Day 5

Dex-Starr and Neku has awaken

Neku: Unnh…Where am I?

Shiki: Hey. You awake? … The mission's not here yet. … Looks like we start at Tipsy Tose Hall today. So, um…sorry about yesterday. I crossed the line with what I said.

B'dg: Dex-Starr, about what I said... Forget about it.

Dex-Starr's Though: I'm no better then them and the Reaper... Krypto...

Neku's Though: That I was no better than a Reaper… Rhyme… … Well. Right now…

Neku: We need to focus on the mission.

Shiki: Yeah. You're right. For Beat and Streaky.

They heard a beeping noise

Shiki: It's here! The mission! "Free Spain Hill from the Noise. You have 200 minutes. Fail, and face erasure.-The Reapers"

They felt a flinch and Impact on their arm and hands

Shiki: Oww!

Dex-Starr: The timer. Free it? Then we have to erase some Noise.

Shiki: Spain Hill's right over there.

Neku: Then let's get going.

They went off

B'dg: So we just have to clear the Noise out of here, right?

Neku: Let's get started.

After that, they look exhausted

B'dg: (Panting) This isn't working…

Neku: We're not even making a dent. Why do more Noise keep showing up?

Shiki: You think something is drawing them here?

Dex-Starr: If so, we'll have to strike at the source.

Dex-Starr's Though: …Wherever that is.

?: C'mon, Ai. What's wrong?

Shiki: Boys. Look! Those two girls that just left the restaurant…

They saw two girl named Mina and Ai talking

Mina: Ai, are you mad at me?

Ai: Don't be ridiculous.

Mina: You…you sure?

Ai: Yes! OK?

Dex-Starr and Neku scan them and saw many noise

Neku: Whoa! Look at all the Noise! What's up with those two?

B'dg: Looks like they're having an argument-and that's drawing all the Noise.

Neku: I think we found our source.

Shiki: OK. Let's try getting rid of the Noise around them!

They fight them all

Neku: That takes care of those Noise.

Then more of coming

Shiki: No… Look! Here come some more!

Neku: Crap. This will never work.

B'dg: Those two keep drawing more in. What's their story, I wonder?

Mina: Hey, Ai, are you free around this time next week?

Ai: …Probably. Why?

Mina: N-nothing. Forget it.

Ai is looking at her suspicious

S: Whoa, feel all that negativity?

Dex-Starr: What if that's attracting the Noise?

Shiki: Huh?

Dex-Starr: Remember last time? The Noise hijacked the tech because he was jealous.

Shiki: Hey, you're right… But these two don't look possessed. They're just…calling out to the Noise. Wait… Of course!

Neku: If we help them patch things up-

B'dg: The Noise will stop coming! Brilliant! Let's try it!

Dex-Starr: First we have to figure out what's wrong…

They went Tipsy Tose Hall and saw Business man

Business Man: Where is all this merchandise coming from? First "Reaper Creeper," and now these "Red Skull" pins. I'm not one to turn business away, but something about this mystery supplier… It smells risky… Hmm… What should I do? I know! I'll ask "Reaper Creeper"!

Neku: What's up with that guy?

Business Guy: Reaper… Creeper…

Dex-Starr: Is he having a stroke?

Shiki: Hmm…It looks like some kind of divination. See how he put that ten-yen coin on the paper? He's going to make a decision based on where it moves.

Neku: You mean where HE moves it. It's not gonna move on its own.

Shiki: Unless we play a little trick. Think you could use your psychs to give the coin a little push?

Neku move the coin to White

Business Guy: White! An answer, clear as day! Nothing beats Reaper Creeper when you need answers. All right, White means… Umm… What did I ask again? … Reaper… Creeper… What was my last question?

Neku: …Let's move on.

Shiki: Let's.

They went back to Spain Hill

Ai: Mina… You really didn't go to Shibu yesterday?

Mina: I…I didn't. I swear! Quit asking, Ai.

Ai: Sure, whatever.

Neku imprinted her with "Reaper Creeper"

Ai's Thought: She is so lying… …Reaper Creeper? Of course! Why didn't I think of that sooner!

Ai: Say… Mina…

Mina: Hmm? What's up?

Ai: Ever heard of "Reaper Creeper"?

Mina: Reaper Creeper… Oh, yeah! That magic game people were talking about at school, right? The one that answers your questions!

Ai: Wanna try it?

Mina: Sure! Sounds like fun!

Shiki: They're going to use Reaper Creeper… Neku. Should we fake it?

He agreed

Shiki: OK, let's move the coin and rig the answers. If we want them to patch things up-

Dex-Starr: Ai needs to know the truth.

B'dg: What!? But…that's really risky. Ai suspects Mina. She thinks Mina is after the boy she likes. If she finds out Mina has been lying, their friendship is sunk!

Dex-Starr: Exactly. That Mina girl is lying. And Ai is gonna find out eventually whether we cover it up or not. Better we clear things up now.

Shiki: Well… I don't know…

Neku: Lying isn't right.

B'dg and Shiki doesn't know about this Idea that Dex-Starr and Neku made, but they have to do it

Ai: OK, Reaper Creeper has a few rules.

Mina: Like what?

Ai: First, someone has to summon the Reaper.

Mina: Ooh, let me do it!

Ai: …All right.

Mina: Reaper…Creeper… Before we get in much deeper… If you're here all right, go to White!

Neku moved the coin to right

Mina: White! Cool… The coin really moved! So, like… We said "if you're here, go to White." And it went to White. Whoa… That means… … The Reaper's here! Creepy! Can you believe it? Reapers really exist!

Ai: That's right. And they can see right through a lie.

Mina: Scary!

Ai: All right, Mina. Next question.

Mina: What are you gonna ask?

Ai: Hmm… Why don't I ask about you?

Mina: About m-me? Why?

Ai's Though: Because I'm onto you, you tramp. You and Makoto.

Ai: Reaper…Creeper…If Mina has a boy she likes, go to White!

Dex-Starr move it to White

Ai: Aha! White!

Mina: Um, Ai-

Ai's Though: White means YES. She's got a crush. And I saw her with him yesterday. Her and Makoto…together!

Ai: Next question!

Mina: Ai… This isn't like you.

Ai: REAPER. CREEPER. If Mina has secrets that should be brought to light…go to White!

Neku move it to White Again

Ai: Aha! See! White!

Mina: Please…Ai!

Ai: I knew you were hiding something!

Mina: …What?

Ai: This is it, Mina! Last question!

Mina: Ai, please stop…

Ai: REAPER. CREEPER. Yesterday Mina met with Makoto. And she LIED to me about it. If I'm right…GO TO WHITE!

Mina: What? Ai, you knew about that? Aww…You saw us?

Ai: Yes! I know all about you. You and Makoto and your little-

Mina: Here.

She give her two Tickets

Ai: What… Two tickets? How could you, Mina… You knew I liked Makoto.

Mina: I'm sorry. I just wanted to help.

Ai: …What?

Mina: Makoto wants to go to the Molco slam-off. But he couldn't get a ticket. He told me yesterday. So I started mailing my friends. I figured, you know, maybe if I scored two tickets…

Ai: Oh, Mina. You didn't…

Mina: You and Makoto go have a great time.

Ai: You got them for me?

Mina: Yup! Now you can put the moves on him, hee hee.

Ai: Mina… I'm so sorry… I totally got the wrong idea…

Mina: No worries. It's partly my fault for fibbing to you. We're friends. What's one little argument?

Ai: …Yeah.

Then the Noise began to go Thinner

Shiki: Boys! The Noise are thinning out.

Dex-Starr: Good! Let's finish the job.

They fight them all and the timer are gone

Neku: Timer's gone.

Shiki: Whew! Mission complete. Looks like Ai and Mina made up, too.

Ai: Hey, let me take you out to eat. It's the least I can do.

Mina: Really? Awesome! How about sundaes?

Ai: Sure! Let's hit that family restaurant up the street.

Mina: OK!

They went off

Shiki: Aww… See how nice it is to have friends?

Neku & Dex-Starr's Though: No.

Shili: Sure, you may butt heads and being grumpy now and then, but life is more fun that way.

Neku's Though: Fun? Right. Every time you argue, you end up meeting halfway and getting nowhere. What's fun about letting other people hold you back?

Dex-Starr's Though: Friends? I don't have one, only Atrocities. He took care of me and treated me like a Son, after my owner died from that Burglar. He's the only friend I have. And I'm always loyal to him. But for the Red Lanterns, they're not trustworthy for me. The Justice League have so many allies and friends, but for me... I'm not one of them, I'm just lonely cat who lost his Owner.

Neku: I don't see the point of a relationship built on lies.

Shiki: … Neku... Dex-Starr…You don't lie to MAKE friends. I agree, that wouldn't be right. But sometimes, you need to tell a fib because you ARE friends. Not all secrets are bad secrets.

Neku's Though: ….. Her and that photo…

Dex-Starr's Though: Even B'dg's?

Shiki: Hey, Neku? Yesterday you said we were better off without friends. You really think so?

Neku and Dex-Starr look so silent

Shiki: Eri used to do everything for me. There was nothing she COULDN'T do. She had a ton of friends. Everybody at school loved her, because she was so outgoing. And the outfits she designed were so cute. Eri was the one who got me started making clothes.

B'dg: And for me, I joined the Green Lantern because I want to be like Hal Jordon, he's so cool and helpful to his friends and his allies. He knows how to help people and save them from bad guys. And I want to be like him someday.

Dex-Starr: I see, so that's why you become a Green Lantern. And Shiki, you have the same reason that B'dg has.

Neku: I thought that pig of yours was the reason.

Shiki: He's a CAT! Ugh. Anyway… She saw me making Mr. Mew. And then she said: "Wow, you're really good with a needle." So we got talking, and she let me help her make clothes. I owe her everything. She gave me purpose.

Neku and Dex-Starr are listening to her

Shiki: Meeting her, talking to her, getting to know her… Admiring her… It made me want to be something more.

They keep listening to her

Shiki: Rhyme said she didn't know what dreams are like. And now she never will… Neku... Dex-Starr, it's not fair.

Dex-Starr: I know it was... But for Krypto, I never have a chance to meet him and talk to him after, he and Rhyme... Protected Beat and Streaky.

Neku: I know… I…I'm sad, too. We'll just have to live a little extra. For their sake.

Shiki: Yeah. If we get a second chance.

Neku: Second chance?

?: Hello, young lady.

Shiki: Who's there?

They saw a Man

Neku: A Reaper!

Higashizawa: Correct. But not just any Reaper. I am Yodai Higashizawa… Game Master by proxy.

Neku: Game Master… So you're in charge?

Higashizawa: Correct again.

Shiki: Then Rhyme is gone because of you!

B'dg: And so does Krypto!

Higashizawa: I detest leftovers. No Players were meant to escape yesterday's chowder of destruction. Do you know why you alone survived?

Shiki and B'dg look silent

Higashizawa: Because you are strong. It's a dog-eat-dog world. A logical hierarchy much like the food chain. The strong reach the top and win the Game, while the weak are left behind, the heels of the proverbial loaf.

Shiki: How dare you! Rhyme and Krypto protected Beat and Krypto! You call that weak? Take it back!

Higashizawa: I admire your courage and loyalty, young lady. Delectable. This calls for a taste test! Let us see how you fare as fare for the Noise!

They fight all the noise

Higashizawa: Heh heh… I see I've sunk my teeth into something good.

B'dg: We'll never lose to you! You'll pay for what you did to Rhyme and Krypto!

Higashizawa: Sadly, I've had my fill for the day. I only came here to meet you, young lady and Squirrel.

Shiki: Us? …Why?

Higashizawa: To get a closer look, of course. At the charcoal-black envy beneath the barbecue of your heart.

B'dg: I…I don't understand.

H: Oh, don't you, though? You can't fool me. You know the feelings are there, so you bury them. Your talk of loyalty, of dreams and friendship… They're no more than a lid on your stir-fry of jealousy. Oh, how deeply you must hate yourself. You have EXACTLY what you always wanted…but it's not enough, is it?

Shiki and B'dg look so silent

Higashizawa: No one loves you. You can't love yourself. And so the jealousy consumes you.

Shiki & B'dg: Stop it!

Higashizawa: That friend sugar coating can't sweeten the selfishness inside you. You think you're more important than anyone else. And THAT'S where jealousy begins…

Shiki: No…We're not-

Higashizawa: You are. And you know it. Why else would your entry fee be-

B'dg: Stop! Don't say it!

Higashizawa: Heh heh… That complex of yours is a bruise on the tomato of your soul and life.

Shiki: No, we… We're just…

Higashizawa: Nothing will change if you are restored to life. You'll just go on hating yourself and being jealous of everybody else.

Shiki: No… Please don't…

She and B'dg left

Neku: Restored to life? What the hell are you talking about!?

Higashizawa: You're dead. Didn't you know?

Then they look shocked for what he said

Dex-Starr: We're…We're dead?

Higashizawa: All the Players are. The Reapers' Game is an examination, to see who is worthy of a second chance at life.

They became horrifled

Higashizawa: Now, if I may be excused… See you on Day 7. Keep it fresh. Take care, young lady and Squirrel.

He left, Dex-Starr and Neku look so confused for what he said

Neku: I'm…I'm d-d-dead? How? What did I… I'm DEAD!?

Dex-Starr: I... Died? How? When did I... Die!?

Day End

Empty Urban Legend