Who doesn't Hirono trust?
May. 1st, 2005
11:58 pm - Hirono Shimizu and Shinji Mimura: D7 - Out
(OOC: Damn you writer's block! And on my last entry as well! But as things need to move forward, this is the last Hirono post! ever *tear*)
Hirono gazed up into the cloudy sky, laughing to herself. Her fight with the guards seemed almost funny now. She no longer felt guilty for wrong she had done in the past. Now it was all about survival. The survival or her and Shinji. As long as that was accomplished, nothing else mattered.
A few moments later, she heard the sound of footsteps echoing through the trees, and turned to see Shinji running gleefully towards her. As he got close, he threw something at her while laughing out loud. Hirono raised an eyebrow as she caught it, and looking down into her hands, saw it was a small bottle of poison. An empty bottle. She grinned. “Ha ha, Wow! The old bastard got what he deserved then!”
“Hell yeah! I fucking rule!” Shinji replied loudly, punching the air victoriously. They had done it. They had beaten Kitano and Battle Royale. Together.
Hirono moved forward, wrapping her arms around him, pulling him closer to kiss. “I’m so proud of you!” she said affectionately, running her hand through his hair.
He winked flirtatiously, before looking around at the burning truck and two corpses lying on the ground. He whistled admiration, before ruffling Hirono’s hair. “Looks like a fun party. Shame I was late!”
“I had it under control the whole time!” Hirono said teasingly.
Shinji nodded, gazing down at the burning corpse of the guard on the truck. Turning towards the shore, his eyes lit up. “Ah look! Our limo’s here!”
He extended his arm like a gentleman, and Hirono curtsied before taking it. They both burst into fits of laughter. It was such an elation to finally be free of the Battle Royale that had claimed their friends. Their future awaited them, just as if nothing had ever happened. Now life just seemed even more exiting. Hirono had the prospect of living happily now. She had managed to prove to someone that she was more than the rumour. And in return, she had found love. A love that ran far deeper than anyone could ever know.
“What you say you and me get off this pile of shit?” Shinji asked, taking Hirono’s hand again, but more seriously this time. “We could go out, get a few drinks. And you can pay!”
Hirono sighed. “You cheeky…! Oh well, I’ll make a man of you yet!”, and with that, they stepped into the boat, and started the motor. Hirono kissed Shinji on the check, before the two of them turned back, to watch the island as they sped away. Smaller and smaller it got, flying off into open sea. Behind them they left the bodies of their classmates. 40 deaths that shouldn’t have happened, and 1 that should. From a distance, the island had a haunting beauty about it.
Soon, Hirono found herself so overcome with emotion, that she turned away, facing instead the open water they were speeding into. It didn’t matter where they were going. Now they were finally moving forward. They would never forget what had happened on the island. And they would make sure that the government never forgot either.
Fuck them up?
Hirono exhaled triumphantly.
Oh Mitsuko, you‘d better believe it! We‘ve barely begun!
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/smile.gif){kind=small}
optimisticApr. 25th, 2005
03:13 pm - Hirono et al: G7. [Last breath?]
The grenade flew gracefully from Shinji's hand, towards the under-belly of the car. Hirono smiled sweetly as she saw it bounce playfully, caught under one of the car's wheels. The flames were rising magnificently up into the sky, silhouetting the car, as it slowly turned away.
Hirono’s heart beat was falling, each breath feeling like it would be the last. Her entire world was focused on that car. The grenade had been thrown… it was surely time?
Nothing was happening, even the flames seemed frozen. Hirono could feel in the pit of her stomach that something was wrong… horrible wrong.
Like the bird who flies obliviously into the pane of glass, the realisation swept over Hirono.
“The Pin?”
Shinji looked at her, his eyes wide with fear… and regret. He forgot to take out the fucking pin! Hirono knew that the game did things with your mind… but this was life and death right in front of them. Any mistake would cost their lives…
“Yeah… You keep believing you’re gonna pull one over on us!”
The sound of Kawada’s voice momentarily paralized Hirono. Her head sprung around to gape in awe at the car, which had turned and was now making it’s was towards her and Shinji. He grabbed her arm. “Run!”
The car was traveling fast now… too fast. Hirono struggled against the pain in her muscles. They felt like lead, but she had to fight against it… had to keep running, no matter what!
Daddy! Hirono yelled, the tears streaming away from her face as she ran. The car spead around the corner. Hirono was panting for breath, her lungs feeling like they were being cut and shreaded, but she didn’t stop. She couldn’t… Daddy said he wouldn’t ever go away. Best Daddy ever…
She rounded the corner to a busy street. Cars swarmed the roat, driving fast, and Hirono couldn’t see her Daddy’s car through the tempest. Then, a flash of read over one of the other streets. She had seen it. All she had to do was get there.
The cars along the road were still driving fast, and as she reached the roadside, they showed absolutely no intention of slowing for her. Time was passing… he was driving away and she had to stop him fro getting away. He said he’d never leave…
She closed her eyes and ran full pelt into the road. There was a screeching noise, as cars colided around her, struggling not to run her over. She froze and opened her eyes. A large truck, now headed straight for her as she stood alone in the middle of the street. She screamed out, turning to run again. She flung herself on the pavement, landing painfully on her front as the truck sped past.
Shouts of angry motorists clinged to the air, but Hirono didn’t care. She had to keep running, no matter what!
As she finally turned the corner, she saw the car! The road was completely empty, eerily so, and there was a light breeze in the fading light. The windscreen seemed black, and Hirono couldn’t see inside.
She began to run again. “Daddy! Daddy! Come back!”
The car stood ominously, almost like a living creature. There was a low rumbling noise, and it slowly swung into motion, it’s wheels turning slowly at first, coming back to Hirono! He had seen her and everything was going to be alright!
She beamed. He had seen her… he was comming
But wait… it was getting faster. Hirono’s heart was pounding faster, as she slowed and looked at confusion towards the accelerating car. Coming so fast…
It wasn’t far off, it was going to run her over! Hirono screamed out. “Daddy!” but the car continued to move, like a predator, moving unstopably. She turned now in fear, and began to run, screaming out for help. It was almost on her, her muscles simply wouldn’t work well enough! It was going to run her over! She felt the metal of the bonet his her back. Everything was over…
“WAKE UP!” screamed Iijima.
“Hirono, please!” Yoshimi cried from behind him. Hirono slowly opened her eyes. She didn’t have a clue where she was. Somewhere very light, a lot of white, and lots of people crowding around her. But she felt comforted, relaxed, and sleepy.
She raised her hand over her eyes, confused and a little scared.
Mitsuko ran forward, and grabbed Hirono’s head in her hands, forcing Hirono to look at her and pay attention.
“Listen to me! You are not going to die Hirono! You hear me? You’ve come to far!”
“Am I in heaven?” Hirono asked, whispering at Mitsuko, her voice seeming faint, almost as if she wasn’t really there at all, yet she continued to smile pleasantly.
“No Hirono! Listen! You have to get back now! Wake up and do what you have to do! Everyone’s hopes are riding on you now Hirono! You can’t give up now, you’re so close! You can do this, you’re a fighter! I believe in you!”
Mitsuko’s hands were slipping away now. So was everyone else. Hirono waved gently, still bemused by the whole thing. There they all stood, the rest of the class, staring at her as if it was a matter of life and death…
“RUN HIRONO!”
Shinji grabbed her arm and rushed forward, dragging her with him. Hirono smiled. “What?”
But then she heard the dreaded noise of a car accelerating from behind her. She glanced around, to see Kawada and Yuko perched in the front staring out at her, smiling sweetly.
Everything flooded back.
Today’s lesson is… you kill each other off… It’s my choice, and I don’t want to play… Chisato!… We can never forget what we did here… Kitano can hear everything… There has to be a way out… No one deserves to die!… I love you Keiko… Run!…
Run!
Hirono’s legs finally kicked into motion. Pained at first, but eventually setting into a rhythm. She was tired from their previous run, but she would rip off every muscle on her body if she had too. All that mattered was to keep running. The car was travelling way too fast though, Hirono was almost blinded by the fear that was clouding her head. They wouldn’t make it in time…
“Hirono. Live. Please live. You've got to fight...but you have to live. Survive. Fuck them all up”
Hirono turned and pushed with all her might against Shinji, who was thrown to the side, against a small pile of cardboard boxes. Hirono then leapt to the other side, every last piece of strength she could find flowing through her muscles.
“Thank you Mitsuko…”
This time her timing had been perfect. The car had been travelling too fast, and now it was too close to the warehouse to stop. She could see they were desperately trying to get off course. The car was lurching unnaturally as if veered around to the side, almost toppling over before smashing into the side of the warehouse. The metal screeched and warped under the pressure of the impact before giving way. The roof of the warehouse tilted, swaying in the wind, looking as if at any moment, the entire structure could plummet to the ground.
Hirono stared at her limbs. They lay limply at her sides, immobile and painful. A deadly silence had come to rest in the courtyard. Only the swaying of the warehouse and sounds of metal slowly buckling could be heard. There was an eerie breeze that brushed over Hirono's face, but it moved silently.
Hirono was struggling to get up, yet she couldn’t move anymore. She had already given all she could. Were Yuko and Kawada dead? She hoped so. Then Shinji could survive and go home. Everything would have been worth it. Not one drop of her blood or tears would have been in vain. She smiled, welcoming the light that was opening overhead. The sky seemed to part.
She was bathed in a glorious light, and felt a lifting sensation. She was rising up. All that mattered was that Shinji was safe.
A large metal door was coming in front of her eyes now, the only feature in a wall that stretched around the white landscape as far as the eyes could see. There were people peering over the edge of the wall, some smiling, some frowning. Hirono gazed up, feeling exited rather than anything else.
The doors creaked open, and Mitsuko stepped out slowly.
“I see you made it!” she said, smiling sweetly.
Hirono nodded, almost feeling proud. She had died happy… more than anyone could ever have asked.
Mitsuko reached out with her hand, and Hirono took it. They smiled for a few more seconds before embracing tightly.
“I missed you so much…” Hirono whimpered. Feeling Mitsuko’s tight hold again was the most comforting thing that she had felt in a long time.
“I’m so proud of you!” Mitsuko giggled, tears of happiness filling her eyes.
She turned to walk back through the gates and Hirono followed. Inside there were many tables, and around them sat the various class members. Some deep in conversation, some sat alone thinking, and some coming up to greet her.
At the forefront of the approaching crowd were Yuko and Kawada. They were smiling, and Hirono couldn’t help herself but smile back. Nothing that had happened down on the island mattered anymore.
“Nice one… guess that’s a draw then!” Kawada said, grinning widely. Hirono nodded. “Yeah, I guess so”. They shook hands. Now it was over.
“So Hirono, who are you going to bet on now?” asked Mitsuko. “Chigusa or Hiroki?”
Hirono stared at her blankly before answering. “Shinji actually.”
Everyone stared at her, almost as if she was mad. “What?” she said irritably.
“Too late” said a familiar voice from behind her. There Shinji stood, smiling down at her. “Sorry, couldn’t quite hold it together. That throw of yours really hurt…”
He rubbed the back of his neck and grinned sadistically. “But that doesn’t matter… because I love you”
Hirono couldn’t move again. “But… No! Shinji!”
“Shh… it’s alright” he said, holding her close and rubbing his fingers through her hair. She could see Kawada over his shoulder, grinning at her.
“It’s not real…” she slowly said, stepping back from Shinji.
“What?” he said, his mouth still fixed in a grin.
There was a long pause while Hirono stared at him in disbelief, and everyone in turn gazed at her, waiting for her reaction.
“If I tried to kill myself to save you, would you stop me?” she asked eventually.
“Hirono…” Shinji said slowly, “You know I’d save you”
Hirono shook her head, and smiled back. “Then you’re not Shinji…”
All of the other classmates were crowding around her now, their woulds now showing. Iijima’s open skull, Yoshimi’s empty throat, Mitsuko’s stomach wound. They were reaching out at her… “It’s not real!” she screamed again.
Shinji would understand… he knows what I have to do
They were fading, and she was slipping back down.
Thump.
She was back on the ground, her mind racing with the overwhelming pain.
Enough Hirono! It’s the game… it’s getting to you! Don’t give up! You have to finish this! Now get a fucking grip!
Gradually, she managed to roll over onto her side, her hands down on the ground pushing her up. She fought against the aches in her muscles, and gritting her teeth, slowly bent her knees, and finally stood up.
I can do this… I have to do this…
Shinji had to still be alive. But there wasn’t time to check. As much as she loved him, she had to make sure Yuko and Kawada were dead first. It was the only option. Keep moving forward. She reached down and grabbed the shotgun, and slowly crept towards the car, her eyes still dizzy, and her head pounding. Everything that had happened in the game before had been culminating towards this. She was not going to fuck up now.
The door flew open, and Kawada emerged. Hirono stopped dead. So he was still alive… he wouldn’t be for much longer.
The two of them stood there, transfixed, both acknowledging what they had to do. This time, neither of them would give up. It had all come down to this. Hirono raised the shotgun as his Gun came to point at her too.
.Mitsuko… this is for you. I’ll survive this, I’ll make sure of it. We’ll get out and fuck everything up.
I promise.
“You know what you did…”
I have to protect Shinji… no matter what the cost…
Would these tears be the last of Hirono Shimizu? Would it end like this?
Mitsuko… Yoshimi… Iijima… don’t let me die. Not now…
There was the sound of a powerful gunshot. Then everything turned black.
(OOC: yes, it’s a Fight to the Death vote. To vote, reply to this entry. You aren’t voting wounds or anything like that. Vote either Kawada to win, or Hirono to win, and then your reasons ^_^ The time is 3:13 GMT+0)
Apr. 15th, 2005
12:57 am - Hirono: G4
"If we make it through this by some miracle, your ass owes me one huge fucking favour."
Hirono wanted to talk back to this, but realised quickly that it wouldn't only make Numai closer to pulling the trigger. Besides, if the tables were reversed, if it was her standing over Mimura's body and Izumi and Numai holding her at gunpoint, she would be firing right now. Not caring about living or not.
"My problem with you Mitsuru, is trust." Shinji said, trying to get across the point while keeping the peace. "To be honest, I would rather you point the fucking gun away from us if you don't mind."
Mitsuru was considering every move with complete precision. Hirono knew he was no stranger to rough situations like this, but still. He was alone now. No gang anymore. She was surprised he wasn't firing, hadn't given up to the game. He must be a lot stronger than I ever gave him credit for... How many other people have I overlooked! How many out there? Dying valiantly? Dying to save friends, refusing to play the game? And we haven't been able to save any of them. This has to stop now!
"To be very honest, I would be happy if you weren't holding a gun at all, but I don't think you really wanna let go of those babys do you? So this brings us down to trust, really doesn't it? Do I trust you not to shoot us the minute we turn are backs, well, me knowing what I'm thinking I know the answer is no. But I do trust that your a good guy, so I hope you'll do the right thing."
Hirono glanced over at Mimura. He seemed to know what he was doing. Should she say something? He hasn't fired yet! I would have...
"I am truly sorry about Izumi, god knows I wish things had played out differently, but they didn't. I know what your feeling...to lose someone so close to you. Someone you care about, it hurts, it hurts more than anything, you feeling like the pain will never go away, but it does Mitsuru...and it will. There will be time for mourning, but not now. Now we set about making sure that we won't be next ok? Stick with us Mitsuru, We will be the ones leaving this place alive."
The two boys shook hands valiantly, and Hirono breathed a sigh of relief, finally feeling able to lower her gun. Numai was being so brave... they were lucky to have found him. "For Izumi..." he said.
"For Izumi," Shinji repeated. "For everyone."
"For everyone. For everyone who has died here, and for those we can still save" Hirono said, joining in. The two boys looked over at her. Mimura was grinning, obviously feeling accomplished. Numai still frowned at her. Hirono didn't mind. She couldn't be happier. Let him frown. I deserve to be frowned at.
After standing around for a little while like lemons, they had decided to go back in and start looking for bomb components right away. Mimura had roughly explained to Numai, who was even worse than Hirono was at science, and so had no clue what to look for. He instead decided to go keep some sort of watch, although it was impossible considering how many entrances and hiding places there were. Hirono suspected he wanted to be alone with Izumi. Before he went off, they arranged that Hirono and Shinji should go and talk about how they would stab Numai in the back, just for Kitano to hear. Shinji had thought it best to tell Numai in case he overheard...
Numai has walked off to a random warehouse, while Shinji and Hirono went to one that looked full of industrial goods that would be useful. She could see that he wasn't too keen on letting Numai loose, but reassured him on the notepad.
"He's incredibly brave. He didn't shoot us... what more could we have asked for? Let him just have his time...
When they reached warehouse "Number 5", they found it full of piled of various things with names Hirono didn't recognise. Lots of boxes, a few liquid containers and sacks dotted around. As they searched through it all, looking for the components of gunpowder, they put on their fake act.
"God Damn, thought he'd shoot us there and then!" said Shinji spitefully.
"Why didn't you just shoot?"
"He'd have shot me... he's got a machine gun. He could have got you, and we don't fire at each other till the last 2, right?"
"Right" said Hirono. Then Hirono realised that if they were the last two alive, they wouldn't kill each other. Just to make sure Kitano didn't get suspicious if that ever really happened, she added: "But only at the end of day three. Us as the last two, I'd die and let you live. So we would wait"
"Sure" said Shinji, still playing along. Hirono couldn't tell if he knew she was serious. She would die if she had too. Still, they would escape first.
Shinji walked over to one of the boxes, peering inside. "Shit"
"What?" asked Hirono.
"Numai could easily ambush us in here" Shinji said while handing Hirono a piece of paper which read "I think Kitano's taken away the Potassium Nitrate" Hirono noticed he had spelt Potassium Nitrate in the Katakana rather than Kanji for her. She snorted at this, shoving the paper back at him playfully and rolling her eyes.
Shinji tried to tug off the lid of another box, straining his muscles before letting them drop and cursing under his breath.
"Hey Hirono, come over here and give me a hand!" he called.
Hirono blinked, completely taken aback. "What... what did you say?"
"Hey Hirono, come over here and give me a hand!" Called Mr. Hanakami in what must have been an attempt at a flirtatious voice. Hirono sighed, and quickly finished applying her lipstick in the shabby mirror. Mr. Hanakami's house really was scabby, and mouldy too. Hirono quickly threw the lipstick into her handbag and turned around.
There were some men who really deserved a slap. This guy was one of them. Standing there giggling to himself and rubbing his mucky hands, like a schoolchild who has learn the word "willy" for the first time. He really disgusted her, but he was a good payer. And gullible. The type of person you could fuck twice, and if you told him you were a virgin the second time, he'd believe you. Plus, he never knew when he was being ripped off.
"You look... really pretty" he said in a disgustingly childish voice. He spat as he spoke, not that it made any difference to the uncleaned carpet. It was the type of house where you didn't really want to lean against the walls for fear whatever that greenish-black coating on them would come off on you. It was a high price to pay. What was more, he had no central heating. Hirono's outfit was extremely revealing, and she was freezing.
He walked up to her, and clasped his arms around her. She struggled to breath with the thick woolly jumper being pushed into her face, stifling her with it's resident BO odour. She was beginning to feel slightly sick. She was a prostitute, but she did have some standards, and this was too much.
Pushing him away forcefully, she wiped the lipstick off with the back of her hand and reached into her handbag to retrieve the money he had given her. "OK, I'm cutting this session here. I'm going home" she said sharply.
She turned to leave, groaning as the carpet made a sucking noise as her high heels left them. How could anyone let their house get this dirty. The whole place should be burned down. Why the fuck was she doing this? Surely she was worth more.
Then she felt a slimy hand grab around the bare skin of her arm, pulling her round, pulling her back.
"Let go of me!" Hirono shrieked, spitting her words like poison, but before she could scream further, he lent in, closing his eyes, his tongue slopping saliva all over her face. She struggled furiously to get loose of his iron grip, trying to free her hands to beat at him, but she couldn't get them free.
When his tongue finally withdrew Hirono wailed out. She hadn't dared to open her mouth before in case he had taken it as an invitation. "I'll tell your wife!" she screeched. His expression changed.
"Little girls who do bad things get spanked" he said in monotone.
"You have to be kidding me! Get off you creep!" shouted Hirono, finally getting an arm free, and slamming it into his face.
She ran towards the door, yanking it open. The cold night air hit her like a wall of ice, but she ran out of the house and into the street all the same. Tears were steaming from her face. "Why do I do this to myself!" she sobbed as she ran, hearing Mr. Hanakami yelling from his doorway. This only produced a new stream of tears in Hirono. She didn't deserve to be called those things, did she?
She finally lost her balance and fell over onto the pavement, grazing herself badly and ripping the fishnet tights. She sat up, and begun to weep into her hands. She knew she should stop doing this to herself. She also knew she could never quit. Mitsuko wanted her to so badly. Maybe it was the control, but either way, Hirono and Yoshimi didn't have anyone else. They needed Mitsuko. That's why they had done it. Without Mitsuko they were nothing. Who had befriended Hirono when they were at school that first day? Hirono had sat on her own, Ryuhei had even thrown stuff at her, before he had even known her name. Hiroki had waved at her, but when she waved back, he looked as if she had offended him somehow. When she looked behind her, she saw Chigusa. He had been waving at her, not Hirono. The pair of them had walked off, and Hirono could hear them laughing. But the next day, Mitsuko had found Hirono and asked her if she wanted to play with her and Yoshimi. Funny how things since primary school never changed...
She had to be a prostitute. It was the only path people had ever let her tread. They all thought of her as almost less than human for it, but they had never let her be anyone else... and all she had wanted was to be Hirono Shimizu
"Hiro?"
Shinji was glaring at her. She was taken aback. How long had she just been standing there?
"Sorry... I..."
Suddenly, a crashing noise from behind Hirono made her jump. It echoed around the metallic interior of the warehouse, making it seem 10 times louder than it had been. Something or someone had fallen? Numai, was he in trouble?
Hirono whirled around, trying to work out which direction it had come from. Shinji was already setting off though, gun raised. Hirono followed him closely, hoping he knew where to go.
As the turned around another corner, Hirono saw the pile of toppled boxes, and below them...
"Mitsuko!?"
Hirono ran forward to where her friend was lying on the floor. Mitsuko slowly tilted her head up, her eyes widening and her mouth turning to a grin. "Hirono.." she said. Her voice was quiet, not the same voice of the feisty Hardcore Souma Hirono knew and loved. The life was draining from here, right in front of Hirono. She looked down, spotting the bullet wound. Who! I'll fucking kill them! Who killed Mitsuko? thought Hirono furiously.
"What happened? Who did this?" she said, staring at Mitsuko in the eyes.
She shook her head. "Last person I ever expected," she coughed out. "And the transfer. Watch out, Hirono. Dangerous."
Hirono nodded silently, before turning back to Shinji. They didn't need any words anymore. The look in Hirono's eyes was clearly asking Mimura if anything could be done to save Mitsuko. His downward glance, and sad expression answered her.
"Mimura? Take care of Hirono." Mitsuko said, her voice becoming a whisper, quieter and quieter, till it would inevitable diminish. Like a beautiful flame. Misunderstood, only ever seen for how it burns, never for it's beauty, and blown out far too soon...
"This hurts.. badly..." Mitsuko said, almost sobbing. The pain was laced like poison through her voice, dripping down into Hirono's heart. Holding Mitsuko like that. Never, not even Hirono had felt pain like that.
"I'm going to die." Mitsuko said bluntly, her voice fading further.
Hirono was completely overcome. She couldn't save her friend! She was loosing Mitsuko. No! Anyone but Mitsuko! Please... just don't let me lose Mitsuko!
"No. Don't say that!" she cried out. "No! Too much has been lost already! I've lost too many friends!"
"Hirono..." she murmured. "Survive. Fuck them all up." Her voice was barely a whisper of air now
Tears clouded Hirono’s vision, but she fought against them. She wanted her last image of Mitsuko to be perfect, just like it should be. Nothing less than perfect for Mitsuko. She deserved nothing less. "It's.. okay" she whispered close to Hirono's ear. "I deserve it. I killed.. Hirsohi.. Shou... Niida. Just to… win this."
"No, Mitsuko. Kitano killed them." Hirono said passionately. Killed every last one...
Their faces were so close, but Mitsuko's eyes were looking through Hirono now. She was loosing her! One last thing... one last thing she needed to know of Mitsuko. She glanced at Shinji first, finding the strength to ask what she had never been able to before
"Mitsuko...Were we ever bad people?" Hirono sobbed, her voice almost obscured by her own sobbing.
"No. You were never a bad person, Hirono. Live. Please live. You've got to fight...but you have to live. That's just how life is. Just watch out for the transfer and..."
Mitsuko's body slumped down, hanging loosely like rag doll. So beautiful, so stunningly beautiful. No matter what Kitano could take from them, they could never take that. Her inner beauty, what people had always failed to see, and what they could now never see. Inner beauty. That's what Mitsuko really was. The most beautiful person in the whole world.
Bitch.
Prostitute.
Best Friend.
They had never been nice at school. No one had given them the chance. At least the legions of people who had entered Mitsuko's life only to fuck it up before leaving again could never hurt her now. She wasn't in anymore pain now. All that was left was the beauty, almost blinding now that it was all that was left.
Hirono wrapped her arms around Mitsuko tightly, pulling her body closer, and crying so violently that it hurt. Kitano could never be forgiven for this. Mitsuko's blood was on his hands. He wasn't worthy of her blood. Kitano wasn't even worthy of all the pain Mitsuko had been through. And he had made it even worse for her. Pushed her over the edge, and now she was gone. Just like that, never to return.
He will die for this Mitsuko. I promise. Fuck him up? He'll never know what has hit him. All the pain you've been through, all the pain in the world, he'll feel it. I'll make sure it will consume him! You always knew me so well Mitsuko... you knew I could be mean when I needed. If only you knew how much! But I know you're still here, right with us, standing by us. We'll fuck Kitano right up, and I just know you'll be there laughing with us, smiling with us. And when he reaches the afterlife, you and Yoshimi and everyone else better kick his ass. I know you will.
Mitsuko... I've never ever been prouder in my whole life. Never been prouder to call you my friend. The best friend in the whole world. Hardcore Souma... worth more than anyone had ever known.
Goodbye...
Hirono screamed out. The pain was too much. She was hugging Mitsuko's body as tightly as she could. But the closer she pulled her, the more distant her friend seemed. Eventually, the pain got the better of her.
She threw the body back down to the floor, screaming and shouting even more, shaking the body as violently as she could.
"Wake up! Wake up Mitsuko!"
There was no response from the body, no movement or anything. Just lifelessness...
"Wake up Mitsuko! Please! It's hurting again!"
Shinji stood silently behind her, in tears himself. Numai had reached the door, and stood watching them.
"Mitsuko!" Hirono screamed, her voice drowning with the tears. She still shook the body furiously, unable to curb her rage.
"I can't go on without you Mitsuko! Please! Please... just wake up!"
Eventually, Hirono collapsed on the floor, and Shinji rushed to her. She was completely oblivious to him holding her up, and hugging her comfortingly.
"Mitsuko! Please! Please!"
Apr. 12th, 2005
10:04 pm - Hirono, Shinji and Numai: G4
Hirono stood, watching Izumi slipping away in front of Numai. Hirono was trembling, her mouth hanging open, her eyes vacant and disbelieving
3? That makes your third kill Hirono! Yoshimi... Ryuhei and Izumi. You killed 3 people, just like Kitano wants. You're doing everything you swore you wouldn't. Everything they expected of you. Who will be next then? Numai? Mitsuko? Mimura?
Hirono fought against the voice. Rising up inside her... Iijima's voice...
I swore to protect him at all costs! I knew there would be casualties! It can't be helped!
Iijima was so close now, walking around the door. This time Hirono knew not to fire. Of course, he still loved her, and she... did she love him? Had she ever in the first place? She loved Mimura, more than anything. Iijima was not just a memory. She had been inhumanly disgraceful to him, she knew that. Seeing him there, she began to tremble even more. She didn't love him... she was scared of him.
His face was crushed at the front, blood had run down from it all over his front. He was barely recognisable, his nose cracked and deformed, a huge dent in the middle of his face. The bones had snapped off in places, and brain seemed to have dribbled out from the shot wound between his eyes. Hirono could see from where she was that his head was hollow... decaying yet somehow fresh. That pain... so fresh.
He looked down at Izumi and Numai. The two of them posing as if for some artist. Izumi stretched out gloriously, and Numai arching over her, holding her soothingly. Posing almost like a marble statue… so beautiful…
Iijima looked up, looking almost amused. "Why," he began, amusement ringing through his voice. "Why did you kill her? What did she ever do to deserve that!"
"She didn’t deserve that." Hirono shrieked at Iijima. Why doesn't he understand! I never meant for him to die... for anyone to die! "No one deserves that, but it had to be done, she was trying to kill us!"
She was trembling more now, her voice raising in pitch.
"She would never do that! Not willingly!" he said, with an air of sarcasm "You murdered her!"
"Murdered Her! Murdered Her! Murdered Her!" screeched the echo of his voice, rising higher and higher in her mind. Swirling her around, a tempest of accusation.
Hirono wanted to scream out, tell them she hadn't meant it. They weren't listening to her. Looking down, the whole class with Iijima at the front. They all bore the marks of their deaths. Huge gaping and decaying wounds. Behind Iijima stood Yoshimi and Kiriyama, staring at Hirono... accusing "Murdered Her! Murdered Her! Murdered Her!"
I never meant it to be like this! I can't stop this!
"Murdered Her! Murdered Her! Murdered Her!"
Wait, she could see Mimura, there in the ranks of classmates! He wasn't accusing her at all! He was still alive of course! She had to get back! She had to protect him. If these were the costs, so be it. She had to
Mimura was shouting out to her. She struggled to hear over the chorus...
"Murdered Her! Murdered Her! Murdered Her!"
"Enough!" He cried out, commanding and authoritarian. He had come to rescue Hirono from them, from the class of murdered friends.Snap out of it Hirono!
Hirono gasped. Lack of sleep kicking in… she was hallucinating! Back in the courtyard… She had been there all along... what had she been thinking? This was no time to be acting like that... she had to keep focused. Shinji needed her... she couldn't afford to fuck up now. Protect him at all costs
"We did not kill her the game killed her!"
Hirono blinked. Was she really seeing things right? Shinji and Mitsuru, guns raised at each other. She gasped... he needed her now! She raised her gun at Numai, her intention this time clear in her mind. I have to keep firing. Firing until the only people left can help us escape. It just… has to be like that.
"How long does it take to kill us both Mitsuru?" Shinji said. Such a hero… as long as he was alive, Hirono just knew she would eventually get off the island with him. "Take out one of us and the other guns you down, can't say it simpler than that."
There was a pause. Shinji spoke again, still strongly and clearly "You pull that trigger number seventeen, and I swear to you that will be the last thing you ever do."
It was make or break time. What was Numai going to do? Surely he must know by now that Hirono and Shinji would fire if they had to. Their raised guns, and Izumi’s body were proof of that. If Numai was going to try get revenge for her, or try to win the game now that the gang were all gone but him, if he would try anything, he would find himself the fifth body in the slowly rising pile in the courtyard.
"Join us or leave us, your choice Mitsuru, but if you so even much as touch that trigger, I swear; you will die."
“Please Numai…” Hirono sniffed. Eyes blazing, he swung around to face her, the aim of his gun switching from Shinji to her.
Thank God. At least if he fires… it won’t be at Shinji now… Hirono thought, almost wanting to smile.
Stalemate
Apr. 11th, 2005
10:09 pm
Hirono just held on to Shinji's arm for comfort as they both gazed round. Hirono was more paranoid than Shinji seemed to be, as he ran his fingers through her hair and said soothingly "We're alright here"
The bodies in front of them really did smell terrible, and since her experiance with Oki, Hirono was understandably unkeen to get any closer to them. Shinji didn't really seem to be bothered either way. Hirono knew he would be desperately sad for Shuya, but they already knew of his death, and they couldn't change it.
"You wanna look around for things we can use?" Hirono asked, wanting desperately something to do to take her mind of the bodies.
"Yeah" said Shinji. Adding or effect "We might find somethings we can use as weapons, you never know. Plus some ammunition would be nice."
Hirono nodded absent mindedly, seemingly unaware that this really wasn't necesary as Kitano couldn't see her. But someone is watching... definately someone here... it looks empty, and that's what they want you to think! Put you off you're guard! Once you're in the courtyard...
Hirono stopped dead, and ran back over to Shinji, breaking him from his medatative mood. She leaned in and whispered in his ear. "The Bodies all lined up... why would anyone move them? And only one exit from the warehouse! Shinji! It's a trap! And we've walked right into it!"
Shinji's turned to her, a look of horror on his face.
Think fast Hirono...
Thankfully, Shinji did for her.
"Guns aimed up, and run for your life! Hopefully you're wrong though... I guess it could be coincidence..."
"Whose there?"
Hirono gasped, practically jumping out of her skin. "Shit!" she whispered from under her breath.
Shinji grabbed her shoulders and gazed into her eyes with a fixed gaze. Deadly serious. She hung off his every word.
"You see, you shoot. It's likely anyone who's alive had to be playing to have made it this far, appart from Chigusa and Hiroki, maybe Yamamoto. Either way, I'm not loosing you!"
Shinji raised his own gun, both of them aiming fixed at the dooray.
Shinji moved over to one side, ducking around the edge of some sort or portable office. Hirono moved to the other side, behind a wooden crate.
Again, the voice called out. "Whose there?"
This time Hirono was listening carefully. It sounded like Kanai. Definately not Mitsuko or Chigusa, only other girl was Yuko, and it sounded definately more like Kanai.
Shit... Kanai... throws a grenade at us then appears later being raped. She'll have been driven past more than Chisato was... she probably followed us the whole way here. She was with Mizuho... maybe she brings people here to... No! That's paranoid. Still... she's not safe anymore... she won't trust me. Oh God, I'm going to have to shoot again arn't I?
Kanai slowly stepped out from the doorway. Trembling, the poor little creature looked hardly human. Hair messed up, bleeding and shaking as if it was freezing cold. Here wild eyes scaned the courtyard, comming to rest on Hirono. It might have been Hirono's gun aimed, or just seeing Hirono again, but Kanai looked terrified.
Scared Kids do stupid things...
I'm going to have to shoot, arn't I?
Who doesn't Hirono trust
Kanai's hands gripped the machine gun. In that split second, Hirono couldn't tell what she was about to do. Throw it too the floor? Raise it and fire? She couldn't take any risks... they were so close to escaping. No one was going to start firing at them. Not when Mimura was close. Kanai had only just stepped into view, but it was time to make a decision.
Have to protect him... at all costs
Hirono squeezed the trigger tightly, with all the strength she could muster, as if the harder she pressed, the faster it would be.
Protect him... at all costs...
(OOC: Vote time. Does Hirono kill Kanai? It's 10:00 GMT+0)
08:55 pm - Hirono and Shinji: H6 to G4
This time it was very simple. Bomb = explosion. Hirono could get her head around that! It seemed like less could go wrong this time... it was just getting near D6 without Kitano realising about their plan. And without them getting killed of course. Only 9 other students out there... by noon there would be even less...
Pushing on through the forest, they began to head a little north. After their rest, they felt much more in the mood for walking. Their determination was really comming through and they covered more ground than they planned. Although it was rocky and steep in places, it was a generally easy walk.
Soon they came across an area with more buildings. Just a few littered around, varying in size. It appeared to be some sort of industrial complex. There was a security checkpoint blocking their way, but it was naturally abandoned, and Shinji and Hirono meerly climbed under the bar to get in.
Concrete paved the ground, cracking in places, and all the metal work seemed rusted and corroded. It looked ancient, and yet somehow recently abandoned. There were some abandoned crates near the entrance to one building, their contense of some rags spilling out of cracks in their sides. Everything seemed quiet and eerie. In front of them, rose up a taller structure. The warehouse!
The two of them were about to run forward, but thinking again, began to scout stealthily along the sides of the buildings, hoping if anyone was there, they wouldn't be noticed. Hirono couldn't help feeling someone was watching her...
When they reached the entrance to the warehouse, they found the building well lit compared to how they had imagined it. Large bay doors and various holes in the decaying roof made sure of that. It smelt musky and of mildew inside, but the smell was bareable. Looking around, the place seemed to have been disturbed. A discarded chair and some rope by the bottom of some stairs leading up into some sort of office. Inside the office, someone had definately been staying. A discarded empty bottle of water and general mess was the clue to that. No kit or overnight bags though. Hirono hoped that meant whoever had been there had moved on. Back down on the ground floor, Shinji was looking around between piles of industrial goods. There was a great deal of hiding places available to anyone here, and Hirono, fearing the worst, rushed to his site, brandishing the Uzi proudly. Down the other end of that building... it smelt a little worse.
"Ugh, it stinks!" said Shinji disapprovingly, raising his hand to cover his nose and mouth.
"Wait..." began Hirono suspiciously, stepping a little forward, sniffing at the air. "That doesn't smell like mildew..."
There was a breif pause as they looked at each other, seeing in each other's eyes they had reached the same conclusion at the same time.
"Oh God!"
The two of them rushed out, looking around frantically. Vaguelly knowing what they were looking for, their eyes darted around, trying to fix on something that wasn't metal. Then Hirono spotted a small patch of blood staining the floor of another warehouse.
"Shinji! Over here!" she called, as he ran to her.
"No good... body's been moved." he said bluntly, looking around. Then he gasped, and rushed over to another of the bay doors. "Oh God... Hirono!" he said slowly.
As Hirono saw the three bodies lying on the ground, she gasped and grabbed Shinji's arm.
Shuya, Mizuho and Kaori. All lying there, bullet ridden an decaying like the warehouses around them.
They paused, taken in awe by the bodies, just lying next to each other all neat and tidy. This was one ugly murder...
"Shinji..." sobbed Hirono, "what if whoever did this is still here! Shinji... I think we're being watched!"
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/angry.gif){kind=small}
SuspiciousApr. 10th, 2005
04:28 pm - Hirono and Shinji: H10 - east H6
The two of them stayed there for only a matter of about 2 minutes, calling out "Izumi! Kanai where are you!" helplessly. Eventually they realised they'd have to push on. Only 11 or less students alive but still, anyone else could hear them. They couldn't waste time. If Izumi hadn't already come back, then she was gone.
Walking beside Shinji as they headed west, Hirono was begining to realise that they might not be able to save anyone else appart from each other with their plan. It was too late... only 11 people left in the game. Even people who wouldn't play would already have been through so much. No one appart from the transfer had got this far without a friend dying. Unless the two transfers had been friends. Hirono was just glad they hadn't teamed up. That first one had been completely evil... two of them at the same time would have been unbeatable. Still, those that were playing couldn't be saved, and those who weren't would be starting anytime soon.
Looking at her map, she saw that the path would take them around the coast untill it sloped down gently into I6, which wouldn't be a very nice place to go. After having walked for quite some time [They had lost track of time], Hirono and Shinji left the path, avoiding it's southward decent towards the danger zone. They were now in H7, heading towards H6.
They came to rest against a clump of trees as they began to tire again. It was mainly Hirono of course, her muscles still aching from both of her recent sprints, but Shinji seemed to be out of breath too. Maybe it was the shock of how close he had come to death. But he was alive now, and that was all that mattered.
They were still holding hands tightly, even now as they rested, just being able to reach out and touch each other was more than enough for either of them. Neither planned to let the other go anytime soon. No fucking way...
"Shinji..." Hirono began.
"Yeah?" asked Shinji soothingly.
"What will you do if we find Mitsuko?"
It was a question Hirono couldn't put off any longer. She had to ask it... They might meet her soon anyway, and they had to know what to do. Hirono wouldn't want to kill Mitsuko on sight like she was sure Shinji would, but remembering Yoshimi's face after the attack on Chisato, Hirono knew she would do the same if Mitsuko betrayed her. No mercy for the people actually playing. There was a slight pause as Shinji seemed to be considering his words.
"If we see her, we fucking shoot her brains out!" said Shinji maliciously.
Hirono spun around to him, about to start shouting at this rection. Heartless... he knows how close I am to her! If that's what he really thinks, he could have at least said it without almost finding it funny!
But before she spoke, he once again raised his finger to her lips as he took out the notebook. Hirono clicked. Crafty bugger! ha ha, genius!
Of course, Kitano could hear them. Shinji was just making Kitano think they were playing to win. But what did Shinji really think? How much was he willing to trust Mitsuko? Still, he might not at all...
Hirono gingerly took the peice of paper from Shinji's hands. She trembled a little, as she looked down and read what he had written...
Apr. 9th, 2005
11:27 pm - Hirono and Shinji: "Oh Bugger!" I10 to H10
They stayed like that for a long while, just staring at each other, still in each other's arms. The lighthouse behind them was still smoking, but almost in slow motion. It didn't matter anymore. Staring into his eyes... lost in them. So this is what love feels like? The love when they love you back...?
Hirono never wanted to leave. Just her luck to find this with less than 2 days before their collars would explode... unless someone got either of them first. No, they had good weapons now, and would protect each other till the end. The very end.
Hirono smiled. The noise was over now. Everything seemed so peacefull. Mimura was smiling. He always looked so cute when he smiled, his face amost having dimples, but not quite... dimplets! Hirono smiled back, amused by the thought.
Then, as unpredictable as always, Mimura reached inside his bag, fishing out a pen and small notepad. Hirono raised an eyebrow. That was the notebook he sometimes took on trips to make it look like he was taking notes when in fact, he wasn't paying attention to the teacher at all. It always fooled staff members... what was he doing with it now?
He scribbled something down and handed over the peice of paper. Hirono sighed. His Kanji were always so scruffy. Still, she managed to read it.
"Play along. Our lives may well depend on you acting well!"
Now acting was another of Hirono's strengths. They'd pay more if they thought she was a vir... Don't think about that now! That's in the past!
She nodded uncertainly. Mimura continued.
"That's buggered up our plan. You realise what we have to do now?"
Hirono wasn't sure what he wanted her to answer with, so she remained quiet.
Mimura carried on, putting lots of sadness in his voice. It would have been belivable had Hirono not been watching his face, still grinning as he said it. "We're gonna have to play for real now Hirono. We can't escape, I'm all out of ideas. I'm sorry..."
Now Hirono got the point. She didn't realise exactly why Shinji was doing it, but "Our lives may well depend on you acting well!" wasn't the sort of comment she was going to take lightly.
"Maybe... but can we really win?"
"12 to go... 10 students left to kill! Sure we can try!"
"9 students to kill" Hirono corrected him, "I just got Ryuhei"
She waved the machine gun in front of Shinji's face.
"Hey, an Uzi! We definately have a shot. Whatever happens, one of us has to win! Remember that Hiro..." said Shinji.
"Yeah... whatever happens" replied Hirono sorrowfully.
She was about to question him, but he put his hands to his lips, and scribbled again. He handed Hirono two sheets this time.
"Kitano can hear everything we are saying. He knew about the plan, and he sabotaged it purposefully. He blew the electromagnet by activating the mains"
Hirono gasped as she read this. All of their effort... for nothing? Destined to fail from the very start...
The second peice. "Don't worry... now we know they can hear us, we really stand a change. I have another plan!"
Hirono raised an eyebrow, but before she could ask for the pen to write a message back in neat handwriting, he pulled her back up to her feet. "You ready to move? We don't wanna hang around here anymore. Too much attention so far for my liking. You keep the Uzi, and I'll just take back the shotgun if that's alright with you?"
Hirono handed the shotgun back. They quickly rearanged weapons so it was roughly fair, and then began to set off. "Where are we going?" asked Hirono, not sure if this was OK to say out loud.
"Warehouses. Probably lots of places to hide, ambush people, that sort of thing. We should stay low until it gets to the next report at least, let everyone fight amoungst themselves." Mimura replied, still putting on a voice of sadness.
It was only after they reached H10 that Hirono remembered Izumi.
"Oh God Shinji! I left her all alone here! She'd just been raped! I left her all alone!" said Hirono regretfully.
Stupid Hirono! How could you have forgotten her? She needed your help!
Shinji looked around. "Well, she ain't here now!"
"But there's Sasagawa's body right there... and here is where she was sitting!" said Hirono, pointing frantically.
"Izumi, where are you?"
No reply.
"Izumi?"
The silence of the fog, and the sea below were the only answers they recieved. "Oh God Shinji..." began Hirono. "She's run off! She's all alone again! She's gone..."
09:05 pm - Hirono and Shinji: H10 to I10
"Izumi? Izumi?"
Hirono bend down in front of Izumi's figure, slumped over in a cradle position, shaking and unresponsive.
Shit... she's gone through more than I have by far...
Although Hirono had been sure Izumi had been playing, she was overcome with sympathy now. Here was Izumi, looking completely helpless, and in need of Hirono's help. Still, the memories of that grenade stayed with Hirono, and she quickly walked over to Sasagawa's body to take the machine gun before Izumi did. Feeling it weighing down her hands, Hirono felt even more powerful. Protecting Mimura, protecting the plan. No harm would come to Mim while she had this baby!
But still... people out there had been playing possibly the whole time. They'd have lots of victims, lots of weapons too... maybe even better weapons. Hirono didn't know what weapons were out there, but she realised that the longer the game when on, the higher the stakes would be. Not everyone would have steel bars and fighting staffs anymore. All the dangerous people would have guns at least...
Izumi sniffed, and looked up at Hirono. As Hiro met her gaze though, she quickly looked away, and began rocking again.
"Hey, Izumi?"
No response.
"Look, me and Mim are finding a way out! Down at the lighthouse... he's worked out how to stop the collars from working and we can all go home! See, we don't have to fight anymore! Let's forget about that time we met and the grenade before, everyone was scared, right? But we can go home now. You want to come back to the lighthouse with me?"
Izumi flashed Hirono's outstreched hand a suspicious look.
Oh for gods sake, just grab it! I know you just got raped but we don't have a lot of time!
"Come on Izumi! I really wanna get back to Mim quickly... don't worry. You've got me protecting you both now. I won't let any harm come to you!"
Hirono smiled at Izumi sincerly, feeling proud of her own confidence. Protector... that was something she really could do, something useful! Protect Mimura... make sure nothing would happen...
The early morning haze was suddenly peirced violently with a dazzling flash from the south. Izumi sheilded her eyes as Hirono lept back, letting a scream out from her mouth. The lighthouse! Oh God...
Then, only a split second later came a loud rush of noise. Low booming and a flashing of high pitched sound, almost like a thunderstorm condensed into one blistering ball. Then yellow and black could be seen through the mist. A great crackling ball of yellow, and black rising from it. Smoke! There were still more crashing noises, like rock hitting rock and crumbling...
Without a thought to Izumi, Hirono rushed forward at top speed, almost ripping the muscles from her body. She had to get back to the lighthouse!
In her haste, she completely forgot about the imminent danger of I9, only just realising in time to adjust her course, running far clear of the path along the coast line.
Hirono could just picture the lighthouse in ruins, and no Shinji to be seen...
He just has to be alive! God damn you Shinji! Why the fuck didn't it work?
She was almost out of breath... her legs giving way. Her second sprint was causing her considerable pain, but she fought against it. The lighthouse was surely not far ahead... the light of the fire was getting brighter...
The path had ended... she was close, and now, through the smoke, she could see something!
"Shinji!" she screamed, running forward, dropping the guns. They both ran into each other, hugging each other as close as possible, not daring to let each other go. Hirono's legs were trembling below her, tears streaming down her face. She could hear Shinji was crying too. That didn't matter! He was allowed cry. It showed how much of a man he really was. HER man
They both pulled away from each other, their eyes meeting, and at the same time both blurted out the words:
"I love you!"
Then there was only silence
12:15 am - Hirono: I10 to H10
Mimura had worked for what must have been half an hour. Fiddling around with wires in the outbuilding. Hirono had stood over him, concerned that it was dangerous. She wasn't completely stupid, and she knew it was dangerous to play with electrical equipment. But Mimura seemed confident. "They've definitely switched off the mains. No electricity means it's safe!"
Hirono did trust him, but still couldn't help feeling worried. They had found some wire in the small wooden shed, and Mimura had said it would conduct electricity even though it was slightly rusted.
After he had joined the mains with the generator, he explained that then he could join the mains wire at the top of the lighthouse to the electromagnet and the electricity would travel from the generator up the mains to it. Hirono didn't really know why he still bothered to explain it all to her. She guessed he thought it was a nice thing to do, but it was making her feel stupid, and useless. As they were leaving the outbuilding to go to the top, they heard a faint sound from the island. It sounded much like a scream.
Hirono began to walk forward, but Shinji grabbed her arm. "Look, that sound could have been anything. A bird or the wind or anything."
"But if..."
"If it's a person, then that means there is a player up there too! So if we're going to go, we get weapons first!"
Hirono shook her head. "No, you have to stay here! If it's the other transfer, we might not come back alive! You have to stay here and make sure the plan works! We can't risk that now, and you're the only one who can do it!"
Shinji reached out and grabbed Hirono's hands in his own. "But I can't let you go! Why do at all?" he said, already knowing the answer to the question.. A small tear was appearing at one of his eyes, but he brushed it away quickly.
Trying to appear strong for me again. That's so sweet...
"Somebody help!"
That was definitely a voice. Hirono knew she had to go. It sounded female, but she wasn't sure. It could have easily be Hiroki from that distance, but more importantly, it might be Mitsuko. No matter what other people thought of her, Hirono wasn't about to let her best friend die out there if she could help it. Mitsuko had been the only one who had ever cared for Hirono. No one else ever showed her compassion. For all her reputation, Mitsuko had been the best friend Hirono had.
"I'll come back" she said. Then, seeing the worry still in his face, she leant forward to kiss him. "And if I don't, then you make sure this works! That's all I could ever ask of you."
She ran back into the house, and grabbed her pistol. As she was leaving, Shinji handed her Kiriyama's shotgun. She hesitated, and then took it in her trembling hands.
"Give ‘em hell Mim" she said, and with that took off.
When she reached a few meters away, she stopped, and turned to see Mimura staring after her from the doorway, his face pained. "Shinji!" she called.
He nodded.
"If I don't come back... know… know you meant more to me than anyone ever did."
Tell him you love him!
"You're... the nicest guy I've ever known...
Tell him you love him!
But before he could answer, they heard another cry.
"Please, somebody! Help!"
Without hesitation this time, Hirono turned and ran, speeding towards the path. As the reached the dirt track, she moved along to the coastline, being careful not to stray to I9. There was a slight wind coming in the opposite direction to her, but she fought against it with all her determination. Not the fastest runner in school, but at least she could get some speed.
There were two people up ahead, definitely kids. Not the exchange thank god. Which two? One seemed sat on top of the other, shoulder length blonde hair falling over the face. Hirono couldn't think quickly of who was still alive, and couldn't begin to recognise the one on the floor till she got closer.
She was still a fair distance away when the kid on top looked up. She was close enough to see the face, gasping as she realised it was Ryuhei Sasagawa. Not good, definitely not good.
Another scream came from the figure below. Definitely a girl, not Mitsuko. From that distance, Yuko or Kanai...
"Shut up!" Ryuhei screamed, hitting at the figure on the floor, as he reached down and slowly held up a gun, pointing at Hirono with a fiery look in his eyes. The same look that Chisato had…
Hirono didn't need time to think. The situation said it all. The girl's shirt was open, and Ryuhei was obviously playing. Raise a gun at Hirono Shimizu? Think again sexist fuckwit!
BANG!
Hirono fired the shotgun as she was still running. The force of the blast knocked Ryuhei off the girl on the floor. The gun reverberated and Hirono was taken by surprise of how powerful it was. She was sent to the floor painfully.
She groaned, feeling the tension in her muscles. As she slowly got to her feet, she saw the girl ahead had sat up, looking around as if confused, her face stained with tears. A face like Utsumi's, drained of life. A girl who only the day before had thrown a grenade at Hirono...
"Izumi?"
(OOC: No need to vote as it's past midnight so Ryuhei has gone NPC. And so has Yamamoto btw is anyone wants to use him ^_^)
Apr. 8th, 2005
10:56 pm - Hirono and Shinji: I10
After Hirono had dried herself, she walked back down to the ground floor where they had left their bags. Her school uniform would have taken ages to clean, and she didn't particularly want to put it back on again considering the memories it now brought back, so she fished out some casuals. Some nice light blue jeans and a white and black T-Shirt.
Then she heard the sound of running behind her, echoing down the stairwell of the lighthouse. "It'll work! It'll work!" cried out Shinji excitedly, almost like a child.
When he bounded off the bottom step, the huge grin on his face shone at Hirono. So confident... he believes he can save us!
"The bulb at the top! And the motor... it's all like I thought it would be! This might just work Hiro!" he said, coming over and ruffling her hair.
She grabbed his arm. "Shove it Mim! Now tell me again what we're doing!"
Shinji opened his mouth to explain, "And in Japanese this time!" Hirono said, giggling.
He nodded.
"OK, in the ‘motor‘... the bit that makes the bulb go weeee!" Mim said, spinning around to demonstrate.
"Mim!" shouted Hirono warningly, before shaking her head. "Honestly... you're hopeless!"
"Sorry!" Shinji said, laughing a little. "Anyway, there's an electromagnet in it. If we can get it to emit an electromagnetic pulse... don’t' worry, you don't need to know what that is. But if we can get it to do that, then it should knock out the radio signals. How far the radius of that effect is depends on the blast, but if we give it too much power, it'll just explode, and that's our plan gone."
Hirono nodded, struggling to take it all in. "Right... and once they don't have radio's anymore, they can't tell the collars to explode, right?"
Shinji nodded, almost as if he wanted to correct Hirono, but decided against it seeing how hard she was struggling to understand as it was. "Yeah, that's about right"
"How are we gonna know how much power it needs so we won't overpower it then?" asked Hirono.
"Oh, if there is a generator, that'll be fine. There won't be enough to blow it up with that much power. For an electromagnet that size, you need mains power to blow it up, and Kitano's probably shut that off."
For Hirono however, this was becoming all too much to take in. "OK Shinji... you deal with the sciency bits. What do I need to do though?"
"Well, for starters, let's go have a look at that generator" Shinji said, grabbing her hand, and leading her out to the outhouses.
The outhouses looked friendlier in the light, white and gleaming. Not scary at all.
Inside the larger one, they found a big metallic box that had lots of dials and switches. Apparently this was the generator, and Shinji seemed to have figured out how to use it.
"You see, I can control where the power goes from here, and how much here" he said, pointing to various dials. Hirono nodded.
He turned to her, a large grin on his face. "You have absolutely no idea what I'm talking about, do you?" said Shinji, an air of playfulness in his voice. Hirono raised her middle finger and smiled. "Just don't rub it in, OK?"
After they had looked at the generator, they walked up to the top of the lighthouse, so Shinji could explain to Hirono about what they would need to do up there.
Hirono was very sceptical at first, pointing out that the bulb was broken, but Shinji assured her that didn't matter. All they had to do was redirect the power so it would go to the right place, and just swap around a few of the electronic bits to make it work how they wanted. Hirono was again completely lost. Shinji was a lot more intelligent than her, so she left him to think up the plan, helping him out by holding various things while he played around with the circuits.
Eventually, she went back down to the kitchen in search of caffeine. Shinji seemed fine up there on his own, and she felt like she was hindering rather than helping him. Looking in the cupboards, she found some, and went about making to cups of coffee. She was able to light up the cooker as it ran on gas, and it appeared that the government personnel had forgotten to switch it off, or at least just not bothered.
Soon, with two steaming mugs of dark coffee, she ascended the stairs again, only to find Mimura groaning.
"What's up?" she inquired, placing the mug next to him.
"Oh, thanks" he said, picking it up and taking a few sips. "The connections won't work. I think the cable coming up from the generator is broken... maybe we can bypass it through the mains?"
Hirono's blank stare was the only reply he got.
He smiled gently, and pulled her into his arms. "Don't worry, we'll do this."
Hirono smiled. "Sorry, I'm really no help at all. You'd have been better off with someone like Hiroki or Iijima..."
she cut off, as suddenly the memories of Iijima came back to her. Why did I have to bring him up now? Oh Hiro... how tactless!
Mimura was silent too. The thought of Iijima cast them both into a state of memory. Painful memory. Still, they had vowed never to forget what they had done.
It was looking like a lot of modification would be needed for their plan to work. Still, as the two of them gazed silently over the empty landscape before them, their determination only became greater and greater.
hopeful04:11 pm - Hirono and Shinji: I10
Oki’s internal organs had spilled all over Hirono’s body. Most of them were completely putrid anyway, but she could also feel all the maggots wriggling over her bare arms and under her shirt. Then before she could scream out again, she felt something land on her head.
It had been a large clot of earth, and another, and another. They were coming in to fast for Hirono to climb out! Pushing her down, the weight getting stronger on top of her head. There was some sort of a hollow created between Oki and Hirono’s bodies, but the more the earth was pushed down, the smaller it got, pushing her face closer and closer to Oki’s…
Hirono couldn’t help but to vomit again, causing the vile juices to rise even higher, around her neck. She couldn’t grab hold of the ground underneath, it was soaking everything up and becoming mud. The smell now was invading her nose with no mercy. Pouring relentlessly into her lungs, filling her up.
She gagged again, but there was no vomit left. She had been completely drained.
Then she heard the muffled sound of a gunshot above her, through the earth. She struggled to push upward, try to get out, but she was too weak, she could hardly move. Finding it hard to breath… she felt drowsy, overcome with sleep, finding it hard to stay conscious. The world kept flashing out from her senses, and then she was plunged back again into the underground pool.
Can’t fall asleep now! Must hold on… if I fall asleep my head will fall forward and I’ll drown in… in…
Even the thought made Hirono gag again. Unnatural spasms of movement. Death was creeping up on her…
No, oh god no! Please… not like this!
Suddenly, a flash of light opened up above her, and then two hands reached into the hole, plunging into the horrible liquid and under Hirono’s armpits, lifting her up, out!
She fell lifelessly to the ground next to the hole, showing no signs of being alive, say coughing and struggling to breath. Someone was standing over her now, saying something, rubbing the vomit from her neck.
“Hirono! Hirono!”
Hirono flailed around on the floor a few moments more, before reeling over onto her front, and throwing up just a little more. She could feel someone from behind her, lifting her head up away from it. Her head was pounding, her mind still tormented by what had just happened. She felt like fainting. But she refused. She couldn’t faint, not now! Who had been digging her in? She had to find out.
She forced her eyes open. The light was still faint, but she could see quite clearly. “Shinji!” she said hoarsely. He smiled back at her, a look of relief on his face. The both reached out, and grabbed each other tightly.
“I thought I’d lost you…”
Is Shinji crying again? Crying for me? … No one’s ever cried for me before…
“We’d better get you cleaned up” said Shinji soothingly as they released their grip. Hirono really was a mess, she could feel it, but she refused to look down, afraid of what she would see. Gazing at Shinji, she realised that their embrace had got him filthy as well. “You too” she said, smiling gently.
As they both stood up, Hirono saw the body next to the pit. “Who?” she began.
“A transfer” said Shinji, without a shred of pity in his voice.
“You got a transfer? He… he tried to burry me in there?”
Shinji nodded.
“God, I hope the other one isn’t like that.”
“But… he will be.” stated Shinji. “Why else would they be here?”
Hirono slowly nodded. That’s what she had thought that very first night, and it had just been proven. Still, one of them was dead, one left to go. They weren’t variables anymore, they were targets.
She walked over to the body, trembling a little, and then grabbed him by the legs.
“Hiro?” said Shinji, concerned.
Without paying attention to him, Hirono began to drag the body of the transfer over to the pit. “I’m sorry Oki” she whispered. “He’s not good enough for you. If there is an afterlife… make sure you kick his ass for me.”
And with that, she pushed the body of the transfer headfirst down into the hole. She heard a satisfying splash.
Then she got the shovel, and began to put back some more Earth, covering up the hole. When she was done, the patch of Earth showed no signs that there were 2 bodies underneath.
Shinji has stood watching her as she did it, knowing when not to interfere. A look of confusion on his face. Almost like a mathematician who thinks he has cracked a problem at long last, only to realise that it is a lot more complex than he first imagined.
Hand in hand, the pair of them walked into the lighthouse. Being careful not to touch Utsumi’s body, they climbed up the stairs till they found the bathroom. It was small, and in the moonlight: poorly lit. Shinji flicked the light switch hopefully, and the light buzzed on.
“Oh, Maybe Kitano left the power grid on” he said, smiling.
“Or maybe the lighthouse has a separate generator?” said Hirono, proud to have thought all by herself.
Shinji nodded. “Yes, you’re right! A power cut in a lighthouse?… not a good idea. They probably prepared for that with a back-up power source. Maybe that’s what the outbuilding’s for!”
They smiled at each other. Neither of them felt pity for Kiriyama. In fact, Hirono was glad he was dead. He had no fucking right to come here and kill her classmates. He deserved what he got. She was just sad they hadn’t got him earlier. Maybe that would have saved more lives. At least they knew what to do now if they found the other one.
Hirono begun to run the water in the shower. It was cold, and seemed reluctant to turn warm. She sighed. It was better than nothing. Without really thinking about it, the both of them began to strip out of their dirty clothes, and climbed into the shower together. It was a little cramped, but still, if there was only a certain amount of water, they were better off showering together.
It was only after a few minutes that they actually realised that they were naked together again. Their eyes met uncertainly, almost questioningly.
Gradually, Hirono lent forward. “There isn’t anyone here for us to hurt anymore.” she said nervously, and kissed him gently on the lips.
“There’s you,” begun Shinji sincerely, “and I don’t want to hurt you Hiro.” He pulled back.
Restraint from Shinji? The guy who would fuck anything with tits? He obviously doesn’t like you as much as you think Hiro!
Or maybe… just maybe, that’s because he likes you more than you realise…
Apr. 6th, 2005
09:35 pm - Hirono and Shinji: I10
(OOC: I'm posting before I proof read, so there will be many mistakes! Deal with it! :p)
“Oh god, Hiro,” he whispered, just loud enough to hear. “They took everything from her,”
Hirono could see he was right. Utsumi's face had been completely drained. It wasn't just battered and torn and bloody. It was more than that. Almost as if her life had ended before she was killed. There was nothing of the girl they had known in that face. But not like Chisato's had been. Chisato had been overcome by the game. The girl she was had been replaced. Utsumi... was different. Nothing was replaced. There was nothing in her face, absolutely nothing left. Some fucker had taken it from her, her life.
Mimura sat kneeling by the body, looking removed from the world completely. He looked just like Utsumi now, almost as if the game was taking him away too...
Hirono rushed over to him, and took him into her arms, squeezing him tightly. "Don't leave me now... we still have work to do. Everytime you see a body, make yourself more determined! This is no reason to give up Shinji! This is why we have to do something!"
He turned his head to face her. His eyes had watered up. Seeing one of their classmates, especially Yukie in such a state like this seemed to have broken down that invisible wall Shinji had build between himself and the rest of the world. It was the first time Hirono had ever seen him cry. It gained even more respect from her though. He wasn't being weak at all. Whoever had done that to Utsumi, given into the game so easily... they were at fault.
After holding him for a while, she realised he needed to just be alone there. He was completely absorbed by his own thoughts. He had been good friends with Utsumi, and she figured he needed to say goodbye to her. She decided to search the little out building as there wasn't really anything else to do until Shinji was up and willing to enact the plan.
The out building had already been searched for the most part. Beside it stood a tiny derelict wooden shed, slowly rotting down. Neither of them had figured anyone would be inside... far to damp to spend the night. Cautiously, Hirono walked up to it, and placed her hand on the latch.
The door fell away with her light strength. The hinges hadn't been attached to the frame very well. The interiour was dark and musty, and cluttered with various tools. None would be any good as a weapon though. They were all rusty and far too heavy. Carrying them round would be a waste of time. But at the back, underneath a small pile of more tools lay something Hirono thought would come in handy.
Shinji was still sitting there, in a blank withdrawn state when Hirono returned. He looked up, slightly confused at the object she now held in her hands. She smiled gently, unsure if she was doing something good or whether she was offending him. She coughed nervously. "Err... well we have a while before the first report... and the ground here is really soft..."
Shinji still seemed blank and vacant, but there was a flash of something in his face. Hirono struggles to work out if he was saying yes or not. "I know it might be a little... challenging considering Oda, but it's the least we can do." she said. She waved the shovel she had found in the air, trying to attract Shinji's attention. He still seemed to be looking straight through her. She walked up to him, almost reluctantly. "OK, don't worry about it, you just stay here, and I'll be back when the report is done."
As she was turning to leave again, she hesitated, and then quickly kissed him on the cheek before walking back out.
Yuka was simple enough. her face and parts of her body had been crushed, and horribly mutilated on the ground, but they were facing down. It seemed to Hirono like she had been pushed. Despite herself, she couldn't help thinking there was still someone up there, looking down at her. Ready to drop something heavy...
She tried to rid her mind of those thoughts. They weren't helping anyone. The ground was slightly wet from the rain, and digging was fairly easy, despite the state of the shovel. Hirono was sweating by the time she finished, but she managed to dig a decent size hole in the ground. It was by no means neat and rectangle, more just a round hole, but it was better than the ground. She climbed back out, and walked over to Yuka's body. She stood still, breathing heavily for a while, preparing herself. The corpse seemed scary, and Hirono wasn't keen to touch it.
Eventually, plucking up her courage, she grabbed at Yuka's waist, and pulled the body over to the shallow grave. A trail of blood and some various body organs were left behind, and Hirono tried to block them from her mind. She struggled to remember why the hell she was doing this. She wasn't friends with Yuka. Still, it seemed like the right thing to do. More dignified. Hirono laughed at herself. Ha! Dignity? What the fuck do you know about that?
When they reached the grave, Hirono gave Yuka one final push. Memo to self: Next time dig right next to the body! Not a few feet away!"</> As Yuka's body fell into the grave, it turned over, face up. Hirono was taken aback, and felt herself about to throw up. It had all been beaten and mashed together. Part of the face had been facing up, but now Hirono could see the other side. There was no skin left, just muscle and congealed blood with bits of bone sticking out. Quickly, she rushed to the shovel and began to pile the earth back into the grave. Once Yuka had been covered, Hirono fell back to the ground, panting.
Oda would be worse, a lot worse. Hirono didn't really want to do it, but he had buried Yuka. To leave Oda on the ground seemed insulting.
This time, she began to dig the earth right near the body. It would only be a matter of tipping him in this time. The smell was overpowering, completely filling Hirono's nostrils and lungs. The small fo decay and rotting flesh. She addopted breathing through her mouth, as she could smell it a lot less then. It became more bareable, but stil sickening. Digging away at the earth seemed almost theraputic. It was mechanical, and mindless, and seemed to be calming her down. It also made her feel like she had something useful to do, some sort of purpose.
Soon they would be able to destroy Kitano's reign of power, if Mimura's plan worked. She hoped so much it would. There was probably little help left if it failed. Already heavy casualties had been taken. Not much of their class were left. The island felt empty and haunted, and Hirono could hardly imagine that others were still alive somewhere out there... but they had to fight for them. They all deserved to go home. All appart from whoever had done that to Utsumi. Who had it been? The transfers? Maybe Ryuhei or Numai? And of course Niida... probably him most likely of all. Sick fucker...
Hirono had been too caught up in thought, not having realised how much she had dug, and in what direction. She had been slowly excavating the side Oda's body was on, slowly carving out a large overhang. His body was slipping! The hole itself wasn't very big, and as Hirono struggles to get out, she slipped on something. She looked down at her foot and screamed. One of Oda's lungs must have fallen out, and she had stepped on it! She felt the vomit rising again, and this time she let it out. It almost exploded from her mouth, spraying all over her body. She tried to get up again, slipping once more on all the vomit. Her hed hit against the side of the grave, against a small peice of rock. It was tiny but still caused huge pain. Hirono wailed once more, and before she could try to get up again, Oda's body tipped and fell into the grave, ontop of Hirono...
"SHINJI!"
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/shock.gif){kind=small}
distressed04:06 pm - Hirono and Shinji: G9 to H9 and beyond...
After their breif moment of rest, Shinji and Hirono once again prepared to set off.
"Shinji?" Hirono said meekly as they begun to march forward. The strength seemed drained from her voice, and she surprised herself to hear it.
"Yeah?" Shinji's was closer to how it had been before. Strong and emotionless, yet now it was laced with what seemed an essence of guilt, or possibly regret.
"Are you sure the plan is gonna work?"
As soon as she had said it, she regreted it. Stupid Hirono! She had to trust Shinji... not question him! Not now...
She felt him squeeze her hand. "Course I'm not sure. But it's all I've got, sorry."
A silence decended on them. Shinji coughed. "But hey, don't worry! I'll make it work!"
His cheery attitute spread somewhat to Hirono. She smiled, once again thinking of Chisato, Iijima and Yoshimi. They were going to get revenge. Revenge for how much the government had fucked up their lives.
Looking again at their maps they paused, and looked at each other. The light from their flashlights below only highlighted their faces lightly, but they could still see the determination in each other's smiled. "Ready?"
Hirono nodded. Before them lied I9, a danger zone. They were ready for it. Not as scary anymore. Hand in hand, they plucked up all their energy, strength and determination, and ran forward.
Apr. 5th, 2005
10:48 pm - Hirono and Shinji: G7 to H9
"Don't run off on me," he said calmly "I have no plans that contain losing you."
Hirono was slightly taken aback. No one had ever said anything like that to her before. Well... there had been one person...
"Don't worry Hirono, I'm not leaving!" he said beaming. The 8 year old Hirono smiled, and reached out to hug her dad. Mummy and Daddy had been shouting lots, and that made Hirono sad. She used to cry alone in her room because she was scared to go out into the hallway...
But Daddy said he was going to stay! Hirono's dad was the coolest dad in the world... so he meant it!
Hirono didn't really understand what the shouting was all about, she thought maybe it was because Mummy was getting fat. Her belly had gotten really fat, and Daddy kept yelling at her "Don't do it!" Hirono imagined he meant eating too much ice cream. Hirono liked ice cream, but she didn't ever dare to eat any in case Daddy shouted at her too...
Then one day, Mummy went out, and came back a few hours later. She wasn't tubby anymore, her belly looked normal. Daddy went really mad and hit Mummy. Then he shouted something about "killing it". Hirono didn't have a clue what he meant, and he was walking out of the door, so she ran after him. He had already climbed into his car when she got outside. She had ran after the car several streets, as it slowly speed into the distance. She had never run like that, and she had to stay in bed the next day because her legs hurt too much. Daddy never came back...
Mimura reached out his hand, ready for Hirono to grab it. Should I really...? Staring up into his face, she couldn't help to think of Iijima. They had both brought about his death, and probably Chisato's too. Hirono had shot at her... who knows if she was already dead? But could she stay with him? After all they had been through?
He actually trusts me... he says he's going to stay... and he means it! What if he really does mean it...
She slowly reached out, and grabbed his hand. He pulled her up, and she took in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart. They quickly gathered up their belongings and stuffed them into the kit bags. Mimura had loosely explained his plan, and although Hirono didn't really understand most of it (Science was never her good subject) she trusted that it would work. Because Mimura said so, and he was the only one left for her to believe in. Where was Mitsuko now? Hirono had already been through so much... she didn't feel like Hirono the sidekick. It was strange to think, but Mitsuko seemed more like an old long lost friend than the girl she had sat next to on the bus such a short while ago.
With the threat of someone approaching, possibly a transfer, they switched their flashlights on, and set of south. The moonlight was diminishing as clouds covered the sky, like a veil of darkness. Hirono couldn't help to think of when the flag was lowered to half mast... it was fitting, thinking about who they were leaving behind. Iijima, Chisato, Yoshimi... this is for you!
A few moments after they had started walking, Hirono felt Mimura reach out and grab her hand. She cast a confused look at him. This time it felt different... with Iijima it had felt weird, almost uncomfortable. With Mimura it felt natural. Their fingers intertwined as they walked further and further away from where the dreaded scene had played out.
Just the two of them, and possibly anyone else friendly they met on the way. Just them two. Hirono was in some way glad. She knew she could rely on Mimura. She felt she understood him. They were very alike, and it was a practical miracle they had never felt that before they got here. Still, it was time to leave all that behind. Anytime she thought about Mimura that way, Iijima's bloody head rose up like a spectre in the front of her mind. She couldn't do that to Iijima. She would never know exactly what he had felt for her, but it still felt like treachery to think of Mimura like she had thought of Iijima only a day ago... Time to focus on the matter in hand. Getting off the island was their only priority. Last time they had let that slip from their mind, they had lost two allies.
It must have been around 3am when they came to rest on the coast of H9. Looking at her map, and checking the coast shape lying in front of her, Hirono imagined they had only just got into the zone. They still had 3 hours left till the next report, by rough estimation.
The two of them sat side by side on the coast, flashlights turned off to stop anyone seeing them. In the near darkness, they took quick drinks from their water too keep them going through the night. The game was getting a lot tougher. Hirono could feel Mimura's presence beside her. She's never felt that close to anyone before. Maybe Mimura was her soulmate? It seemed like an eternity since their first meeting in the forest, Now Mimura was insisting she had a gun.
Then she remembered something else. She had shot Yoshimi, and Mimura had lied for her. Iijima had died thinking Hirono had never killed... his last image of her was a complete lie. If he'd known who she really was, would he have loved her at all? All stupid questions to ask. The government had taken away the chance for an answer. In the dark, a silent tear fell from her cheek. A tear for Iijima. She felt Mimura put a comforting arm around her again. This time, it wasn't initiating anything, it was nothing more than comfort. That's exactly what she had needed...
Somehow, he knew. More than that. He understood...
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/thinking.gif){kind=small}
thoughtfulApr. 4th, 2005
09:34 pm - Hirono: G7
"Get dressed,"
Hirono watched Mimura put his trousers back on almost in a trance. It seemed so strange. Why did he even need to get dressed? Clothes had come from civilization, and both of them had proven they didn't deserve that anymore. Iijima, poor Iijima was dead. Chisato run off into the night. If her name came up next report, in 6 hours, then Hirono would never ever know if it was her who killed her. From the way she had spun around, Hirono imagined she had hit her, but where? How badly? She'd never know...
She stood up, her head boiling with emotions. Rage, regret, and sexual appetite. It was still there. Hirono didn't know if that was just because of what she had just done, or partly to do with her previous lifestyle, but either way, she still wanted it. A tear trickled down her cheek. Chisato run off, maybe dying at that very moment, and Iijima dead, his brain splattered over a rock, and Hirono couldn't help thinking about sex. She disgusted herself. Just like an animal...
She stepped over to Mimura. She was so fucking angry... condoms in his bag almost as if he'd planned the whole thing. "You... You took advantage of me, I was mourning the death of my best friends, and all you could think about was getting your rocks off?! This is so you Shinji, this is what you do isn't it? I've seen you do this to so many others, I never thought it could happen to me. I thought I was above this kind of pain." Hirono picked up her kit bag, and threw it at Mimura in anger, trying to find an outlet. He didn't move as it hit him. He was just lucky she didn't have a weapon in it. Although she still wanted to hurt him, him being hurt wasn't making herself feeling any better. It just made her feel worse.
Still, Mimura hadn't moved. Stupid fucking arsehole! Doesn't he care? Does he not realise what happened here? What we did here? Letting me hurt him, and not moving? Trying to get sympathy? Does he not realise?
More and more rage, like nothing Hirono had ever felt. Not as much rage as this for Yoshimi for attacking her, not as much rage when Mimura had almost killed her. She raised a finger, pointing at Iijima's body.
"His death is on our watch!" she screamed, "And look at you? You don’t fucking care do you? It our fault he’s dead, ours. If we hadn't...if" She couldn't take it anymore. What if...? If her and Iijima survived? What could there have been? A relationship, marriage, kids? It might have happened. Now it wouldn't. She certainly wasn't about to let Mimura replace him... Mimura who would do that to her. Not that she could blame him for everything. It's my fault too! I let him! I even enjoyed it! But Hirono badly needed someone to blame. Someone to hate for a while, as she could never forgive herself. Too much pain, she needed to vent it somewhere.
She felt hands come around her body once more. This time she knew it couldn't be Yoshimi. Nor Chisato or Iijima either. It would never ever by Iijima. That chance was gone. If it hadn't been for Mimura! The bastard! Now it would never be Iijima!
She turned, and beat at his still bare chest. Beat as hard as she could. "Don’t fucking touch me." She didn't realise how completely drained of energy she was, and through the torrent of tears, she could see she wasn't hurting him. I still have to try... try beat into his chest and shatter that ice heart of his! Kill the bastard!
As soon as she thought that, she let her hands drop. It was getting to her, the game was right inside her head right now. Trying to get her to kill more! And once again, she was being the good little government kid and letting herself succumb to it. How weak... how pathetic.
It took all of her strength, but eventually, she overcame the anger. She just lay there, still in a complete trance. Iijima... dead. The words wouldn't register, still stuck there in her throat, almost chocking on them. It didn't make sense. That hadn't been Chisato. That was the game, the government standing there right in front of them. Hirono knew that it would take strength not to become like that. But strength she had. Her life had demanded that of her, and she would overcome this. It almost felt as if there was nothing left to fight for anymore, almost as if she had lost everything. Mitsuko was still alive, but where was she? And would she ever play? Play like Chisato? Could Hirono trust anyone now that even Chisato had played...?
Mimura was still holding her. His strong arms around her, almost protecting her. Hirono had always hated patriarchal men. The gang especially. But here was Mimura, acting like the valiant knight protecting the damsel in distress. Instead of feeling oppressed, she felt safer than she had ever felt in her whole life. She realised she needed Mimura. She relied on him now more than ever.
He leant back on the rocks behind them, and she curled up in his arms, squeezing them with hers for comfort. The two of them lay there, holding each other tightly, surrounded by thoughts of their sin. A sin they both vowed never to forget. Hirono gazed over at Iijima's body. She was too sorry for any words that could be spoken. Mimura was the only one on the island who could ever understand that.
She curled up, almost like a child, and fell into a gentle sleep. Sleeping like a baby in the arms of a boy who she hated so much, yet was slowly growing to love.
Apr. 3rd, 2005
09:11 pm - Hirono: F7/G7
Chisato was quaking now, shaking violently. Hirono had never seen anyone as angry or mistrusting. The wind was picking up, and both Mimura and Hirono desperately wanted to put their clothes back on, but they were both scared by Chisato, and didn’t want to move. Neither of them had seen her like that, not ever. Not when Mitsuko was bullying her, not when her parents turned up to parents evening drunk. Never before had Chisato looked so incredibly consumed by anger.
It’s the game… it must be getting to her… look at her eyes Hirono! Try telling yourself she isn’t dangerous…
However, Hirono was far to stubborn and strong willed to sit around naked in the cold all night. She reached out to grab some clothes. Chisato swung her arm around until the gun was aimed directly at Hirono. Feeling Chisato watching her, Hirono continued to pick up clothes regardless.
Mimura raised his hands diplomatically and began to walk towards the trembling girl. “Chisato… just calm down, OK?”
Chisato swung her arm back around, this time pointing at Shinji. She said nothing, but a quivering noise was coming from her throat, as she fought back tears of pure hatred. Hirono could see that Mimura was scared, and unsure now of what to do. Shinji the smooth talker was finally lost for words.
Hirono took the opportunity to dress. She felt this might help Chisato calm down, but Mimura standing naked feet away from her was probably countering that.
The night air was tense, and the three of them were lost in their own world, unaware of anything happening around them.
“Just put the gun down Chisato, and we’ll talk about this…” Mimura said soothingly. It was clear he had spent time carefully choosing his words. Hirono hoped they were the right ones… Mimura was possibly close to death now. Chisato really looked prepared to pull the trigger.
Hirono walked down the small slope towards the pair of them.
Chisato was still trembling, her face completely red. “You! You…” she said. Her voice was disjointed and full of hate. She didn’t sound sane anymore. Surely she couldn’t have given into the game so quickly? It didn’t make sense, she had been fine just a few minutes ago…
Mimura’s hands were still raised in front of him, and he moved them up and down, trying to encourage Chisato to put the gun down. “Just put it down Chisato… please?”
Chisato shook her head wildly, gasping a little and still trembling. “You were touching her!”
“Calm down Chisato… it’s not what you think”
Bad Move thought Hirono. That’s a crappy line, and if she asks you to explain then you’re screwed. Way to go Mimura…
“Stop fucking telling me to calm down for gods sake!” screamed Chisato passionately, waving the gun around erratically. Hirono could see her loosing grip. They needed to knock her out, or get the gun off her somehow, she really had turned dangerous. This most definitely wasn’t the same Chisato Hirono had known in school.
Mimura wiped the sweat from his forehead. “OK, I’m sorry Chisato…just put the gun down…”
“No, it’s my fucking gun! You’ll give it to her again! You keep letting her get guns!”
Hirono stood, unable to think of anything she could possibly say. She couldn’t defend herself as aggravating Chisato was not a good idea, but her lack of defence was almost confirming what Chisato was saying. “Chisato, I wouldn’t have shot anyone, I promise!”
Chisato’s eyes burned fiery red as they gazed piercingly at Hirono. “But you want Chisato dead! You got the boys on your side… Iijima likes you now, and then you’ve gone and got Mimura! Why did you get all the guys? He was meant to be mine god damn it! You’re all ganging up against me, and now you want me to give you my gun! Ha! I’ve seen past your plan… sorry, it’s not going to work!” Chisato said, her head tilting back as she entered into a pained hysterical laugh.
Mimura sighed. “OK, keep the gun if it makes you feel safe. We weren’t scheming I promise! I promise on my life!”
Chisato whirled back to face him. “Really? On your life?”
Mimura forced and friendly smile. “Yes”
He began to walk forward, but he placed his foot on top of his trousers lying discarded on the floor. Getting tangled in the belt, he clumsily fell forward, not have been expecting it.
Chisato screamed and fired her gun blankly past Mimura. “You’re all trying to kill me! I’ll kill you all first you bastards!” she said, with a bloodthirsty cackle.
Shit… the game’s got her thought Hirono. Oh Chisato…
Then a voice came from behind them “What the fuck is going on guys?”
Hirono and Chisato whirled around to see Iijima rising from his sleep, no doubt awoken by the gunshot. He was greeted with the sight of Hirono and Chisato both standing up near Mimura who was lying naked on the ground. No wonder he was confused.
“You too, you want to kill me!” screamed Chisato.
Iijima looked in horror at the gun now pointing at him. “Wow! Chisato, calm down!”
Hirono was caught in a moment. She could see the completely shocked and confused look on Iijima’s face, his features highlighted by the moonlight. Her heart leapt, and was ripped to shreds in a split second, she knew exactly what was coming next… Please Iijima… please don’t…
“Shut the fuck up! Stop telling me to calm down for fuck sake!” screaming Chisato furiously, as she pulled the trigger.
Hirono was looking at Iijima, but her brain had slowed down so much that it was almost as if she could see the flash of the bullet flying towards him.
It hit him between the eyes. For someone so erratic, Chisato’s aim had been deadly.
Iijima’s head shot backwards against the rock behind him. There was a crack, and the shock ran through his skull, disfiguring his face and causing it to crack open. Then, his head slumped forward, revealing a mess of brains and blood smeared against the rock. His whole body feel forward lifelessly, spilling the contents of his head over all their kit bags in the process.
The look on his eyes the moment the bullet had hit imprinted itself in Hirono’s mind, burning into her retinas. She wouldn’t forget that until the day she died.
Her brain swung back into combat mode again. Completely blocking out any emotion, she leapt forward, scrambling for Iijima’s gun. Chisato was still laughing, and had begun firing shots into the sky. Finally Hirono’s hands came to rest on the barrel of the gun. She pulled it up, and jumped around to face Chisato.
Without thinking about it, she pulled the trigger.
Chisato’s body flew around immediately, making it impossible for Hirono to see what damage had been done. Chisato screamed in pain, a heart wrenching scream that pierced into Mimura and Hirono’s ears. And with that, she began to run clumsily into the darkness, screaming blue murder.
“Chisato!” Mimura called out, his voice trembling with both concern and also hate. Hirono couldn’t bring herself to chase Chisato. Chisato was lost to the game, and that was it. There wasn’t any friend in her to save any longer. She fell to her knees, quaking. Turning around, her eyes once again met with the mess that was Keita Iijima.
Dead… just like that. He died in such fear. I was going to protect him and he ended up dying terrified… Had he died thinking I loved him back? He’ll never know what I did tonight. He died living and thinking what’s now a lie… another deception thanks to Hirono Shimizu. This is one step too far Hiro… you’ve really fucked it up this time. It’s all your fault… if you hadn’t been such a slut, he’d be alive… you idiot!
Mimura came to stand behind the tearful Hirono “Keita…” he trembled. Hirono rose one of her hands over her shoulders. “Don’t Mimura… just please don’t say anything”
That was it. Their plan was falling apart. Chisato had run off, and was playing now. And Keita was dead. There was hardly anything left on the island worth saving anymore. Keita Iijima was dead.
irateApr. 2nd, 2005
11:37 pm - Hirono: F7/G7
Since Mimura seemed to be the natural leader, Hirono had hung back since the decision to give her a gun. She was better at being a sidekick anyway. The spotlight was never a good thing for her, she tended to get carried away. Just look at what happened to Yoshimi when Hirono had taken control of the group.
Plus, having been Mitsuko's sidekick had obviously been a good thing. If she'd been the leader of the delinquents, then there was no way Mimura wouldn't have shot her back when they first met in the forest.
Mimura had decided that Chisato needed sleep more than Hirono did. Despite the large bruise on Chisato's chest, Hirono disagreed. Contrary to what Iijima and Chisato believed, Hirono had just killed a friend. She desperately needed sleep, anything to take her mind of it. Thinking was not a good thing.
"Hey Hirono! You'll never guess what happened last night!"
Hirono turned around. Yoshimi was standing, beaming at her, her mouth eye to eye. "What?" said Hirono, smiling, almost giggling. She knew perfectly well what Yoshimi wanted to tell her.
Yoshimi swept the ground with her foot, looking down at the floor and blushing. "Well... you know I like Yoji 'n all?"
Hirono couldn't help a girlish giggle. "Yeah, course I do, but hey, you wanna wait till class finishes till you tell me?"
Yoshimi thought about it and nodded before walking back to her desk. Hirono could guess that Izumi and Shou (Who were sat in front of them) would be pissed off they hadn't heard. Yoshimi was always talking about things and being surprised when her secrets got out!
After the lesson, Hirono and Yoshimi had stayed behind, waiting for everyone to leave. Once they were alone Yoshimi squeeked with happines. "We had sex!"
Hirono reached out and patted Yoshimi on the head patronisingly. "Yeah, well done Ms. Prostitute!"
Yoshimi shook her head. "Oh no, it's different! This time it wasn't like that sex... I think I'm in love with him Hiro!"
Hirono reached out to grab Yoshimi. "Aww, that's cute! Just make sure you don't fuck it up though! Yoji's quite good looking!" They stood there for a few seconds, hugging and giggling.
Hirono squeazed the hands around her waist. Why was Yoshimi still hugging her? They weren't in class anymore... they were on an island, and Yoshimi was dead, so why was she...
OMG... that's not Yoshimi! Who the hell?
Startled, Hirono whirled her body around. It was Mimura!
She had to take a moment. His hands were up her shirt... what the hell is going on!
Before she could do anything, she felt his hands moving up towards her bra strap. Then Mimura leaned forward and kissed Hirono. She felt his tongue moving in her mouth.
What the hell? This isn't real! Hirono... wake up god damn it! Mimura wouldn't... he doesn't... he...
Wait, why am I not pulling away? I don't like Mimura, I like Keita!
Do I?
Hirono's hands moved to in between their bodies and slowly unbuttoned Mimura's shirt, reaching inside and running themselves over the muscles of his chest...
"So Hirono... which guys in the class do you like?" said Mitsuko, leaning forward expectantly.
Yoshimi laughed and poured herself another drink. "Ooo, go on! Answer Hiro!"
Their attic parties were always fun, but somehow Hirono had managed to avoid this question all the other times...
"Err... well Hiroki is cute but too innocent, so crap in bed I'm thinking. Plus, he likes Chigusa so doesn't have any taste!"
Mitsuko and Yoshimi burst into laughter.
Hirono smiled and thought some more. "Err... Takiguchi is cute as well, but way to dumb. If he actually has any equipment down there, which I doubt, he wouldn't know how to use it!"
Yoshimi snorted up some juice, and Mitsuko fell on the floor cackling.
"And then there's Shinji..." Hirono trailed off, trying to think of something bad to say.
"Oh, but he's slept with almost every girl in the class!" giggled Yoshimi.
Mitsuko nodded. "Yeah, and a few of the guys I bet!"
This time it was Hirono who was laughing.
That had been it... there hadn't been anything true that was bad about Mimura. If Mitsuko couldn't think up anything good to bitch about someone, there wouldn't be anything bad about them. Sure, he did sleep around, but nothing compared to Hirono.
They pulled away from the kiss, and their eyes met. They were both waiting for the other to say something. Both were now topless, and their torsos were touching each other, not at all cold even on the windy slopes.
"Shinji..." Hirono began in a deep voice, completely unsure of what she planned to say. Mimura brought his finger up to her lips to silence her. They both understood each other far better than either had realised. Mimura stood up, and walked over to his overnight bag, and pulled out a pack of condoms. Hirono stood up, seemingly unaware of Iijima sleepign not far from where she stood.
"You brought condoms on the school trip? We were only due to stay for 2 nights! And you called me a slut?"
They stood for a few seconds, Hirono's glare burning into Mimura's forehead. Then, they both collapsed into laughter. Hirono didn't really know what was so funny. Maybe it was that they were both so similar, and had never realised it.
Mimura came back, and stood close to Hirono. They kissed again, more passionately and surely this time, while Mimura's hands reached up Hirono's skirt. She used her hands to slowly pull Mimura's trousers and underwear down. He returned the favor of taking off her skirt.
Still in each other's arms, they lay down on a soft patch of grass, not far from where Chisato and Iijima were still sleeping. Their bodies rubbed against each other, wriggling and touching in the center of a circle of disgarded clothes. They both felt free, and as if they were one being. All thoughts of the island and all the death surrounding them faded. Mimura reached out on the ground for the pack of condoms, his hand returning with one.
He slipped it on gently, and Hirono positioned herself, ready for him. The two of them were both very practised at this, and the movement was fluid and professional. Hirono gasped and groaned as Mimura's warm body rubbed against hers. He moved up and down gracefully and respectfully, both being acutely aware of each other's bodies. Hirono's arms reached out around Mimura's torso, and she tried to gain some control over his movement. It felt so wonderfully good, a physicall passion far more intense than any Hirono had encountered in her large experiance. The moans from Mimura suggested he was feeling the same way.
Just then, the mood was broken by a bright light shining in their eyes, Mimura withdrew, cursing, and looked in the direction of the camp.
Chisato was standing, gun raised in one hand, and flashlight in the other. Her face was icy and cold, penetratively staring at Mimura and Hirono who were both lying naked on the ground. Hirono gasped, and reached out to grab some clothes lying near her, regardless of if they were Mimura's or hers. Mimura had fallen back on his ass, cursing quietly, and blushing like Hirono had never seen anyone blush. She could feel herself doing the same.
Nothing was said, all 3 of them were completely silent. Neither Mimura or Hirono daring to say anything to Chisato, who had caught them right in the middle of their act. The two of them just sat there, shivering in their new found cold.
![[mood icon]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/mood/classic/sad.gif){kind=small}
cold09:30 pm - Hirono, Shinji, Keita and Chisato: E7 to F7/G7 鼓動
The group had left the scene behind them quickly, not only because Iijima was having a really bad reaction to the smell of the rotting flesh, but also because they wanted to press on. Seeing two classmates like that made them all far more determined to beat Battle Royale. There were 18 other students somewhere on the island, and they were all going to make sure that as many could survive as possible. There were also the 2 exchanges who hadn’t been on the death lists yet. The four of them were still unsure about them, but decided to ignore their existence until they met one as it was just one more thing they didn’t want to have to think about. Worrying wasn't going to make anything better...
As they emerged into F7, the ground became far more rocky and open. The slight lack of trees worried Mimura, and he insisted everyone kept a good lookout for any assailants. Hirono was forced to walk in the middle of the group as Mimura had ordered that the people at the front and back should have guns. Seeing as Chisato was back to her normal self, apart from some bruising, Hirono had given the gun back, not really trusting herself with it.
Chisato walked at the front, her arms held up, and her gun following her gaze, aimed at every patch of dark or possible hiding place before Chisato was happy no one was there.
In the middle walked Iijima and Hirono. They had given up holding hands as it seemed pretty pointless, and they wanted to be prepared to defend themselves in an attack. Mimura walked at the back, occasionally casting a look over his shoulder to make sure they weren’t being followed before running to catch up with the others. Their movement was all very methodical, and this seemed to lift their spirits.
Eventually they came to rest at the point between F7 and G7. None of them were good enough with compasses to pinpoint their exact location.
They set up camp on a small ridge on the side of the summit overlooking the south coast. The view was spectacular, although the light was fading a little so they couldn’t see far very clearly. The summit rose above them majestically.
Hirono got to work setting out all their spare clothes to make beds just next to a pile of rocks that offered some wind protection while Mimura and Chisato walked around, trying to find the best places to keep watch from.
Keita was leaning against a rock taking gentle sips from his water bottle. He had puked up a lot after seeing Tendo and Fumiyo, and so hadn’t really been in the shape for a long hike. When they had reached the spot they set their camp up at, he had practically collapsed, and the others had to sit him up. He seemed to be recovering now, but Hirono was still a little concerned about him. He wasn’t really in the shape for keeping watch (At least, Hirono wouldn’t feel safe if he was the only one watching) and if they were attacked, he would simply not be able to use the gun.
Hirono called over Mimura and Chisato and voiced her concerns to them, just out of earshot from Iijima. Mimura nodded sternly. “Well, you proved you aren’t gonna shot us if you got a gun. I don’t see why you should take his and keep watch for him. Chisato, what do you think?”
Chisato shrugged her shoulders. “Yeah, I guess.” she said, before folding her arms across her still painful chest.
Hirono could tell Chisato wasn’t really too keen on the idea, and to tell the truth, neither was Hirono. Still, she couldn’t expect Iijima to take watch, or for Chisato and Mimura to do it themselves. “OK, sure” she sighed.
They all decided to have a meal before they started to take watch or sleep, so they sat by the boulders all close together, trying to share body heat. The island was getting colder during the night.
It was relatively quiet, and Hirono could only hear the sound of the others eating. Glancing at her watch, she cursed. The others looked at her questioningly.
“Nearly time for another report.”
Mimura rolled his eyes. “That’s one thing I could do without”
“It’s just Kitano’s voice… he’s so cold and cruel about the deaths” muttered Chisato. The others agreed.
Then, right on cue, The report came blazing over the island. The group all reached out holding hands with their eyes jammed shut as the names were called out, wishing there wouldn’t be friends on the list. When Yuka and Utsumi’s names were called out, Chisato started crying. “Oh god! They’re gone, we were too late!”
Mimura reached out, and took her into his arms for comfort. This didn't really seem to help. "Kitano you bastard! Why the hell did they have to die?" she screiched.
Iijima and Hirono both took out their maps to make sure they didn’t miss any danger zones. Thankfully, the zones that were read out were no where near them, so they didn’t have to move that night.
Hirono sighed. 6 new names. They had known Yoshimi would be called out, but the other 6? The class was dropping like flies. Now apart from the four of them, there were only 12 students left and the 2 exchanges. The longer they left it, the less of a victory it would be if they escaped. They were running out of time.
Less than half the class left, and only one day gone. Once again, Hirono was scared.
Iijima reached out and squeezed Hirono’s hand. “Don’t worry Hiro, we’ll find a way out. We always knew we couldn’t save them all.”
Hirono didn’t answer. Yoshimi had been playing. How many more? Out of those 12 other students, how many would actually be worth saving? Could they save the players, or were they already lost to the game? What if they were the only ones left on the entire island who weren’t playing.
Looking at the list of students, she struggled to think who they could actually trust.
Kusaka… she was a really bubbly sweet girl. Hirono just couldn’t imagine Kusaka playing, but Yukiko had been dead for a while. If Kusaka had been on her own all that time… Hirono couldn’t imagine what she might have been through.
Yuko, the quiet girl at school. A little weird but not a murderer.
Mitsuko. Everyone else was sure she’d be playing, but Hirono had hope in her. But… Yoshimi had played. If Yoshimi had, maybe Mitsuko would to? Hirono refused to believe that.
Chigusa. Way too competitive, but still a nice girl. She was a possibility but Hirono wasn’t sure.
Sigimura. He definitely wouldn’t play. And he was the most likely person to convince Chigusa not to play too… they really needed to find him. Hirono hoped he would be south somewhere in thr south…
Yamamoto. He had met Chisato and Mimura and gone to find Ogawa, he hadn’t been playing then. But Ogawa was dead? What if Yamamoto had found her and then killed her? Was that paranoia or logic?
Everyone else… were just too big risks. Either Hirono just didn’t know them well enough, or knew them well and knew that they’d play. It was a horrible thing to accuse someone of, but in this situation, trust wouldn’t come easily. Hirono knew that most of all. Out of 18, Hirono trusted 10. That was better than nothing, but would any of them survive at all?
Who doesn’t Hirono trust?
anxious01:32 am - Hirono, Keita, Shinji and Chisato: E7
(OOC: ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
shinji_cute is away for the weekend, so yeah, she's asking not to kill her! ^_^ And also, we are both asking that no one kills either Chisato or Iijima just yet becuase when she comes back on Monday something fun will be happening then! ^^ If you kill any of us we can't do it so then you'll just never know...)
“Let’s move south. It take us more central, and I guess it’s gonna be safer there. The more danger zones, the more likely you are to get trapped around the coasts.” Mimura said sternly. Hirono could see in his face that there was more to this than he said, but Mimura had yet still not told her his plan. She suspected Chisato knew, and Keita probably did too. But either way, when she’d asked, he’d bee more than reluctant to give specifics.
The four of them took up all their belongings. Chisato had asked about Yoshimi’s kit bag, but none of them knew where it was, so they had no more water or food than they had before, and it was running out. In the distance (Hirono imagined in F7 or G7) There was what looked like some sort of lookout point; a rusty tower, but not much of it could be seen from so far away. Perhaps Mimura’s plan had something to do with that…
Hirono sighed. Knowing Mimura, the plan could be anything…
As they set off, Keita once again reached out and grabbed Hirono’s hand. This time it felt a lot more
Natural, and Hirono supposed it felt quite nice. Nice to have someone who would hold her hand for no particular reason. He really seemed taken with her, and even considering the situation, and how much she had wanted to get to know him, she still found this all a little strange. The boy who would never even look her in the eye before…
Hirono guessed that made her lucky. Could something good come of this game?
“Well, I hear Yoshimi likes a guy!”
Hirono smiled with the memory of Mitsuko's voice. In their group of friends, it was almost customary to tell the other two girls about any crush so they could all plan how to 'get the guy'. She still remembered the day Yoshimi had told Mitsuko and Hirono about Yoji. But of course, Yoshimi wasn’t here to tell about Iijima, and Mitsuko was somewhere else. Hirono wished Mitsuko would find them. Maybe then Mimura and Chisato and Keita could all see she wasn’t such a bad girl. They’d all think she was playing, but they had thought that about Hirono too...
HIRONO THE MURDERER
No! I had to kill her!
Keita had stopped. Hirono whirled around. Have I been thinking out loud again? Oh God, please no!
But Keita wasn’t looking at Hirono, he was looking past her.
An auror of shock and wonder had filled the group. Chisato and Mimura were looking the same was as Keita too. Slowly, Hirono turned around.
Hanging from a tree just meters away were the bodies of Mayumi Tendo and Fumiyo Fujiyoshi. Hirono was completely taken aback, shocked to see them there, the last thing she had expected. She could think of nothing to do apart from walking closer, staring in utter disbelief.
The flies had set to work on them, and their faces had become a little unrecognisable, but it was still obviously them. Their flesh had turned a horrible dark red colour, black in places, and in others, peeling off. Up closer, Hirono could smell the decaying of the flesh. Keita vomited somewhere from behind her, and Chisato whimpered, no doubt grabbing Mimura for comfort.
However, though the torrent of her own tears, Hirono was smiling. Tendo and Fumiyo were swinging gracefully in the wind, still holding hands. They hadn’t been gotten by a player. They hadn’t been killed like Yoshimi had. Their deaths had been through choice, and they would be together forever…
Despite the decaying of their flesh and the lack of any muscular expression, they were the happiest two faces Hirono had ever seen. As what appeared to be two disgustingly putrid, rotting corpses swung from the tree, Hirono had to take a while to take in how stunningly beautiful it was. Fumiyo and Tendo were at peace. They had been able to escape the game. Hirono couldn’t bring herself too, not when there was hope, but it seemed as if it would take more courage to give up than to press on.
Hirono hoped that one day she would be able to find peace like they had. Gently swinging from the tree, suffocated, putrefying and happier than they could ever have been in life…
Hirono stepped closer, reaching out and touching each in turn, one last time. Then she bowed in respect, saying her final goodbye to her deceased friends.
“Revenge for this. You shall not be forgotten… I promise.”
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