Yoko and Jiro returned to the room with less excitement than usual since one of their team members was no longer with them. Even Nishi, who was normally cold toward the others, showed less hostility in his actions. Now there were three of them, and they would have to forget quickly because neither could afford to mourn their loss for long, no matter how they chose to do so. Nishi suspected their misery concerning Ryo's death wasn't quite the same as his; while they were mourning the loss due to friendship, Nishi's came from less manpower, their team was one member short, which made it harder to defeat the aliens. Nishi clenched a fist unseen and hid the slight smile that curved on his lips when he realized that the points would be easier to gain. "I can't believe he's gone," Nishi heard Yoko say and couldn't help but roll his eyes just a little.

She'll be next if she can't suck it up.

The cult leader returned, much to their surprise, along with the dog, which came as less of a shock. The woman blinked a few times, and then her eyes scanned familiar surroundings before they narrowed into slits. "I want answers right now! What the hell was that all about! I demand to know what's going on at once!"

Nishi sneered at her and said, "Or you'll what."

Jiro laid a hand on Nishi's shoulder, and before he turned to the woman to warn her, the black ball's timer dinged, and their attention shifted to Gantz. The woman frowned when she took a step closer along with the rest of them.

Okay, here are your scores.

Nishi-Kun: 12 points.

Total points: 70.

30 to go, and you're done.

Old man: 12 points.

Total points: 49.

51 to go, and you're done.

Flat chest: 8 points.

Total points: 51.

49 to go, and you're done.

The newest member stomped her foot and shouted, "What's going on! Someone better fucking tell me what this shit is about before-" The Gantz ball silently cut her off when she saw what she assumed was meant to be her show on the screen.

Devil spawn: 0 points.

Total points: 0.

Just so you know, sacrificing the players doesn't gain you points.

Dog: 0 points.

Total points: 0.

Why do I bother?

The woman's eyes grew wide, and she slapped a hand on the ball in anger. "Who the hell does this thing think it is! You've got some nerve calling me that!"

Nishi started to chuckle, and when she turned to him, he said, "It's just telling the truth, right? Come on, take it as a compliment, don't you 'worship' the devil? Don't you gather people to take their lives in order to summon him?"

The woman gritted her teeth and called him a brat, but Nishi merely smirked in amusement.

"Forty-nine more points sounds like a lot considering we've been part of Gantz for almost four months now," Yoko said as she gathered the others' attention.

Nishi glanced at the ball and replied, "And I guess we will never know how many points that last boss was worth either."

Jiro tapped his chin and said, "Well, the last one was worth twelve points if I remember correctly."

Yoko sighed with a frown, "Yeah, but the one before that was only six points, they annoyingly fluctuate."

Nishi clicked his tongue, sharing her annoyance, and added, "The length between the missions also varies, since we only had three missions in the last month before this one, other times we've had one in the span of six days." The boy huffed and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Either way, I still would have more points than I do now."

Jiro turned to Nishi, but he wasn't angry; he smiled and said, "Seventy points is an incredible amount." The old man laughed, "But if you only go after the boss, you won't gain your points quickly."

Nishi took the statement more as an insult and became defensive. "I realize that! Fuck off old man, I took out three of those aliens, and had I got the boss I would have gained at least eighteen, possibly twenty points, but thanks to that idiot's fucking pointless act, I didn't."

Jiro tilted his head; the boy's aggression didn't affect him in the slightest. "Are you mad that Ryo got the points but didn't make it, therefore that's why it was pointless, or are you just mad that you didn't get them, and he did." Jiro smiled, "Or perhaps both."

Nishi closed his mouth and narrowed his eyes; sometimes, he just wanted to knock the old man out. "Shut the hell up, don't try and pin guilt on me, you're the one he died saving, the guilt is yours; besides, it was his own fault, he broke the rule."

Jiro and Yoko bowed their heads slightly before nodding in agreement. The three of them, including the dog, made their way to the hallway entrance before the voice of the woman called out to them, "Hold it right there."

The dog was already gone from their side, whimpering as he ducked into the hall, to which Nishi glanced at him and muttered, "Fucking useless."

They stepped back into the room, looking as though the woman's threat was more comical than dangerous, even if she was holding a Gantz gun. "Here's how this is going to go, you've been chosen by me to become part of the greatest experience of your life, your journey on this earth will end but a new one awaits you, filled with peace and enlightenment. I promise, you won't be disappointed."

There was silence for a moment, and then Nishi burst into laughter, causing the woman to gape in surprise, which only made him laugh harder. Nishi even had to hold his side because he couldn't stop himself from laughing. The woman frowned: she didn't understand the reason behind Nishi's amusement. "Shut up brat!"

After another minute of trying to get himself back under control, Nishi's laughter dwindled enough to talk. "Was that a fucking joke? Honestly, do people actually buy into that lame bullshit speech you just tried?" Nishi laughed again. "That's the most hilarious thing I've heard in my life, really, I think those that do fall for it actually deserve to die, just for being so fucking foolish." Nishi was calmer, but his laughter stayed apparent. "It really is very laughable."

The woman became angrier and raised her gun to them. "Shut up! You have no idea what you're talking about, all of you, you will come with me now! I will show you the true meaning of dying!"

Nishi's smile dropped from his face, and before he could act, Yoko moved forward so that she stood inches from the woman's face. Yoko grabbed her wrist and twisted it to make the woman drop her gun with a cry of pain. "You don't even know the true meaning of death, how dare you preach to us about salvation when we're desperately trying to stay alive long enough to free ourselves from a world that you yourself think is okay to hype up to be this fantastic journey. Let me tell you something, you're going to die again, and it isn't going to be even close to the first time. Remember your' friend,' the one you quite easily pushed to her death? Remember how utterly gruesome and painful it was for her? Well yours will be two times worse, and we will be the ones watching, because that's the fate you've sealed for yourself." Yoko frowned and shoved the woman back so hard that she lands on her ass. "Fucking bitch."

The other woman nursed her wrist while frowning up at Yoko; she was seething but didn't dare counter back.

Yoko turned to her teammates and let out a shaky breath as she stepped toward them; Jiro rubbed her arm gently and asked, "Are you all right, Shin?"

Yoko nodded with a slight smile and then glanced at Nishi, looking at her with surprise. "Let's get out of here," she said.

They left the woman in the room alone; Nishi and Yoko left the apartment first, leaving Jiro to change in the hallway.

Jiro came out and saw the two teens stood beside the staircase waiting for him, he descended the steps, and they noticed the dog was following him, so he answered their questioning look, "I've decided to take care of him now that Ryo is gone, it only seemed fair, he needs to be with someone who is familiar, I couldn't just leave him."

Nishi clicked his tongue and gestured to the dog, just wagging his tail with his tongue hanging out. "Take a good look old man, does that mutt look even remotely like he's pining for fuck sake? By the next mission, he won't even remember Ashi even existed."

Jiro shook his head and knelt to caress the dog's head to which the canine happily accepted. "Oh don't be so harsh lad, dogs understand more than you know, they're pretty intelligent, and they can be very loyal."

Nishi pursed his lips. "Yes, and he isn't one of them, he's the living example of cats rule and dogs drool; useless. Loyal my ass, Ashi took care of him all that time and where was the mutt while he was dying? Take him if you want, but he certainly won't be pining over your death either." Nishi then walked away, hands in his pockets, leaving Yoko and Jiro to stare after him.

"What a way with words he has," muttered Yoko with a huff, though her annoyance was more from the fact that he just left her here.

Jiro simply chuckled, and Yoko didn't understand how he brushed off everything Nishi said; in fact, she didn't even think she could recall a time when Jiro showed anger toward the teen. "Quite a way with words yourself, don't you? Back there. Are you sure you're okay?"

Yoko smiled and nodded before replying, "I'm fine, just got carried away. I'll see you soon."

"Let's hope it's even longer."

Jiro turned and began walking back to his house, and, smiling down at the dog, he said, "At least you'll give me an excuse when we disappear now."

Nishi and Yoko were almost home; they walked in step with one another, silent save for the occasional owl hooting in the distance. Once they reached Yoko's street and turned off in the direction of the block of apartments, Nishi spoke, "You should have killed her." Yoko gave him a glance to show she was listening and then turned to ascend the stairs.

"Who?"

Nishi fell in step behind her as they climb to the fourth level. "Who do you think; you should have killed her so we wouldn't have to worry about her on the next mission."

Yoko frowned slightly as she contemplated her decision to leave the woman alive, and it was only once they reached the apartment door that she replied, "Maybe I will next time if she tries anything." Yoko let out a small squeak when she suddenly turned due to Nishi's grasp on her arm, he pinned her to the wall, and she could see the excitement glinting in his eyes.

"That a promise?"

Yoko smiled and chuckled, "I killed the crazy guy, didn't I?"

Nishi grinned at the memory and leaned in. "Yes, you did."

Before their lips met, a door beside them opened, interrupting them, and revealed Yoko's nosy neighbor. "Don't you know how late it is you damn insolent brats, show some respect for the community." The cranky old neighbor looked at Nishi and scoffed, "It's a school night kid, go home." She proceeded to glare at Yoko and said, "Watch yourself college girl, or I might just tell the cops that I believe you're messing around with a minor."

Nishi simply told her to mind her own fucking business, and she scoffed again before retreating and shut the door.

"That told her," Yoko chuckled and turned with a smirk and said, "I'm not even tired tonight, are you?"

Nishi rolled his eyes but was sure there was a small blush tinting his cheeks. "Wanna know the real reason I wanted you to kill that woman?"

Yoko blinked at him for a moment before she realized what he was talking about, then she huffed, and with a smile, she said, "I have an idea, let's have our own mission."

Nishi and Yoko stood at the entrance to a forest, nothing around them except for large trees and bushes created by nature, not another soul with them, just wildlife living among woodlands. Nishi and Yoko could already feel the adrenaline pumping through their veins once more, not quite over the previous Gantz mission's rush just a couple of hours before. The fourteen-year-old clutched his gun by his side and glanced at Yoko, who turned to him with a smile; he asked, "So whoever takes out five deer first is the one who is branded as the hunter, therefore, a Gantz player; how do we know when either of us has achieved it?"

Yoko's smile turned into a smirk when she replied, "We'll know."

Nishi narrowed his eyes slightly. "One of us could easily say we've killed five."

Yoko huffed with a roll of her eyes. "Are you really likely to lie about something like that, Nishi?"

"Are you?"

"No, this is supposed to be a mission after all."

Nishi looked forward, and Yoko could have sworn she saw a small pout on his face. "Then why did you make me leave the stealth device at home?"

Yoko chuckled and nudged him. "Can't have you getting an advantage on me, but if you're that worried, we can use our phones to send pictures."

The picture idea surprised Nishi because he didn't expect that, but he brushed it off. "Tsk, whatever. Anyway, what makes you sure there are even deer in this forest?"

Yoko looked ahead and raised her gun in preparation. "Because I used to take walks through here as a kid, you know, back before my parents disowned me, so I'm sure they're still around." She stepped forward and turned to him with a sardonic smile and said, "Do you want the ten second head start, or shall I take it?"

Nishi shrugged and lifted the gun to his shoulder. "Go ahead, you need the practice more."

Yoko huffed but turned her back with a grin as she eyed the forest. Exactly what I was hoping you'd say, she thought. Before Yoko dashed off into the darkness, Nishi grabbed her arm to stop her and then stepped in front.

"I changed my mind, and it's not an act of cowardice, but you know this forest a lot better, so ten seconds will give me at least a little time to get my bearings." Nishi then grinned at her. "Can't have you getting an advantage on me, can we? Nice try though." Nishi's suit started to expand due to the adrenaline, and he dashed off into the forest.

"Smartass," Yoko pouted. "One."

Nishi ran between three large trunks and used one of its branches to pull himself across a tangled root between them; he landed on the other side of a narrow stream. "Three."

Yoko took a few steps forward, the suit began to bulge in her legs and torso. "Six."

Nishi gripped the branch and hauled himself into a sitting position when he spotted a deer already a mere ten meters away. "Ten," he said with a grin as he aimed his gun and pulled both triggers. Nishi waited for the time lag and jumped from the lower branch just as the animal's torso blew up.

Yoko heard her phone beep and stopped beside a tree to read the message. :One.: "Are you kidding me? It's only been like twenty seconds. Asshole." She typed irritably back and then placed her phone back in her pocket.

Nishi chuckled at her angry message before dashing off to find the next deer. : Fluke, you won't find another deer that easily!:

To make their game more interesting, they also set an hour time limit on their phones. Nishi jumped across from one tree to the other and then down onto the ground when he saw another deer. As quietly as he could, he crouched and held the gun with both hands as he shifted closer. Before he could pull the trigger, the deer's head exploded. "Damn." Nishi scanned the area, looking for Yoko, but all he heard was rustling, which indicated she ran off unseen. Nishi pulled out his phone, noted the timer was forty minutes, and then read the message. :Too slow, that's two for me!: "I have to remain ahead of her, I will not be hunted."

Yoko breathed heavily and wiped her brow before taking a screenshot of the open carcass of the animal. : Four, one to go, and then I'm coming for you. 😉: Yoko looked up into the sky when she felt something cold drip onto her nose. A few more followed before she realized it was raining. Yoko quickly put her phone away and ran off again; the mossy footpaths already slippery.

Nishi gritted his teeth as he chased the fast creature through the forest, narrowly missing the broad tree trunks as he slammed his hand against one before continuing. Nishi fired the gun four times before diving to the side to avoid the backlash as the area in front of him started to explode. The sound caused the deer to form a high-pitched bleating sound as it tried to run away from its attacker. Nishi jumped into the air and fired his weapon when he reached a few feet above the deer, he landed against it, and they toppled before the explosion sent Nishi rolling across the ground. Nishi breathed heavily for a few seconds, simply lying there to catch his breath, the rain already washing away some of the deer's guts.

Nishi got to his feet and quickly took a screenshot of the remains to send to Yoko. : Five, I'm coming for you, flat chest.:

Yoko stopped to catch her breath and shielded her phone under a tree; she couldn't believe it when she read Nishi's message, frowning at the use of the nickname Gantz had given her. "Shit."

It was raining heavily now, and Yoko slipped on the moss as she ran as fast as she could, not daring to look back since she knew Nishi was close. Yoko blinked away the rain from her eyes and coughed; she could barely see anything and found herself wondering if Nishi was fairing any better. Yoko ducked behind a large tree; there was slightly more cover due to the thicker branches and bundled leaves. Her clothing was clinging to her suit, but she managed to pull her phone out and noted they had less than fifteen minutes left. "Screw this." With new determination, Yoko appeared from her hiding spot and found Nishi standing there, looking as wet as she was, his hair was dripping and sticking to his face, and his hoodie looked a different color within the darkness. Upon a closer look, as she took a few steps forward, she noticed there were little scratch marks on his face that matched her own due to the bushes. Yoko shouted loudly over the heavy pour, which clattered against the leaves, "Who's to say I couldn't fight back! I mean, the aliens fight back too, don't they?"

There was a flash of lightning, and it lit up the grin on Nishi's face for a moment; in just those few seconds, she could see him perfectly, his jaw clenched, his gun held tightly in his grip, his posture looked ready for anything. "Be my guest!"

Nishi didn't need to tell her twice, and she lunged at him with surprising speed, considering how slippery the ground was. Nishi sidestepped her body and grabbed hold of her jacket before pulling her down to throw her to the ground with a thud, he tried to pin her, but she kicked him in the shin and reached up to pull him down with her. The two rolled across the mud and moss before Nishi gained the upper hand and managed to pin her wrists by her head. "Give up," he spat harshly, though it was more due to the water that kept getting in his mouth.

"Like hell!"

Nishi let out a cry of shock when she headbutted him in the face and lunged him off her; he looked up to see her running off again. "Fuck!" Nishi spat blood from his mouth as he stood up and then grinned.

Yoko cursed as she ran through a slightly more open area and laid her hand against a tree, breathing heavily, not even sure how far she ran. "I – I can't believe I hit him," she panted before leaning against the bark out of breath. The rain was slowing down, and Yoko could see the moonlight now that there was less coverage. "I shouldn't have run, I'm almost out of time."

"Actually, you are," Yoko heard Nishi's smooth voice and then gasped when she felt the gun to the back of her head. Her heart began to hammer in her chest, and then, "Bang, you're dead, I win." Yoko felt the gun move away from her head, and she sighed in relief before spinning around in anger.

"Fucking hell! I thought you were actually going to blow my head off!"

Nishi clicked his tongue and tucked the gun in his hoodie. "You really are dramatic. Anyway, you did draw blood, so I should return the favor, right?"

Yoko placed a hand on her hip and then sighed, "Fine, it's only fair you get to hit me back."

Nishi rolled his eyes when she closed hers. She actually thinks I'm going to hit her. The adrenaline still in his system tempted him for a moment, but he once saw his dad almost strike his mother until he came into the room; it was the first time Nishi realized he hated him. Yoko let out a squeak when Nishi pinned her to the tree behind them and kissed her hard on the lips, one hand bracing against her shoulder and the other against the bark as he bit her lower lip. Nishi pulled back to grin at her as she opened her eyes and licked her lip to find blood had formed there. "Favor returned."

Yoko grinned back at him and pulled him close to crush their lips together again. Nishi reached down and grabbed both her wrists to pin them above her head before sucking on her neck and then licked over her collar bone. "Nishi," she breathed out. "That better not be the gun I feel."

Nishi lifted his head up and hoped there wasn't a blush on his cheeks, but seeing her face close up, he thought she probably didn't care. "And if it's not?"

"If it's not, you better fuck me."

Nishi grunted in response, and they aided one another in removing their wet clothes and their suits, which were slightly more difficult due to the tight-skin material. Eventually, after their suits were gone, Nishi pushed Yoko to the floor, the softness of the leaves acting as a cushion for her landing. Yoko arched when Nishi sucked on her nipple, keeping her wrists above her head; he twirled his tongue before gently biting her and then trailed kisses up to her neck to suck on the already sensitive mark. Yoko felt one of his hands leave her wrists to trail down her body and lay fingers over her clit, rubbing the sensitive part with his thumb. "So," she managed to say. "How many – how many points am I worth – ah!" Yoko moaned when Nishi slipped his middle finger inside her.

Nishi grinned at her reaction before replying, "Not bad." He slid his finger in and out, agonizingly slowly and added a second before saying, "You were a decent challenge." His fingers worked into her with deliberate denial of the pleasure he knew she craved since he was getting used to how her body responded. "I'd say around fifteen points." Nishi covered her nipple with his mouth to suck her breast while his fingers continued their torture.

Yoko clawed his back in agitation, letting him know her displeasure, which his speed was causing. "Next time, I'll be the one hunting you."

Nishi stilled his hand and leaned close to her ear and said, "If you score more than me after the next Gantz mission, I'll let you." Yoko shivered as Nishi's thumb pushed on her clit, and she looked up when Nishi chuckled. "Wanna come?"

Yoko's eyes half-closed when she answered him with a desperate, "Please…"

Nishi started to move his fingers again, and Yoko moaned when he finally added a third; he answered her plea and thrust them inside at a fast pace, the extra efficiency was too much, and she cried his name before coming. Yoko breathed heavily as she peered up at him when he lifted her leg and spread the other. "Need a minute?" Yoko could feel herself twitch below, and she shook her head. "Good." Nishi pushed inside her fully, and Yoko muffled her cry of pleasure with her wrist. Nishi grunted as he thrust in and out, bracing his hand on the ground. "We're not home," he panted. "No need to restrict yourself." Nishi reached under her back and pounded into her harder. "Let me hear your screams."

Yoko removed her hand and braced them both on Nishi's shoulders as he drove into her over and over; he eventually found her G-spot and thrust upward, causing her to cry out in pleasure. Nishi pushed deeper inside her and fastened his pace, and they climaxed together as he pulled out and threw his head back, coming over her legs.

Yoko stirred from sleep and groaned at the barely lit sky. Sky? Yoko felt a warmth coming from a body beneath her, and she raised her head to see Nishi almost frowning at her. "Bout time you woke up," he said, but his tone held no malice. "I need to pee, so lean off already." She noticed leaves covered the bottom half of them and couldn't even remember it, and when did they hang their clothes over those branches to dry? Before she could ask, Nishi said, "You passed out after we finished, and I was too tired to carry your pain in the ass all the way home."

Yoko smiled and laid her head back on his chest. "Thank you."

"Basic survival instincts, that's all, we would both catch pneumonia if we didn't conceal our warmth by pressing our bodies together, our clothes are probably dry now though."

Yoko suddenly felt an overwhelming fear creep into her as if remembering that they were still part of Gantz, and either of them could die at any point during a mission; she wanted to be this way forever, but…. Yoko tried to focus on Nishi's heart beating slow, but she couldn't shake it off. "Nishi?"

Nishi felt her hand curl into a fist and sighed because he could almost sense her damn emotions breaking through. "What."

"I wish we met under different circumstances, I wish we were together like this without Gantz, without the fear of it looming over us."

"You can't pretend, so just accept it."

"Please, just for a few minutes, it's all I ask, just this one time."

Nishi frowned, but for once, he couldn't bring himself to rebuke her, so he sighed heavily and said, "Like Gantz never existed, like something normal in our lives is happening right now."

Yoko nodded. "As if we're just two teenagers who've run away to escape for a little while, just – normal."

"Minus the age gap?"

Yoko smiled. "Maybe."

"We're waking up in a forest, beneath a makeshift bed, and there's a sunrise happening above us right now." Yoko shifted a little so she could lie on her back and rest her head on his bicep; she smiled at the rays the sun produced across the sky with an afterglow of orange and blue along the horizon. "Is that normal enough for you?"

Yoko swallowed back her tears and nodded. "It's perfect."