Episode 11
The Stupidest Move So Far
Day 31
Bankai Tribe
Light, Erika and Ryoko go over to talk to Haruhi that morning.
"We are very thankful for your vote last night," Ryoko tells her.
"And we would like to make it up to you by giving you a free path to the final four," Light adds.
"I don't need your help!" Haruhi snaps. "I'm playing this game the way I want to play it. That's the way I do things, my way, not anyone else's way! I only voted that way last night so I could beat Kyon, that's it!"
"What is she, stupid?" Light says. "We're giving her a free path into the final four, and she is willing to reject our help? I don't get it."
Light meets with Erika and Ryoko later that afternoon, where he has a change of plans.
"If Haruhi doesn't want her help, then we just turn everyone on her," Light says.
"But isn't that a bad idea?" Ryoko asks. "She has an immunity plushie, I just know it. She's gonna play it and take out someone."
"It would be completely random, though," Light replies. "No one knows what goes on in that brain of hers. We'd each have an 80% chance of surviving if we turned the whole tribe on her and flushed out the plushie."
"Which makes you a moron, Light!" Ryoko snaps. "That's only a 40% chance of all three of us surviving the vote! Then what happens?"
"Yeah, Light, that doesn't make much sense," Erika speaks up.
"Sssshhhh…" Light says, trying to calm Ryoko down. "That's only what I plan on telling Rangiku and Meilin. What do you think they'd rather take, a 80% chance each of surviving, or the possibility of us all putting together our votes and taking them out? In one case, they just have to survive Haruhi's random vote. In the other case, they have to hope that Haruhi happens to vote with them against us three, which is only a 20% chance, and then win on the tiebreaker…"
"Light, you talk too much," Ryoko says. "All these percentages and crap, you know what, just vote out either Rangiku or Meilin. Let's not play games here."
"Remember what I told Jet, I've got the next two votes already figured out, you just have to play along with me," Light responds. "If you go along with what I say, you're going to make it to the final three, no doubt."
"Okay, whatever, Light," Ryoko replies.
"Light drives me crazy, and if he wasn't doing all the work for me, I'd gladly turn on him in an instant and get him out of the game," Ryoko says. "But as of right now, I'm willing to sit back and let him put me in the final three."
"Ryoko doesn't realize how good she has it," Light says. "If she was with anyone else besides me, she'd be out of this game a long time ago. But I'm keeping her around because I can control her so easily. I'm controlling three votes in this game, most others are only controlling one. It's an incredible advantage."
Reward Challenge
"Come on in, guys!" Jet Black shouts to the players.
The players walk into the reward challenge area.
"You're probably wondering what we have cooked up for a reward challenge at this point in the game," Jet tells the players. "Well, for one thing, there's a feast waiting for someone at the end of this challenge."
Everyone claps, seeing the food sitting on a table nearby.
"But," Jet adds, "there's a twist, one that will make this better than the usual challenge. We'll get to that later. First, let's get to today's reward challenge. You six will go one-on-one against each other in wooden sword fights, and whoever loses their sword first is out of the challenge. Once we're down to three, that's when the fun begins. We'll draw for matchups, and then get started."
After the players have drawn their opponents, Jet addresses the first pair of battlers.
"It's Light vs. Ryoko in the first battle!" Jet announces. "Survivors ready? Go!"
Ryoko and Light swing back and forth at each other, but after a little while, Ryoko's aggression helps her knock the sword out of Light's hands.
"Ryoko wins!" Jet shouts. "Next up: Rangiku vs. Erika."
In a mismatch of a battle, the skilled Rangiku easily knocks Erika's sword from her hands in a mere five seconds.
"Okay, that was easy," Jet says. "Now finally, we have Haruhi vs. Meilin."
Haruhi and Meilin go through a tough battle, swinging back and forth at each other. Finally Meilin comes through with the win, knocking Haruhi's sword away.
"We have our three winners!" Jet says. "Two of you will get something, while the third of you will be punished."
Jet says this with a huge smile on his face, causing the players to groan.
"First, the three of you who won in round one will write down on a piece of parchment what you would prefer: this feast, or…"
Jet pulls out a bottle with a note inside it.
"A big advantage in tomorrow's immunity challenge," Jet says. "Now you'll all secretly write what you want. Go ahead."
The three players write down what they want on the parchment.
"Okay, now we're going to draw to see which two of you will battle," Jet says. "The winner of that battle will get what they wrote down on the parchment."
After Jet draws the names, he makes the announcement.
"Ryoko… and Meilin!" he shouts. "You two will battle it out for your reward! Now, here's how this is going to work. The winner of your battle gets what they wanted, while the loser goes to Exile. Then Rangiku gets whatever the winner didn't choose."
Rangiku claps her hands, while Ryoko and Meilin take their swords, ready for battle.
"Survivors ready?" Jet yells. "Go!"
Ryoko and Meilin go into battle, swinging back and forth at each other. Ryoko begins to get aggressive at Meilin, but Meilin holds her ground. Eventually, however, Ryoko is able to knock the sword free from Meilin's hands, winning the battle.
"Ryoko wins reward!" Jet shouts.
Ryoko celebrates with Light and Erika, then the players line up for the announcement of the reward.
"Okay, let's reveal what Ryoko wanted," Jet says.
He opens up her piece of parchment, which says "feast."
"Ryoko, you win the feast!" he says. "Rangiku, not a bad secondary prize, you get this bottle, with something that will help you in the immunity challenge. Do not open it until the immunity challenge."
"Thank you," Rangiku says.
"Meilin, I got a map for you to head to Exile," Jet states. "Sorry, that's the way things go sometimes."
Meilin grimaces at Jet, taking the map and then walking away.
"The rest of you, I got nothing for you," Jet says. "You can head back to camp."
The players begin their walk back to camp while watching Ryoko enjoy her feast.
Exile
"If I'm stuck here in this dark cave, I'm going to make the most of it," Meilin says.
She feels around in the cave for anything she can find, and she finds some fuzz.
"Kyon didn't think hard enough about what to do with what he found in this cave," Meilin says. "But I know exactly what to do with this."
She gathers the fuzz and puts it in her bag.
"Now I have the bait – will the fish bite?" Meilin says.
Bankai Tribe
It is later that evening, after Ryoko has come back from her feast.
"I've got an idea," Light says.
"What's that?" Ryoko groans.
"We're going to forge an alliance right now with Rangiku, while we still can," Light says.
He then goes over to talk to Rangiku while eating some rice.
"Rangiku, we can save you from this upcoming vote," Light says.
"Were you planning on taking me out?" Rangiku asks.
"Well, as you can see, there are three of us in our alliance, and we have three to choose from," Light says. "We have to vote out someone."
"Fine, go ahead, tell me," Rangiku says.
"We need you to vote for Haruhi," Light replies. "No questions asked, just vote for Haruhi and you'll be safe."
"And how will I know this?" Rangiku asks.
"If any of us three win immunity, we'll give it to you," Light says. "If we don't give it to you, then you know the deal's off and you can vote for whoever you choose. How about that?"
"Okay," Rangiku says with a smile.
"Are these people stupid or what?" Rangiku says. "Making a deal like that can only hurt them. Either they give up immunity or they look like liars. This might be the stupidest move so far."
Day 32
Bankai Tribe
Light is snuggling with Erika near the fire this morning, reassuring her about his plans.
"You have no need to worry," Light says. "I've got this entire game under my control."
"But doesn't that mean you'll win?" Erika asks.
"Of course not," Light says. "Now you never know what the jury's going to do, but if it requires me being taken out in order for you to go on, you know I'll do anything for you."
"Light's so cute," Erika says. "I can only hope I can spend time with him outside of this game."
Haruhi, meanwhile, decides to talk to Rangiku, who is smiling a lot.
"You seem to be pretty happy," an annoyed Haruhi says. "Why is that?"
"Oh, well, I have my place in this game pretty secure," Rangiku replies. "Plus I have this little bottle, which is going to give me a little bit of help in the next immunity challenge."
"Do you?" Haruhi asks.
She snatches the bottle out of Rangiku's hand and throws it into the fire.
"Now let's see you win immunity," Haruhi says. "Gonna be a little harder, huh?"
"That's not right… that can't be allowed!" Rangiku protests. "You can't be allowed to do that!"
Immunity Challenge
"Come on in, guys!" Jet shouts to the players.
The players walk into the immunity challenge area.
"We now bring in Meilin, returning from Exile," Jet states.
Meilin walks toward the other players, smiling at Rangiku.
"Okay, first things first, the Immunity Beads of Subjugation, give them up, Ryoko," Jet says.
Jet takes the Immunity Beads of Subjugation off Ryoko, who takes them off and hands them over quickly.
"Thank you," Jet says. "Once again, immunity is back up for grabs. Let's get to today's immunity challenge."
"Wait!" Rangiku shouts.
"Oh, Rangiku, your bottle?" Jet asks. "Want to open it up?"
"Yeah, about that…" Rangiku replies. "Haruhi threw it into the fire."
"The rules of Survivor: Seireitei Forest state that destroying any note from the host that is meant for another player to read is illegal," Jet says. "That goes for tree mail, and that goes for the note inside that bottle."
"So Haruhi's out of the game?" Rangiku asks excitedly.
"Wrong," Jet states. "She is out of the specific challenge related to the note she destroyed. Haruhi, you are kicked out of this immunity challenge before it even starts."
Haruhi shrugs her shoulders and takes a seat.
"Okay, now let's get to today's immunity challenge," Jet says. "Since the producers of this show are lazy and can't come up with any new challenges, we're repeating one we did just a few challenges ago. Each of you will grab onto a branch on one of these trees and hang from it. The last one of you hanging onto their branch wins immunity and a one-in-what chance of winning this game, Light?"
"Five," Light replies.
"That's right," Jet says. "Now let's-"
"Excuse me, but don't I still get my advantage in this challenge?" Rangiku asks.
Jet looks irritated at being interrupted. "Yes, you still get it," he says. "While everyone else can only fall off their branch once, you are allowed to immediately jump up and grab the branch again if you fall off."
"Thank you," Rangiku states, with Haruhi scowling at her.
"We'll draw for positions, and then get started," Jet states.
The players go to their respective tree branches, with their feet hovering only about a foot off the ground, then they wait for Jet's signal.
"Three, two, one… this challenge is underway," Jet announces.
It takes a mere thirty seconds for Erika to slip and fall to the ground.
"And just like that, Erika is out of this challenge!" Jet shouts.
A minute later, Meilin slips as well, falling out of the challenge.
"Meilin's out," Jet states.
It takes a few minutes for any player to even have any trouble with their holding of the branch. Finally, however, Rangiku and Light slip off at the exact same time. Rangiku immediately hops back up and grabs the branch.
"You're back in it, Rangiku," Jet states. "It's you vs. Ryoko."
Ryoko and Rangiku hold onto their branches for ten minutes running. The others watch breathlessly, waiting to see who will win, save for Haruhi, who seems like she could care less about it.
"This is a great battle!" Jet yells. "Who will win?"
Finally, Rangiku slips off her branch and falls for the second time, giving Ryoko the victory.
"Ryoko wins immunity!" Jet announces.
Ryoko celebrates as she lets go of the branch.
"Congratulations, Ryoko, you have won immunity again," Jet tells her, putting the Immunity Beads of Subjugation around her neck. "The rest of you, one of you's going home tomorrow night. You can head back to camp."
The players walk back towards their camp.
"Light made that promise, now let's see if he keeps it," Rangiku says.
Bankai Tribe
That evening, Light tells Ryoko about the promise he made to Rangiku.
"Just give her the necklace at Tribal Council and everything will be fine," Light tells her.
"Are you kidding?" Ryoko replies. "Never!"
"Ryoko, there's no chance you're going to be voted out anyway, it's just a symbolic gesture," Light tells her.
"Okay, I'll think about it," Ryoko says. "But probably not."
Day 33
Bankai Tribe
That afternoon, Meilin goes to talk to Haruhi.
"What do you want?" Haruhi snaps.
"I've got something for you," Meilin says.
She holds out her bag.
"Go ahead and feel it," she tells Haruhi.
Haruhi feels the bag, and she can feel something fuzzy inside.
"If you promise me your vote, I'll let you have this bag," Meilin says.
"Without seeing what's inside it? No way," Haruhi replies.
"In that case, then, I'll be voting for you," Meilin replies. "And that means you'll be in trouble, and at the very best have to play the immunity plushie everyone knows you have."
Haruhi grimaces, then snatches the bag off Meilin.
"Fine, who do I vote for?" she asks Meilin.
Meilin whispers a name into Haruhi's ear.
"No!" Haruhi shouts.
"Then, no bag for you," Meilin replies, snatching the bag back off Haruhi.
"Oh, fine, whatever, I'll do it, just let me have the bag," Haruhi says, as Meilin delicately hands her the bag.
"Good, with Haruhi placing this vote, I have no way of getting voted out tonight," Meilin says. "Everything's going to work out perfectly, I just know it."
That evening, Light talks to Ryoko about the voting situation.
"We're all voting for Meilin, so that if there's a 3-3 tie, she goes because I'm sure she's had a bunch of votes against her in the past," Light tells her.
"Why not vote out Rangiku?" Ryoko asks. "She's a bigger threat at challenges."
"But if we go to a 3-3 tie, and they try to vote me out, I could go on previous votes," Light says. "If you want to oust Rangiku, you'd have to give me your immunity."
"What is it with you and wanting me to give up immunity?" Ryoko asks. "First to Rangiku, now to you? I don't get it. And what about flushing out the plushie with Haruhi?"
"That plan's off," Light says. "We have to play it safe."
"You know what, Light, I have no idea what you're doing, but the way you're playing, you're going to get our whole alliance voted out," Ryoko replies.
"Just relax," Light states. "I've got this whole game under my control. If you do what I say, we'll get everything to work out."
"Whatever, Light," an angry Ryoko replies.
"I don't even know if I'm going to obey Light's orders, he's off his rocker," Ryoko says. "He's bonafide crazy."
Tribal Council
The players walk into the Tribal Council area with their torches ablaze. They set down their torches, then take their designated seats.
"We now bring in the members of our jury," Jet states. "Rei, Kaji, Misato, and, voted out at the last Tribal Council, Kyon."
The jury members take their spots opposite the players.
"Let's start out with the reward challenge," Jet says. "Meilin, you were the unlucky one in that scenario, as you lost and got sent to Exile."
"Oh, I don't think I was that unlucky," Meilin says. "I got something out of it."
"Oh, so you're saying that you found an immunity plushie?" Jet asks.
Light and Ryoko look at each other nervously.
"I may have, I may not have, you'll see," Meilin states.
"Okay, Rangiku, let's get to you," Jet states. "You had an advantage in the immunity challenge, yet you blew it. Do you think that will come back to haunt you?"
"Not at all," Rangiku says. "Because Light made a promise that any members of this alliance would give up immunity if I didn't win it, as long as I promised them my vote."
"Is that so?" Ryoko responds. "Because I'm not giving up my immunity."
"What?" Rangiku asks. "You made the deal, Light, make her stay to it."
"I've left it up to Ryoko to make that choice," Light states. "If not, feel free to vote for whoever, Rangiku."
"Then I'll vote for you, for not keeping the deal, Light," Rangiku says.
"On second thought, I will give up my immunity," Ryoko says.
Rangiku immediately smiles, as does Light.
"Wait a minute! Wait a minute! It isn't time for the vote yet!" Jet says. "I still have more to say to you!"
"Just skip it and let us vote," Ryoko responds.
"If you say so," Jet states. "Ryoko, you have the Immunity Beads of Subjugation. You may keep them, or give them up to anyone."
"I am giving them up," Ryoko announces.
Rangiku looks on excitedly. Light grins as well.
"Erika, you may have immunity," Ryoko says, putting the necklace around Erika's neck. A surprised Erika can only smile as she receives immunity. Light and Rangiku both look on in total shock.
"Suddenly, Erika, you are safe," Jet states. "It is time to vote. Erika, you're up first."
The Tribal Council theme "Tally the Vote" plays as Erika gets up from her seat.
Erika goes to vote.
Haruhi goes to vote.
"Oops, sorry, Meilin, I'm not keeping my promise to you!" Haruhi says.
Light goes to vote.
"I have no idea what you were thinking, Ryoko, but if it works the way I think it will, we're in no danger," Light says.
Meilin goes to vote.
Rangiku goes to vote.
"This is payback," Rangiku says.
Ryoko goes to vote.
After Ryoko comes back from voting, Jet says, "I'll go tally the votes."
Jet gathers the votes, rearranges them, then returns to the players.
"If anyone has an immunity plushie, and you would like to play it, now would be the time to do so," Jet states.
Haruhi gets up from her seat and walks over to Jet, while Light and Ryoko smile.
"Here you go," she says, handing Meilin's bag to Jet.
"You want me to open it?" Jet asks Haruhi.
"No, I am claiming that this bag is an immunity plushie," Haruhi states confidently.
Everyone looks on in total confusion. Even Jet does not know what to say.
"As you wish, Haruhi," Jet says.
Haruhi heads back to her seat.
"The rules of Survivor state that if an immunity plushie is played, none of the votes against that person count, and the person with the second-most votes is sent home," Jet states. "This, obviously, is not an immunity plushie."
He goes to throw the bag into the fire.
"Wait! That's my bag!" Meilin protests.
"Sorry, but that's what I do to fake immunity plushies, I throw them in the fire," Jet says.
He tosses the bag into the fire. Meilin stares angrily at Haruhi.
"I knew there was no plushie in that bag, I just did that to make you mad," Haruhi tells Meilin.
"Can she do that?" Meilin asks.
"She can play a fake immunity plushie, sure," Jet says. "But all votes cast against Haruhi do count. Once the votes are read, the decision is final, and the person voted out will be asked to return to the world of the living immediately. I'll read the votes."
He pulls out the first vote. "Meilin," he reads.
Meilin stares angrily at Haruhi. "You voted for me, didn't you?" she asks.
"Quiet!" Jet snaps. He pulls out the next vote.
"Light," he reads. "One vote Meilin, one vote Light."
Jet pulls out the third vote.
"Ryoko," Jet says. "One vote Meilin, one vote Light, one vote Ryoko."
As Light smiles, Jet pulls out the next vote.
"Rangiku," Jet says. "One vote Meilin, one vote Light, one vote Ryoko, one vote Rangiku, two votes left."
He pulls out the next vote and opens it slowly.
"Rangiku," Jet reads it. "Two votes Rangiku, one vote Meilin, one vote Light, one vote Ryoko, one vote left."
Light has a huge smile on his face while Jet pulls out the final vote.
"Nineteenth person voted out of Survivor: Seireitei Forest, and the fifth member of our jury," Jet says. "Rangiku Matsumoto. That's your third vote, and it is enough. You need to bring me your torch."
Rangiku sighs as she gets up and picks up her torch, then holds it out before Jet.
"Rangiku, the tribe has spoken," Jet states, as he snuffs out her torch. "It's time for you to go."
Rangiku waves to Meilin as she enters the door to the world of the living.
"Thirty-three days in, and everyone's playing this game a different way," Jet says. "Now the question is, can you play it the right way to win the game? Grab your torches, head back to camp, good night."
The players grab their torches and walk back towards their camp.
"It was an amazing run, I'm proud of myself," Rangiku says. "I think I even made it farther than Captain Hitsugaya did. If only Light would have kept his promise, I'd still be around."
(Who voted for whom:
Erika – Rangiku
Haruhi – Meilin
Light – Rangiku
Meilin – Light
Rangiku – Ryoko
Ryoko – Rangiku)
Scenes from our next episode:
The players receive a surprising message:
The players all go together to retrieve their tree mail. What they find comes as a complete surprise.
There is a two-part immunity challenge:
"There are two parts of this challenge," Jet states.
And Light tries an extremely bold plan:
"This is the day of reckoning, the day I make the move that wins this game," Light says.