn't be a target they'd have to destroy; how were they supposed to do that with the kind of weapons Gantz provided. "Well I don't wanna get my hopes up."
Kurono tried not to think about Sei and that she wouldn't be with him at the end. He wouldn't let on to his team how seeing the cause of this so-called Katastrophe more than unnerved him because as boastful as it sounded, Kurono knew he was their most vital player and that they might not make it without him. "Okay, that's enough. We've got bigger problems than Ashi's cliche calendar."
Kato turned away from the window to face Gantz, which appeared to be motionless for the time being, and even that was odd since they'd just come back from a mission. "Do you think our calculations were wrong?"
The rest of the team turned their attention to the ball, and Kishimoto hunched her shoulders, having sworn she didn't make a mistake. "If they are, then I'm sorry about that."
Nishi walked forward and knelt beside the ball to reach inside where the man's neck was. "I'd be more willing to bet that Gantz got it wrong." Nishi pinched the nape, glancing up at the surprised look on Kishimoto's face, and rolled his eyes. "Don't get the wrong idea, big tits, I was just pointing out the obvious, I wasn't at all defending you."
Kishimoto frowned but didn't reply.
Nishi stood up to read the screen on the ball, frowning at the display.
172800.
Nishi scoffed; clearly, Gantz wouldn't admit such a mistake...unless there was something he didn't know about. Nishi was well aware that Izumi might not have told him everything, and the fact it was the first time in quite a while that he didn't know what was going on.
Jiro tilted his head in thought and then chuckled. "This might be a long shot, but what if that vessel up there was some type of alien bomb set to explode to take us out."
Ryo's eyes widened. "What? That's insane! You seriously think that thing is some kind of explosive?"
Nishi shrugged; huh, he hadn't realized he'd missed the old man's military mind until now; Jiro always gave the situation a new perspective, and it was usually quite logical. "Makes sense."
Ryo turned to face Nishi. "Seriously?"
Kurono frowned and curled his hands into fists. "Then all we have to do is destroy it first."
Ryo huffed a laugh, not quite believing it all. "Oh sure, yeah, piece of cake."
Yoko shook her head; the plan sounded easier said than done.
Kato linked his hand with Kishimoto, letting her know in his own way that they would be okay. "So even if that's true, what happens now?"
Nishi looked at the ball with a deadpan expression. "We're about to find out."
Most of the team gasped at Gantz's display.
Okay, time for your scores.
"It's still scoring us? Why does that not sit well with me all of a sudden?" said Ryo nervously.
Kato pointed toward the bottom; something new was typed there. "And look, it says, final score, but what does that mean?"
Kishimoto tightened her hold on Kato's hand. "Well, this is supposed to be the end of the world, maybe this is our final time we'll have to come here."
Kato nodded, unsure what to say.
"Let's hope so," Jiro replied.
Nishi and Kurono exchanged knowing glances, neither willing to voice their opinions.
*Flashback*
Kurono sighed, stepping out of his apartment, shuffling into a sweater as he pulled the door shut and looked at Nishi, who was leaning against the railing by the staircase. Kurono stepped in front of the frowning teen, both their breaths visible in the night air. Why is he always this annoyed when we meet up, it's not my fault; he's the one calling me so late. "What's up? I was kind of in the middle of-"
Nishi grimaced instantly. "Don't finish that sentence, I don't care to know what the hell you were doing with her, I maybe sick, but other peoples sexapades do not turn me on, boner boy."
Nishi could see the blush spread quickly on Kurono's face despite the dim lighting and grinned slightly.
"What the fuck! No! I wasn't going to say that!"
In that instance, Sei appeared in the doorway, wearing only a sports bra and tiny shorts. "Kei? What are you doing out here, is everything alright?..." Sei smiled when she noticed Nishi. "Oh, sorry, I didn't realize you were here Nishi." Sei quickly ducked back inside as if sparing Nishi the embarrassment of seeing her in such revealing clothes.
Nishi clicked his tongue. "Sure you weren't," he replied to Kurono's earlier statement.
Kurono groaned a little and shook his head. "Whatever. Anyway, why did you call? It's gotta be important if you're the one requesting to meet. So what is it?"
"I wasn't going tell you, but given how much time is left, and how things have changed so much, it's probably better that you know everything. It isn't like if I didn't tell you'd never find out, but the more time you have to prepare, the better."
Kurono frowned, suddenly feeling skeptical. "Go on."
Nishi finally revealed to Kurono information about the perfect score and how that could be the key to everything returning to normal. The only part he left out was what Izumi had planned if he ever received the option. Nishi simply made it clear that it had to be Kurono, and as much as Nishi wanted to go home, he knew that even he couldn't be trusted to have it. Nishi didn't know how the perfect score worked between each Gantz ball; they were all trying to defeat the same thing, but unfortunately, only one player received the 'reward,' which made things more complicated. Although Nishi suspected only Izumi, himself, and now Kurono knew about the reward, what else could happen to them if anyone else managed to receive it? Nishi knew from much experience what most players who came to the room were like, so as much as it surprised him, the only one he trusted to have it was Kurono; he was their key to freedom. Nishi didn't know what to expect when they got to the location Gantz would send them; was Izumi so desperate that he'd try to stop them from gaining the perfect score? If so, was keeping his goal a secret the right thing to do?
"I see," Kurono said after a moment of silence between them. "Just who the hell is this Izumi anyway? And why is he helping you?"
"How the fuck should I know." Nishi suspected Izumi never saw revealing his information as helping. He's probably only telling me these things just to piss me off. Nishi then grinned at Kurono's defensiveness. "Why, are you jealous, Kei-Kun?"
Nishi chuckled when Kurono grew even more annoyed. "Fuck off. I just wondered if we can even trust him, he sounds like he's got an ulterior motive to me."
Nishi tilted his head and looked at Kurono incredulously. "Haven't we all?"
Kurono frowned. "Not when we're all supposed to be aiming for the same thing. I think we should be cautious encase he tries anything like that biker did."
Nishi frowned when he noticed Kurono tense. "What biker?"
Kurono sighed. "Okay, but don't get mad now cause he's dead anyway, right?"
Nishi bared his teeth. "Kei!"
Kurono held his hands up. "It was the fat one, Haruya, back on the Buddha mission. He's the reason you couldn't escape that temple cause he locked you in, thinking if he just let the time run out, he wouldn't get hurt and could escape easily. I guess in a way he was helping the aliens rather than us."
Nishi glared angrily. "Are you fucking kidding me? Were you just never going to tell me that?"
Kurono was annoyingly calm. "I didn't think it mattered since the fuck died anyway. I swear, if he had survived, I would have told you."
Nishi curled his hands into fists, trying to calm down; it was months ago now, and it wasn't like Kurono or any of the others were to blame, so it could hardly be considered as a betrayal. In fact, Nishi shouldn't even be that surprised. Nishi breathed deeply, trying not to let yet another reason he almost died because of a Gantz player aggravate him; they didn't have time to let anger fester anymore.
"Sounds like this perfect score is pretty important, and I still don't understand why it has to be me, but I'll make sure it happens."
Nishi couldn't explain it either; he just knew Kurono was the only trustworthy one among them to set things right. Call it a strong instinct, but that's how he felt.
*End of flashback*
Kurono. 35 points.
Finished.
Kato-cha. 10 points.
Finished.
"What's happening?" Kato asked when they noticed the less descriptive scores.
Kill bill (lol.) 16 points.
Finished.
"Is it really the end?" Kishimoto asked. "I mean, is this our last score?"
Flat chest. 23 points.
Finished.
Old man. 15 points.
Finished.
Hippie. 5 points.
Finished.
Ryo pulled a sour face. "Still going with the hippie huh?"
Nishi. 102 points.
Finished.
100 points menu.
Be free with your memory erased.
Receive a powerful weapon.
Resurrect a player from Gantz's memory.
"You got a hundred points, congratulations," Jiro commented.
Nishi grimaced at the statement, still not quite believing he still couldn't go home. "Wouldn't be the first time," he muttered. Nishi looked at Kurono. "I hope you know better than to think I would revive that girl of yours."
Kurono frowned but nodded; after all, Nishi had said from the start he never wanted Yoko here, but he did it anyway. "No, I don't expect that."
"Good." It annoyed Nishi to think that Togo would have gotten a hundred points too if he'd survived the mission, therefore, another weapon. "Gantz, I choose option two."
Nishi's eyes widened when the new weapon appeared in his hand, and he grinned with excitement. "That's more like it." The gun was large compared to the x-gun, and it's handle paralleled the barrel, but it seemed that the same two triggers still applied.
Kurono also regarded the weapon with equal excitement. "Whoa, look at the size of it."
Ryo couldn't believe it either. "That looks powerful, holy shit. It looks heavy too; I think you'd need the suit just to carry the thing."
Nishi shrugged. "You're just jealous."
Ryo scoffed. "Hardly."
"Alright, so what are we going to do about that?" Kurono pointed outside.
Nishi turned to face the ball. "Looks like Gantz is already ahead of you."
The team gasped when Gantz began to inform them of what seemed like another mission, but they knew this was no ordinary mission, and whatever they had to deal with, it would decide not just their fate but the entire world. "Never thought we'd have to fight for anyone other than ourselves before," Ryo said nervously. "It's a lot of pressure, don't you think?" The team looked at him with an almost annoyed expression. "Well, I mean, I know I haven't really got anyone to fight for, and I know it sounds selfish, but why am I risking my life?"
Yoko knew Ryo had a point; if they had a choice, would she be willing to risk her life for people she didn't care about? Yoko looked at Nishi. She would fight this mission for him, regardless if she had a choice. "The fact is that Gantz is still in control, and until we complete this mission, we can't decide anything."
Ryo huffed. "I know that, but what if we do, what then?"
Jiro frowned with determination. "We'll just have to survive and find out."
Kurono looked at Nishi.
"Even if we all die, as long as you survive, everything will return."
Kurono gritted his teeth. Shit.
Gantz began to transfer them from the apartment with their weapons to hand and suits intact.
The team appeared in an open area of what they assumed was the vessel set to destroy their world below, so to speak; they had no real way of knowing what this vessel really had planned and whether or not it truly was a bomb set to explode within the two days remaining. It didn't matter if Gantz never punished them for not completing this mission because they had no more points to take away, the consequences were much more significant now.
"Better keep our focus, anything could attack us in here," Kurono said as he took the lead and the team made their way across the area to the narrow corridor ahead.
The corridor led into another open space, presumably the next room, and to their surprise, a trail of bodies scattered around, but no aliens or even civilians; the bodies appeared to be other Gantz players.
"The fuck?" Kurono looked around as they slowly made their way forward.
"That's a whole lotta dead players," remarked Ryo, causing the others to face him. "What?"
Kato looked at them with a grave expression. "I guess we weren't the only team sent here."
Jiro nodded. "Question is, what killed them?"
Kishimoto stepped close to Kato, wondering what they were up against and if she would survive.
"Who cares," Nishi said as he stepped over a body and walked on.
Kurono sighed; the situation was looking bleak already. "Come on," he said, sparing a glance at the bodies of other Gantz players.
Upon the next room, they discovered fewer players, who appeared to be entangled in thick cables, some embedded deep into their skulls. Ryo grimaced. "They never had a chance."
Yoko and Kishimoto covered their mouths, making sure to stay alert. "Does anyone get the feeling these people fell into traps?" Kishimoto asked as she carefully walked past the tangled bodies, avoiding the walls at all costs.
Kato nodded. "Certainly looks that way."
Ryo gulped. "You mean like - booby traps?"
Nishi stopped when they came to a closed door. "Certainly died quick enough."
Kurono stepped beside Nishi, studying the solid metal-like door, and grinned. "Bet you're kinda pumped to try that new weapon out."
Nishi simply replied with a slight grin before grasping what he assumed was the handle, but Jiro stopped him.
"If we're right about the traps, we should proceed with caution."
Nishi removed his hand and said, "It looks like the other Gantz players have already disabled the traps for us. I guess it's a good job they went first, isn't it." Jiro sighed in agreement but still insisted they tread carefully regardless. "Fine, if you're that worried, we'll send Ryo first." Nishi smirked.
Ryo glared and vigorously shook his head. "Fuck you Nishi!"
"We don't have time for this, we're gonna have to face something eventually, so it might as well be now," Kurono said, causing Nishi to step back further as he pulled the metal door across quickly, and the team immediately lifted their weapons.
Slowly making their way inside the large area, they noticed how eerily quiet it was, expecting to run into aliens by now. "Maybe another Gantz player has already taken some out," Kato suggested.
"Then where are the bodies?" Yoko asked.
"Trap gun," Nishi stated bluntly.
"If that's the case then couldn't we just stay here where it's safer?" Ryo asked, clutching his gun to his chest.
Nishi rolled his eyes. "Why the hell is he even on this team," he muttered, looking for anything specific to tell them which way to go next. "Kei," he suddenly said and pointed to a small round hole toward the edge of the room.
Kurono's lips curled upward, feeling adrenaline start to kick in. "Looks like that's our route to ending this."
As the team proceeded toward the hole, they suddenly whirled around when a painful gasp sounded behind them. Jiro's eyes widened when he saw a sword sticking out from Ryo's chest. "Ryo!"
Yoko held her hand out in anger. "No!"
Nishi stepped forward, surprise etched on his face. "What the-"
Kato glared at the scene as blood trickled from Ryo's mouth. "But - how?"
Ryo fell to the ground with a light gasp when the sword retracted, causing his team to raise their weapons to the seemingly invisible target. Suddenly, Ryo's attacker appeared slowly from a fuzz of static. "What took you guys so long? I guess Tokyo's Gantz ball transferred its players last, probably due to the last mission. I bet you barely made it," the sly male voice chuckled.
Nishi's eyes narrowed slightly. I should have known. "Izumi," he said, almost calmly.
Kurono looked at Nishi and then back to the new player. "This is Izumi?"
Nishi nodded.
Kurono gritted his teeth. "Do you think I'll just let you get away with attacking a member of my team you asshole?"
Nishi tensed; he knew one of them would try something, but they couldn't afford to let that someone be Kurono, and Nishi had no idea what Izumi was fully capable of.
"Why! Why attack us if we're on the same side! I don't understand!" Kato shouted.
"Kato, shut the fuck up," Nishi gritted out. He hadn't anticipated that Izumi would actually attack them to guarantee his perfect score.
Izumi's eyes locked onto Nishi, and he smirked. "Nishi knows."
All eyes were on the young teen, but the boy just continued to glare at the tall male.
Kurono turned to face Izumi. "Does this have something to do with the perfect score?"
Izumi's smirk dropped for a moment. "Oh, you told them, I see, how strangely disappointing. I thought you were the every-man-for-himself type, but I guess I was wrong. Too bad. Don't worry, I might consider you for my game later." Izumi grinned and then looked at Kurono. "You too." Kurono tensed, eyes slightly wide. Izumi chuckled. "Just imagine the two of you fighting to the death, wouldn't that be something?"
The team glared at Izumi, slightly unnerved by the newcomer's behavior. "What the hell is wrong with you!" Kato shouted.
"As for the rest of you, none of you interest me in the slightest." Izumi raised his sword and stabbed it through the back of Ryo's neck. Yoko and Jiro seethed at the death of their teammate, stepping forward immediately to exact revenge. "I admit killing aliens is a lot more fun than killing humans, but I guess it doesn't matter."
Kato's eyes glistened for a moment. "What - what kind of person are you?"
"Nishi, Kurono, Kato, Kishimoto, you should go ahead while you still can," Jiro told them as he took another step forward.
Kurono raised a fist. "Don't be stupid old man!"
Yoko nodded, sharing a knowing smile with Jiro. "He's right."
Nishi frowned and grabbed Yoko's hand to force her to face him. "Do you want to die again?"
Yoko smiled. Nishi, there's a lot I wish I could say to you, but every time I go to it sounds corny, and I laugh. I want to believe that we'll be okay, and who knows, when this is all over, we might meet again, and even if we don't, it'll be enough just knowing you're okay. "I have some revenge to exact, and you have an alien to kill."
Nishi pursed his lips. "Revenge?"
Yoko shrugged and holstered her weapon. "He was annoying at times, but he was my teammate, and nobody hurts my team."
Nishi released her hand. "Whatever, idiot."
"I see you got a new weapon," Izumi shouted to Nishi. "Little word of warning, providing you don't wanna kill your team, better make sure they're far enough behind you, it's awesomely deadly."
Nishi clicked his tongue; Izumi had clearly got the wrong idea about him. Even though he'd agreed to work with his team, that didn't mean he shared any compassion toward them regarding killing the aliens. "If they're stupid enough to get trapped in the line of fire, then that's their problem."
Kurono just rolled his eyes. "Come on, let's do this!"
"Sugihara!" Kato shouted. Jiro turned around and caught the Gantz sword thrown at him. "Be careful."
Jiro nodded. "I will, Kato. Thank you. And Kurono?"
Kurono turned to the old man. "Yeah?"
Jiro grinned. "Don't let my teammate die, he's the best soldier I ever had the privilege of serving with."
Nishi groaned and huffed. "Shut up, old man!" Nishi shoved Kurono forward when the older teen laughed. "Go now before I hurl."
Jiro unsheathed the blade once the others behind him had dropped into the hole. "I've fought beside Kato enough, so I think I know how this works."
Izumi laughed. "Alright, since there's no time limit, I guess I'll humor you both for a few minutes."
Yoko glared at Izumi. "You should know that both of us have killed humans, so we have no problems killing you."
Izumi shrugged.
...
"I'm starting to believe that maybe it wasn't the alien traps that killed that first team we saw," Kato said as the remaining four made their way below what looked like the last part of the vessel. For him, this was a fitting team; thiswas how it started when he first came to the room after his first mission was over. Him, Kurono, Kishimoto, and Nishi. Although having Nishi on the team like this surprised him, it would be strange not to see the end without him.
The four reached an archway that led into another room, ultimately differentiating from all the rest they'd been in. The room was much lighter, and windows surrounded them, which, they realized, they could see part of Tokyo below.
"Look!" Kishimoto pointed forward once they stepped into the room. An alien stood motionless with the appearance of a human muscular male towering above them.
"Why does it look so human all of a sudden?" Kishimoto asked, her voice cracking with fear.
"Possibly those players we saw back there with wires in their skulls," Nishi bluntly pointed out.
Kurono grimaced. "Oh, gross."
Kato chewed his lip. "If it looks human, then maybe it'll understand." Kato jogged forward. "Listen! We don't wanna kill anyone else! We want to live! We were under control and we never meant to hurt any of you!"
Kurono gasped. "Kato! Don't you think it's a little late for that!"
Nishi gritted his teeth and pulled Kato back roughly by the arm. "What the fuck are you trying to do! Weren't you the one who said it's too late? That no matter what, you would fight as long as we all lived? That killing aliens is inevitable now!"
Kato yanked his arm back. "But Nishi, I have to try, if we get them to leave, then we'd all win!"
Kato just didn't get it. Nishi turned and aimed his new weapon at the alien. "No, we won't, and I'm sure as hell not risking my life trying to negotiate with a fucking alien!"
"No don't!"
Nishi pulled both triggers on his weapon, and a powerful force came crashing down upon the alien in a circle of gravitational energy, flattening the alien and cutting a few inches off the floor around them. "Holy shit," Nishi commented with a short laugh.
Kurono grabbed Nishi by his jacket. "I thought you said the only one to have the perfect score was me," he gritted out. "You could have killed us all!"
Nishi rolled his eyes. "Oh please, gimme a break. The vessel is the real target, not that overgrown alien; our mission is to stop this ship, and if an alien happens to be in the way of that, then I might as well kill it. Who knows, maybe I killed the very last one." Nishi chuckled. "Wouldn't that be something."
Kishimoto shook her head and latched onto Kato, pulling him back toward her before he ended up fighting with the younger teen. "Kato, we have to survive, and if we don't complete the mission, everything will be destroyed. What about Ayamu? You're here to protect Ayamu."
Kato sighed and frowned at Nishi. "Yeah, I am. But at least I can justify my reason for fighting. He just wants to kill aliens."
Nishi's eyes narrowed because little did Kato realize that even though the thrill of killing aliens coursed through him, even he had someone to fight for.
Kurono stepped between them; only he knew the truth. "That's enough, we have a mission to complete, and it's going to take all of us to do it."
...
Izumi chuckled when he sidestepped Jiro's swing and sliced across his abdomen before stabbing him in the back.
Yoko's eyes widened, and tears fell from her face. "No!" She lifted herself onto her elbows, ignoring her injuries as she stumbled to her feet. "I'll kill you!" Yoko jumped toward him with her gun, knocking Izumi to the ground, and pulled the trigger. Yoko suddenly gasped in pain when she realized the blade of his sword impaled her chest. "No..." Yoko choked blood. Izumi smiled despite knowing his suit had been drained of its strength. "Please...Nishi...please live..."
Izumi shoved Yoko off him and gradually got to his feet, suit leaking; his body was not without injuries. "Damn, they were stronger than I thought."
...
Thick wires began to form from the large crater, and soon enough, a machine, similar to the ship, connected itself to its surroundings.
"I guess it's safe to say that's the heart of the ship," Kurono half-joked with a frown on his face.
Kato and Kishimoto stepped back. "What do we do Kei?"
Kurono narrowed his eyes; now he understood, but he'd be damned if he didn't do everything he could to make sure his team survived. "No, we're going back together," he said aloud.
Kato looked at Kurono skeptically. "Kei?"
Kurono tightened his hold on his gun. "Kato, Kishimoto, Nishi, go find a way off this thing. I'll take care of this."
Kato and Kishimoto gasped. "What? No way, Kei! You can't take this thing alone!"
"Please Kurono, don't be stupid!"
Kurono grinned. "I have to be the one to destroy it in order to receive the perfect score." Kurono looked at Nishi. "Right?"
Nishi huffed, wondering if Kurono didn't fully understand what that meant. "Yes, but that means you actually have to survive, idiot."
Kurono looked at the machine. "I'll survive. Count on it."
...
Izumi made his way to the hole the others had escaped through with a grin on his face. "That score is mine."
Izumi's eyes widened when he heard the sound of a Gantz gun behind him and turned to see Jiro on the floor, aiming it at him. "You... I thought..."
Jiro smiled weakly, blood dripping from his mouth. "Don't underestimate me...just because...I'm old..." Izumi's body split in two as Jiro's arm dropped, and the gun fell from his hand before he took his last breath. "Goodluck...Nishi..."
Izumi's eyes glazed over, and the top half of his body twitched. "Looks...like...you'll get...the perfect...score...after all..."
...
"Get going!" Kurono shouted.
Before any of them could comply, wires sprung from the wall to seize whatever was nearest to them, which happened to be Kato and Kishimoto. Nishi jumped away from the wall before it had a chance to grab him too, making a guess the ship was alive somehow. "It's just one giant machine or something," he muttered.
"Kato! Kishimoto!" Kurono ran to help them, but they were pulled further to the wall.
"Kei!" Kato called, trying his best to stop the wires from suffocating him. "Kishimoto! Hold on!"
Kishimoto reached up to grab at the wire that tried to cover her face. "I'm trying!"
Kurono swerved on his heel, aiming his x-rifle. "Let them go!" He fired multiple shots at the machine, barely damaging any of the components.
Nishi frowned. It's not enough; the shell is too strong. Nishi turned and shouted, "Kei, use this!"
Surprise etched on Kurono's face when Nishi gave him the new weapon, but this was no time to stand in awe; if they didn't end the machine, the ship would self-destruct and kill everyone. If I can destroy it now, it might free Kato and Kishimoto in time.
"You humans brought this on yourselves," the machine suddenly spoke. "We defended ourselves because you decided to kill us, and now, I will take revenge but ending the suffering caused by you."
Kurono aimed his weapon. "Kato was right, we didn't have a choice. We want to live as much as you. So I'll ask you this once..."
Nishi growled angrily. "Kei! Fucking shoot it now! Do it! Shoot it before it kills us!"
Kurono looked at the machine, then at his friends, who were still struggling against the wires. Kurono looked at Nishi; there was anger on the boy's face, but Kurono could also see the desperation in his eyes. "I'm sorry," he said, turning to face the machine. "But it's us, or you, and my friends deserve to return home."
Kurono pulled the trigger, and another gravitational force slammed down upon the machine.
Nishi sighed. "Finally."
Kurono and Nishi noticed the machine hadn't been destroyed, but it was damaged enough to loosen the wires around Kato and Kishimoto. Kurono smiled at them, relief flooding through him.
"Shoot it again!" Nishi shouted.
Kurono turned to face the automaton once more, but before he had a chance to pull the trigger again, sharp-looking wires burst forth from the machine, heading straight for Kurono.
"Kei lookout!" Kato shouted, trying to free himself.
"Kurono!" Kishimoto tried the same.
"Fucking dammit!" Nishi jumped forward and pushed Kei out of the way.
Kurono gasped in horror as the wires impaled Nishi's arm, abdomen, and lower chest. "Nishi!"
Nishi coughed blood and fell backward when the wires retracted. Kurono dropped to his side, letting go of the gun to lift Nishi up. "Kei..." Blood trickled down the teen's mouth as he spoke, cringing in pain.
Kurono's eyes were wide with anger, but tears glistened in them. "Why! Why Nishi!"
Nishi tried to laugh but gasped at the pain it caused. "Perfect score...it...has to be...you."
Kurono bared his teeth. "But that didn't mean you had to - fuck! Nishi, I didn't ask you to do that!"
Nishi twitched in Kurono's hold. "Doesn't matter...if you kill it...and live...then...you can...save us."
Kurono tightened his hold. "I don't understand."
"Izumi wanted...to become...Gantz...wanted...to continue...the-" Nishi coughed blood and seethed in pain. "He wanted...to make everyone kill each other...instead of aliens..."
Kurono's eyes widened. "Is that why Izumi tried to stop us? Is that why you wanted me to get the score? But how do I use it? How can I save everyone?"
Nishi's breath became short as though he struggled to breathe. "You'll know..."
Kurono gritted his teeth. "Nishi, hang on, don't die on us! We have to make it back together!"
Kato and Kishimoto managed to free themselves and stared in disbelief. Kishimoto clutched Kato's arm, trying not to cry.
"Just...kill it...then...I can...finally...go home."
Kurono gently laid Nishi down and grabbed his weapon before standing up and facing the machine. Kurono aimed the new weapon, his face full of anger. "I'll fucking kill you!" Kurono suddenly jumped forward and fired the gun multiple times as he descended down to the alien machine.
"Kei!" Kato shouted before turning to Kishimoto and ordering her to run. Kato quickly reached down and pulled Nishi onto his back, with severe hope that he was still alive. "Stay with us," he muttered before running to catch up with Kishimoto.
Kurono was flung into the wall from the explosions but stood quickly and continued to fire the weapon. When the area around him began to cave, and the floor cracked apart as the machine finally blew up, Kurono stopped. "I won't die, no way. I've come too far, and I won't let a bucket of bolts take my chance to put an end to everything we suffered for."
Kurono looked up when he realized that not only was this room collapsing but the entire ship. "The machine disconnecting must have fried the ship's main circuits." Kurono groaned as he ran out of the room. "I can't believe I just said that, I'm such a fucking nerd."
Kishimoto and Kato gasped when they saw the bodies of Yoko and Jiro. "They didn't make it," Kishimoto cried.
Kato glanced at the body of Izumi. "No, but they stopped him."
Kurono jumped up from the hole, causing his friends to jump. "Kato! What are you standing around for! Move your ass!"
The three continued to run, retracing their steps back to their first location. "Kurono, how are we going to escape!"
"I don't know! Just keep running!"
Back to where Gantz had transported them, they stopped to catch their breath. Kato set Nishi down, and Kurono asked, "Is he alive?"
Kato frowned and placed two fingers on Nishi's neck. "I can't tell."
"The ship is collapsing, what do we do?" Kishimoto asked frantically.
They gasped loudly when part of the vessel tore away, revealing the outside, causing a forceful wind to hit them. Kurono turned quickly to them. "We jump!"
"What?!"
Kato stood up. "Kei, are you serious?"
Kurono pointed to part of the vessel that had torn from the ship, slowly making its way to the surface. "On that! Now! hurry up!"
Kato nodded and grabbed Kishimoto's hand. "You got it Kei!"
Kato grabbed hold of Kishimoto and jumped, using the suit to propel far enough to land on the wreckage.
Kurono turned and knelt beside Nishi, but before he could lift him up, Nishi spoke. "Don't..."
Kurono frowned. "I'm not leaving you behind!"
Nishi just about managed to open his eyes. "I won't...survive the jump...anyway."
Kurono slammed his fist on the floor. "Shut up! I'm not fucking leaving you here."
Weakly, and with a gasp of pain, Nishi unholstered the x-gun from the holdall on his pant leg. "Go...before I kill you."
Kurono almost laughed. "If you kill me, then how will I save us?"
Nishi batted Kurono's hand away. "Fuck off...just...go..."
"No!" Kurono tilted his head up. "Gantz! Come on already! Get us out of here!"
Kato and Kishimoto watched the vessel become smaller as they descended, fear in their hearts as Kurono seemed to have lost his opportunity to escape. "No..." Kato's eyes widened as what was left of the vessel broke apart and exploded. "Kei!"
"Kurono!"
Before the wreckage could descend any further, Kato and Kishimoto found themselves in Gantz's apartment. "We're back?" Kato looked around. "But...where's Kei?"
Kishimoto latched onto Kato. "Kurono..."
Soon, another appeared in the room, and a smile broke out on their faces as Kurono appeared in the room. "Holy shit...I thought I was a gonna for sure."
"Kei! I can't believe it! You made it back!" Kato shouted.
"Kurono, I'm so happy you're safe."
Kurono smiled. She's still hot. "Thanks." Kurono suddenly gasped, his face becoming solemn. "Nishi?"
Kato and Kishimoto's smile dropped, and Kato shook his head.
Kurono curled his hands into fists. "He...didn't make it..." Kurono collapsed to his knees. "Dammit!"
Kishimoto covered her mouth as tears fell from her face.
Kato sighed, guilt becoming apparent, feeling as though he'd misjudged Nishi.
"What the hell are you idiots crying about? You look pathetic, you know that?"
Kurono, Kishimoto, and Kato snapped their heads up with a gasp. Without them realizing, Nishi had transferred into the room, only to find the rest of his team, to what he could only describe as shamefully crying.
"Nishi!"
Nishi didn't fully understand what they were so happy about, refusing to believe they really were glad he'd survived; it was weird. Nishi looked at Kishimoto, noticing her tears even though she was smiling, and couldn't help but tease her. "You're not about to confess your love for me now, are you?" Kishimoto knew Nishi was referring back to that first mission when he asked her if she fell for Kato so fast since she cried after only just meeting him. Kishimoto was too happy to feel annoyed by the statement and jumped forward to hug the boy. Nishi immediately stepped away from her. "No way, not happening." Kurono and Kato laughed, and soon, all three of them bombarded Nishi with a humorous hug, trapping him in the middle. "Fuck off! I hate all of you, let go you assholes."
The three finally released their other teammate, making him glare at them in warning never to do that again. Their moment of cheer was interrupted by the Gantz ball.
Here is your score.
The four stepped forward, anxious about what was happening.
Kurono.
Perfect score.
The team gasped. "It - it's real, that guy was telling the truth!" Kurono said excitedly.
Nishi sighed in relief, as though he didn't fully believe it.
"Kei, you did it," Kato said with a smile.
Kurono huffed a laugh and scratched his head. "But - what do I say when there are no options?"
Kurono looked at Nishi, who shrugged. "Don't look at me, I didn't expect any of us to survive except you."
Kurono huffed. "Well that's helpful."
A sudden hand reached out from the open Gantz ball, and soon, the man forever inside the black ball crawled out and stood before them. The team stepped back, utter shock on their face. "What the fuck?" Kurono said.
As the Gantz man walked forward, the team stood defensively, and Nishi reached for the x-gun he had forgotten he didn't have anymore. "Shit," he muttered.
"I will not harm you," Gantz told them.
"It spoke!" Kishimoto shouted.
Gantz merely smiled and looked at Kurono. "Kei Kurono, you achieved the perfect score, I have enough energy to complete your request, so please choose."
Kato stepped forward. "Hold on a minute, after everything we've been through, I think we deserve an explanation about all of it."
Nishi sighed in frustration. "Are you that retarded? Gantz's energy is depleting, so who fucking cares about any information."
Strangely, Gantz laughed. "Nishi, Kurono; you two were my favorite players. That's why I chose you both when I initiated the time travel."
Nishi huffed and rolled his eyes. "Great. I'm touched, really."
"Choose," Gantz repeated, looking at Kurono.
Kurono frowned in thought. "How do I put this...man, I feel like I'm making a wish or something."
"Every time I scanned you back into the room, all of your thoughts from the mission are gathered inside me."
Kurono cringed. "What the hell?"
Gantz smiled. "How do you think I knew you lusted after Miss Melons when you first came here?"
Kurono blushed. "That's so embarrassing."
Nishi scoffed. "Not to mention invasive."
Gantz looked at Nishi. "I could not prevent it."
Nishi tried not to think about how Gantz knew that killing the aliens and watching the players die had excited him all those times before, but slightly grateful that Gantz had chosen not to voice that during their scores.
"So how does that help me?" Kurono asked.
"When I scanned you back, I could hear your thoughts, therefore, I know what it is you wanted to choose."
Kurono huffed a laugh. "Heh, how about that."
Kishimoto held Kato's hand. "Does this mean - it's over?"
Gantz continued to stare at Kurono. "Is this your choice?"
Kurono knew what he wanted, and if Gantz had to read his thoughts so he could get it, then he didn't mind. "Yes. And thank you for giving me another chance, all of us, actually."
Gantz smiled and stepped in front of the ball, placing his palm flat on the top before turning back to the team. "Kurono, if I do this, I won't be able to return the four of you back the way you were; you're memories will not be erased and everything involving you will not be fixed."
Kurono smiled. "We're alive, so I think I speak for us all when I say it doesn't matter."
Nishi scoffed. "Is that so?"
Kurono nodded and looked at his team, his friends. "We've been through a lot, and I like to think we've changed in ways that might make us better people. Nishi, Kishimoto, if you two didn't make it, who's to say you wouldn't try suicide again, and Kato, I don't know about you, but I never want to forget our friendship a second time. You and Kishimoto still get to be together too, that's gotta count for something."
Kato smiled with tears in his years. "It does Kei, thank you."
Kishimoto nodded with tears of her own.
Nishi rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
Gantz nodded, and soon, all the deceased players appeared on the black ball before vanishing a few at a time until none were left, and a bright light covered the room momentarily in a blinding flash. When everything returned to normal, the man that had been named Gantz was gone, and all that remained was the ball itself. "Is it really over?" Kato asked.
Suddenly, the black ball began to crack.
Nishi was the first to react as he made a dash for the door. "Time to leave."
The other three quickly followed Nishi out the front door, and they jumped from the railing right before the ball blew up, causing smoke and flames to gust from the door before leaving nothing but charred decor.
...
Kato and Kishimoto ran into their tiny apartment; the sun had already begun to rise in the sky by the time they made it back home, and Ayamu looked up from the television, mid-eating a cracker.
"Ayamu! We're home!" Kato shouted.
Ayamu looked between them and the bedroom in confusion, having sworn they were still asleep. "Where have you guys been?"
Tears formed in Kato's eyes, and he rushed to engulf Ayamu in a hug. "Ayamu, I promise, I'll never disappear again..."
Ayamu chuckled. "Okay."
Kishimoto smiled at the scene with tears of happiness; they were free.
Kurono stepped into his apartment and shut the door. "Same old place I guess." Kurono smiled. "But it's good to be home."
Emiko smiled as the nurse came into her room just as she zipped her case up. "You must be so relieved to be going home," the nurse said, happy for her patient. "We're all proud of your progress."
Even though she smiled, Emiko's smile was full of sadness, still missing her son. "Thank you for all your help."
The nurse bowed before saying, "I wish you well." She then left the room.
Emiko sighed and turned to her bag, reading Nishi's note to say that he was okay.
"Mom?"
Emiko dropped the note in shock and slowly turned to face the doorway. "Joichiro..."
Nishi shakily stepped into the room. "I'm home..."
Emiko's heart hammered in her chest as she slowly walked forward. "Are you...Are you really here?"
Nishi nodded. "I'm here." Tears fell from Emiko's cheeks, too shocked to move, so Nishi closed the gap. "I missed you so much." Finally, Nishi wrapped his arms tightly around his mother, and she didn't hesitate to reciprocate.
"My son...oh my son...I've waited so long for you to come home...I thought I'd never see you again."
Nishi couldn't hold it back anymore as tears fell from his face, and he just cried, finally allowing his emotions to collapse. "Mom!" Nishi clutched the back of her shirt, and they both dropped to the floor. "Mom, I'm sorry...I'm so sorry."
Emiko choked back her sobs, rubbing Nishi's back. "Shhh, it's okay my son, it'll be alright now..."
As Eiichiro stepped up to the doorway holding two coffee cups, he ducked back slightly when he realized his son was there. For a moment, he watched them, not quite believing Nishi had returned, but the happiness on Emiko's face warmed him, and he knew what to do.
He had to leave.
The best way for them to be happy was if he wasn't around to make any more of their lives miserable.
They'd be better off without him, and they could all start a new.
...
Jiro smiled at his wife when she placed their breakfast on the table, watching her pour their tea before suddenly closing a hand over hers. "Jiro-chan? Is everything alright?" Jiro couldn't stop smiling at her; for some reason, it felt as though he hadn't seen her in months.
"I love you, dear."
Kayo smiled with glistening eyes as though she shared the same feeling. "I love you too." They embraced one another and pressed their foreheads together. "Silly old fruit."
...
Ryo huffed as he turned the corner of the street, heading to work like usual. "This time, I'm really going to let my boss have it." As Ryo looked up, he spotted a dog rummaging in a fallen pile of garbage made from a tipped trash can. Ryo stopped and knelt down when the dog looked up at him and barked. "Hey boy, what are you doing out here?" Ryo checked around the dog's neck. "No owner?" Ryo looked around the area to make sure and then smiled down at the canine. "Well in that case," Ryo stood up and held his arms out. "how'd you like to come home with me? I could use the company." The dog barked happily and jumped up at Ryo, wagging his tail.
...
Yoko stretched and swung her legs over the bed; she smiled and made her way out of the room. As she turned to head for the bathroom, something caught her eye. There, on the floor, was what looked to be a broken frame lying face down. "I didn't notice that before." Yoko knelt to turn the frame over and tilted her head in confusion. "Who - who is that?" It was a picture of her and someone she had no recollection of, embraced in a kiss. Yoko stood up and placed a hand on her heart. "I feel like I know this boy - even though I've never seen him before." Yoko moved her fingers over the image with a sad smile.
...
Tetsuo looked away from the computer and sighed when his phone rang, noticing his wife's eyes roll, knowing who was probably calling. Tetsuo frowned as he looked at the phone and answered. "What?" For some reason, hearing Haruya's loudmouth ramble on about shit he didn't want to get involved in didn't appeal to him anymore. His wife's eyes widened when he merely hung up. Tetsuo stood up with a slight grin and pulled her to her feet. "Bout time I grew up," he said and kissed her.
"Yeah," she replied. "About fucking time."
...
Kurono smiled when he saw not one but two familiar people appear on the news, smiling despite the cameras in their faces. It was Hojo and Sadako. "Looks like they got together after all, I guess Gantz really did hear my thoughts."
There was a knock on his door, and he switched off the television; he had planned to stay in bed all day. Kurono shoved on some slacks and then made his way to the door. Kurono's breath hitched in his throat when he saw who was standing outside his door. No way...
Sei smiled with a tilt of her head, wearing the same outfit when he first met her. "Hi. I don''t mean to bother you, but my bike broke down. I was wondering if I could borrow your phone? Mine decided to die on me."
Kurono couldn't help the smile that crossed his lips, and he embraced Sei without thinking.
Surprise etched on Sei's face for a moment before she chuckled. "Oh. Do you greet all the people that come to your door this way?"
Kurono stood back, unable to stop the tears. "No, just you."
Sei raised an eyebrow. "Do I know you? You look familiar...Do you go to the Furuta's bookstore a lot?"
Kurono huffed a laugh. "Yes."
Sei smiled with a hand on her hip. "I thought I saw you there a few times, could never quite decide whether or not to approach you cause you're young."
Kurono couldn't believe it. "Well, I'm almost seventeen so... if you did want to...maybe get a cup of coffee, or see a movie..."
Sei's hand left her hip and waited for Kurono to take it. "I'd like that a lot."
Kurono's smile brightened before grasping her hand.