Murder XIX: Trouble in Paradise

[Archmage Jeremiah]

Outside the hallway, you could hear familiar voices. "Way to go, genius. Didn't you say you had some sort of melatonin lollipop?"

"I did, but it's gone missing! So I had to go and grab my tranquilizer darts. You, on the other hand, could have watched them instead of changing clothes!"

"Hey, you're the one in charge of watching these idiots, not me! My job is-well, was-to make sure I-No didn't go crazy."

"Yeah, you did a great job of that, didn't you?"

It sounds like they're close by, but thankfully their arguing is keeping them distracted. Long enough for you all to get a move on and sneak away, at least.

Before Yato could reply to both Risky and Starlow he could heard their hosts in the hall causing him to curse under his breath, wishing they hadn't come back just yet.

Bringing a finger to his lips, the god made his way to sneak a peek at where the two men were. May as well get going and explore right? They might even have a chance to find answers while they were at it. That is, if the god had any good fortune in the next couple of minutes.

Risky Boots perked up and held her ear to the approaching pair of voices, while appearing confused as to why everyone else had fallen silent as the grave. The pirate threw her hands outward, silently questioning Yato with eyes like knives. Knowing at least from his reaction that there was now some sense of danger, Risky spent no time waiting on a response, slipped out of her boots, and stole away to escape whoever had gotten everyone so frightened.

@Yun Lee @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

 

[Yun Lee]

Yusuke would find the next video to be playing the end of the first game, right after Starlow's death.

---

"Reprehensible."

Yuriko flinched, forcing herself to turn towards Yumeko. Her face contorted as if she dreaded every word out of Yumeko's mouth. "I-I'm sorry?"

"You. What you've done. It's utterly reprehensible. You've made a complete mockery of what gambling stands for. Using it as a way to kill someone, an innocent little creature who did nothing wrong, due to the whims of one man…you would have been better off picking names out of a hat. That would be better than this patheticdisplay! Yes…one by one, a name is called, and we die. Then the rest could be free to go."

"Well, y-you see-"

"But you don't take the easy way out, do you? You want us to go off and play other games, picking us off one by one. Why? Why prolong this all? Unless...there's something more to this whole ordeal. Is that it, Yuriko? Am I right?"

"No, of course not! I-!!!!!!!"

Yumeko rushed up to Yuriko's face.

"I am right, aren't I? Manipulating my memories…producing some tape of us all being criminals…revealing we were killers and now must kill each other out of nowhere…you and Kirari and your entire council has something brewing beneath the surface! There's a reason why we're all here, isn't there?! Something none of us even realize! But you know, and that's why you feel no fear! You can sit confidently and judge us all because no harm will come to you!!!"

"I…I…" Yuriko struggled to say more. "That…that's not…no!"

Yumeko snatched the container from Yuriko. Her eyes had gone from a soft brown to a violent red, a maniacal grin on her face. "No, no, no, no! Gambling is meant to strike fear into both players, with bets on the line! But what if you and I switch places?? You take a turn in the net, feel what you made us feel! After all, you took two lives! A life for a life, isn't that right?!?!?!"

"P-Please…Yumeko!!" Yuriko's pleas fell on deaf ears. Yumeko began shaking the container Yuriko used for the Life and Death game.

"Come on, Yuriko!!!! Don't refuse me!!!!! Let's share this thrill, this fear, this excitement!!!!!!!!"

The screen would cut to black, the music stopping, as Yumeko's scream could be heard:
"L E T ' S G A M B L E ! ! ! !"

---
The screen would shut off there.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty

---------------

Risky would run off, and would hear something coming from a room further down the hall, out of earshot of either Jack or Krieger.

"L E T ' S G A M B L E ! ! !"

@Archmage Jeremiah​

 

[Takumi]

Jack and Krieger were very close. So close, in fact, that once they turned a corner, they would see you all very easily.

@Takumi

--------------

While Yusuke comtinued to panic, the TV he turned on would display an alleyway in Delfino Plaza. He would recognize the two people there as Shadow Luigi and Sam Leeds in his demonic form. Oddly enough, there would be background music throughout the whole thing.
---

"You fuckin' dumbass!" Leeds would smack Shadow Luigi.

"Ow!" Shadow Luigi held his cheek, glaring at the creature before him. "What the fuck was that for?!"

"You know exactly what the fuck that was for! Heel Lesson 101: Don't Look Like A Jackass! I thought we agreed you would stay silent!"

"Well, initially, yeah, but why not spice things up? Y'know...add an accent, taunt them all..." SMACK! "Ow! Stop that!"

"You're makin' us look like fuckin' jokes!"

"Oh, and you're not, Mr. Freshwater-Is-My-Weakness? I thought that was the whole point of this damn thing!"

"The plan is to be threatening enough that we keep them in line, but weak enough that they're in a false sense of security! Not run around lookin' like Freddy fuckin' Fazbear!"

"Who the fuck is Freddy Fazbear?!"

"The fact that you don't know is why you cannot fuck this up! I swear to God, don't you fuck this up for me. Cuz if you do..."

"I won't! I won't. I promise."

"Thought so. Now get that fuckin' paintbrush out. We got us some work to do."
---
The two of them would start walking away, out of the camera's range. The music would fade out, and the screen would go to black.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

Jack and Krieger were a little closer than the god expected.

"...."

They were waaay too close.

Frowning, Yato noticed Risky run off and quietly followed quickly. Deep down, Yato hoped fortune would smile down upon him and they wouldn't get caught.

@thatguyinthestore @Yun Lee @Mason Moretti @Archmage Jeremiah @Kentucky @York @J A Y F R OM T H E 6 I X @Afterlife

 

[dark]

Yumeko would pick red as well. Once again, she would be hit by green and lose a point, but The Doctor would receive a point as his red attack overpowered Runa's blue.

Rita would receive this question:

Question: Name one person Ryu Keiko killed in a duel in Reaper's Game.

Radec would get this one:

Question: Who killed Funny Valentine in Monokuma Rising?

Alesha would fire twice, earning two points to get to 9.

@Jeremi @LuckycoolHawk9 @dark @Khan of the Mardu​

Episode Five
"Glitz and Glamour"

Fifteen Minutes Earlier...

As the game continued on inside the park, outside the park the vice president watched them, her expression hidden by her eternally smiling mask. With the turtles gone, the beach was now serene. Peaceful. But that peace, like everything here, was nothing more than an illusion. Naturally, everyone seemed to have figured that out since the moment they got here: everything was an illusion. But did they realize just how deeply it all ran? She didn't know, and she probably wouldn't know until this game was over. Maybe the clues she left would help them all figure it out before it was too late...

"She has to be here somewhere!"

The vice president gasped, ducking behind a palm tree as footsteps and a voice made another's presence known. From her hiding place, the vice president watched as a girl exited the park. Upon recognizing her, however, the vice president would step into sight.
View attachment 146413
"Vice president!" The girl made a beeline for her. "What were you thinking?! That test of yours could jeopardize everything!"

"On the contrary. It will make the final game far more interesting." After a pause, she added, "Besides…it's what the president wanted me to do."

"W-What?" That seemed to shake her. "That can't be right...the president always tells me everything, so...why wouldn't she tell me about that?!"

"For one thing, Sayaka, I am the student council vice president. I must know all of Kirari's plans, more than anyone else does. And for another thing, your job here requires your surprise. It's nothing personal."

"……….." Sayaka stared at the girl in the mask a moment, then finally sighed.

"...I guess you're right. Kirari always knows what's best."

"Indeed she does. If she didn't, she wouldn't have asked me to give you this." The vice president held out a small trinket, extending it to Sayaka.
View attachment 146414
Sayaka gave a small smile amd a sigh of relief in response as she picked it up. "I never should have doubted you two. Can you forgive me?"

The vice president responded with a curt nod. "Yes. After all, a plan of this scope can get overwhelming. Stress and fear is to be expected."

"Yes…you're right." A pause. "I should get back before…"

"That would be wise. Take care, Sayaka." The vice president watched her leave, then leaned by a tree. "Oh, Sayaka…" From her pocket, she produced a tube of her own, staring at it.

"You're easier to manipulate than I thought."

---------------------

"Coward's game?" Runa asked. "You may not wanna call it that, since you do pretty well at 'em! Hee hee!" But Talon and Yamashiro were free to go, leaving Yusuke up in his coaster still. "Aww…poor Yusuke! To think you have to die now…but don't worry-you were a fan favorite, so I'll make sure you have a nice death!"

Pressing a button on the remote control, Yusuke would feel a prick in the back of his neck. "Poison will make this quick and clean, just for you! Ahahaha!" She would finally lower his coaster to the ground. By the time it arrived, he would be dead.

"Thank you all for having fun with my game! Good luck enjoy the hardass who's next-you'll need it!" She laughed, waving at them all as the Pianta police returned and escorted the group away. Once alone, she reclined in her chair, sucking on her lollipop in thought. Kirari was going to be happy about Yusuke. Killing Tony Stark had been a smart move on her part, because any of those four in the bottom would've been a victory. She couldn't think of anyone who wouldn't be a victory…nope! No matter how things went down, they would be the winners here. And, knowing The Truth behind this place…Runa was more than happy to kill any one of these losers! She laughed to herself, picking up a handheld game console and booting it up, feeling pretty good about herself.

Too good to notice two large shadows creeping up behind her until it was too late.

----------------

"You'll only be going to two places today," one of the guards told the group as they arrived at the boats. "The owner of Hotel Delfino over on Sirena Beach was impressed by your hard work earlier, and has a special job for you all. Meanwhile, Pianta Village is in need of some cleanup. It seems that because of some wild Chain Chomps that weren't dealt with earlier, the entire place is a mess of goop!"

"We should head over to the village, Mary!"

"Yeah…that sounds like a good idea."

"Very well." Behind everyone, the vice president emerges. "And I shall be going to Sirena Beach, myself." Without another word, she boarded the boat.
View attachment 146415
"…" Yumeko observed the vice president, as if contemplating something deeply.

"Hey, Yumeko." Mary called out to her friend from the gangplank.

"You coming?"

"Hm? Oh…yes." Yumeko quietly got aboard, but she didn't seem all that sure of herself. "Let's get going."

Starring:

@Crow as Ernesti Echavalier (Knights & Magic)
@dark as Colonel Mael Radec (Killzone)
@Gummi Bunnies as Maria Ushiromiya (Umineko no Naku Koro ni
@Jeremi as The Fourth Doctor (Doctor Who)
@Kaykay as Hina (Hinamatsuri)
@LuckycoolHawk9 as Rita Hanson (Groundhog Day: The Musical)
@Mari as Yamashiro (KanColle)
@Midnight Maiden as Hiyori Iki (Noragami)
@Minerva as Ritsuka Fujimura (Fate/Grand Order)
@Otto as Talon (League of Legends)
@thatguyinthestore as Shantae (Shantae)
@The Myrmidon as Alesha, Who Smiles at Death (Magic: the Gathering)
@Verite as Gon Freeces (Hunter X Hunter)
@Yun Lee as Yumeko Jabami (Kakegurui)

In Memoriam

Nagihiko Fujisaki - IMPALED!

Starlow - TURNED TO DUST!

Kusanagi - SLICED OPEN!

Kars - CRUSHED IN A LANDSLIDE!

Ami Kawashima - SPINE SNAPPED IN HALF!

Toshinori Yagi - PUNCHED CLEAN THROUGH!

Peter Parker - CHOKED OUT!

Yato - SHOT IN THE GUT!

Risky Boots - LOST AT SEA!

Tony Stark - BLOWN TO SMITHEREENS!

Yusuke Kitagawa - POISONED!

---------------

Outside the hallway, you could hear familiar voices. "Way to go, genius. Didn't you say you had some sort of melatonin lollipop?"

"I did, but it's gone missing! So I had to go and grab my tranquilizer darts. You, on the other hand, could have watched them instead of changing clothes!"

"Hey, you're the one in charge of watching these idiots, not me! My job is-well, was-to make sure I-No didn't go crazy."

"Yeah, you did a great job of that, didn't you?"

It sounds like they're close by, but thankfully their arguing is keeping them distracted. Long enough for you all to get a move on and sneak away, at least.

Meanwhile, Yusuke would find himself waking up in a chair in an empty room. Well, empty save for a wall covered in televisions.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

Radec held his hands behind his back and sighed "I shall also... go to Pianta Village.

His mask would take slow breaths as he waited silently compensating each game that happened.

It forced Mael to think. He eyed the Vice president for a second and shook his head.

@Yun Lee @Pianta Village Crowd

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Yusuke would find the next video to be playing the end of the first game, right after Starlow's death.

---

"Reprehensible."

Yuriko flinched, forcing herself to turn towards Yumeko. Her face contorted as if she dreaded every word out of Yumeko's mouth. "I-I'm sorry?"

"You. What you've done. It's utterly reprehensible. You've made a complete mockery of what gambling stands for. Using it as a way to kill someone, an innocent little creature who did nothing wrong, due to the whims of one man…you would have been better off picking names out of a hat. That would be better than this patheticdisplay! Yes…one by one, a name is called, and we die. Then the rest could be free to go."

"Well, y-you see-"

"But you don't take the easy way out, do you? You want us to go off and play other games, picking us off one by one. Why? Why prolong this all? Unless...there's something more to this whole ordeal. Is that it, Yuriko? Am I right?"

"No, of course not! I-!!!!!!!"

Yumeko rushed up to Yuriko's face.

"I am right, aren't I? Manipulating my memories…producing some tape of us all being criminals…revealing we were killers and now must kill each other out of nowhere…you and Kirari and your entire council has something brewing beneath the surface! There's a reason why we're all here, isn't there?! Something none of us even realize! But you know, and that's why you feel no fear! You can sit confidently and judge us all because no harm will come to you!!!"

"I…I…" Yuriko struggled to say more. "That…that's not…no!"

Yumeko snatched the container from Yuriko. Her eyes had gone from a soft brown to a violent red, a maniacal grin on her face. "No, no, no, no! Gambling is meant to strike fear into both players, with bets on the line! But what if you and I switch places?? You take a turn in the net, feel what you made us feel! After all, you took two lives! A life for a life, isn't that right?!?!?!"

"P-Please…Yumeko!!" Yuriko's pleas fell on deaf ears. Yumeko began shaking the container Yuriko used for the Life and Death game.

"Come on, Yuriko!!!! Don't refuse me!!!!! Let's share this thrill, this fear, this excitement!!!!!!!!"

The screen would cut to black, the music stopping, as Yumeko's scream could be heard:
"L E T ' S G A M B L E ! ! ! !"

---
The screen would shut off there.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty

---------------

Risky would run off, and would hear something coming from a room further down the hall, out of earshot of either Jack or Krieger.

"L E T ' S G A M B L E ! ! !"

@Archmage Jeremiah​

Yusuke became a bit more serious after viewing the second video.

"This is--"

The boy narrowed his eyes, mentally mulling over the things he saw. "Why am I seeing these events now of all times? Yumeko-san..." Yusuke moved to turn on yet another television--assuming there were more left to use.

"Purgatory is a most peculiar place," he commented to himself as he waited to see what would happen.

@Yun Lee​

 

[Jeremi]

Episode Five
"Glitz and Glamour"

Fifteen Minutes Earlier...

As the game continued on inside the park, outside the park the vice president watched them, her expression hidden by her eternally smiling mask. With the turtles gone, the beach was now serene. Peaceful. But that peace, like everything here, was nothing more than an illusion. Naturally, everyone seemed to have figured that out since the moment they got here: everything was an illusion. But did they realize just how deeply it all ran? She didn't know, and she probably wouldn't know until this game was over. Maybe the clues she left would help them all figure it out before it was too late...

"She has to be here somewhere!"

The vice president gasped, ducking behind a palm tree as footsteps and a voice made another's presence known. From her hiding place, the vice president watched as a girl exited the park. Upon recognizing her, however, the vice president would step into sight.
View attachment 146413
"Vice president!" The girl made a beeline for her. "What were you thinking?! That test of yours could jeopardize everything!"

"On the contrary. It will make the final game far more interesting." After a pause, she added, "Besides…it's what the president wanted me to do."

"W-What?" That seemed to shake her. "That can't be right...the president always tells me everything, so...why wouldn't she tell me about that?!"

"For one thing, Sayaka, I am the student council vice president. I must know all of Kirari's plans, more than anyone else does. And for another thing, your job here requires your surprise. It's nothing personal."

"……….." Sayaka stared at the girl in the mask a moment, then finally sighed.

"...I guess you're right. Kirari always knows what's best."

"Indeed she does. If she didn't, she wouldn't have asked me to give you this." The vice president held out a small trinket, extending it to Sayaka.
View attachment 146414
Sayaka gave a small smile amd a sigh of relief in response as she picked it up. "I never should have doubted you two. Can you forgive me?"

The vice president responded with a curt nod. "Yes. After all, a plan of this scope can get overwhelming. Stress and fear is to be expected."

"Yes…you're right." A pause. "I should get back before…"

"That would be wise. Take care, Sayaka." The vice president watched her leave, then leaned by a tree. "Oh, Sayaka…" From her pocket, she produced a tube of her own, staring at it.

"You're easier to manipulate than I thought."

---------------------

"Coward's game?" Runa asked. "You may not wanna call it that, since you do pretty well at 'em! Hee hee!" But Talon and Yamashiro were free to go, leaving Yusuke up in his coaster still. "Aww…poor Yusuke! To think you have to die now…but don't worry-you were a fan favorite, so I'll make sure you have a nice death!"

Pressing a button on the remote control, Yusuke would feel a prick in the back of his neck. "Poison will make this quick and clean, just for you! Ahahaha!" She would finally lower his coaster to the ground. By the time it arrived, he would be dead.

"Thank you all for having fun with my game! Good luck enjoy the hardass who's next-you'll need it!" She laughed, waving at them all as the Pianta police returned and escorted the group away. Once alone, she reclined in her chair, sucking on her lollipop in thought. Kirari was going to be happy about Yusuke. Killing Tony Stark had been a smart move on her part, because any of those four in the bottom would've been a victory. She couldn't think of anyone who wouldn't be a victory…nope! No matter how things went down, they would be the winners here. And, knowing The Truth behind this place…Runa was more than happy to kill any one of these losers! She laughed to herself, picking up a handheld game console and booting it up, feeling pretty good about herself.

Too good to notice two large shadows creeping up behind her until it was too late.

----------------

"You'll only be going to two places today," one of the guards told the group as they arrived at the boats. "The owner of Hotel Delfino over on Sirena Beach was impressed by your hard work earlier, and has a special job for you all. Meanwhile, Pianta Village is in need of some cleanup. It seems that because of some wild Chain Chomps that weren't dealt with earlier, the entire place is a mess of goop!"

"We should head over to the village, Mary!"

"Yeah…that sounds like a good idea."

"Very well." Behind everyone, the vice president emerges. "And I shall be going to Sirena Beach, myself." Without another word, she boarded the boat.
View attachment 146415
"…" Yumeko observed the vice president, as if contemplating something deeply.

"Hey, Yumeko." Mary called out to her friend from the gangplank.

"You coming?"

"Hm? Oh…yes." Yumeko quietly got aboard, but she didn't seem all that sure of herself. "Let's get going."

Starring:

@Crow as Ernesti Echavalier (Knights & Magic)
@dark as Colonel Mael Radec (Killzone)
@Gummi Bunnies as Maria Ushiromiya (Umineko no Naku Koro ni
@Jeremi as The Fourth Doctor (Doctor Who)
@Kaykay as Hina (Hinamatsuri)
@LuckycoolHawk9 as Rita Hanson (Groundhog Day: The Musical)
@Mari as Yamashiro (KanColle)
@Midnight Maiden as Hiyori Iki (Noragami)
@Minerva as Ritsuka Fujimura (Fate/Grand Order)
@Otto as Talon (League of Legends)
@thatguyinthestore as Shantae (Shantae)
@The Myrmidon as Alesha, Who Smiles at Death (Magic: the Gathering)
@Verite as Gon Freeces (Hunter X Hunter)
@Yun Lee as Yumeko Jabami (Kakegurui)

In Memoriam

Nagihiko Fujisaki - IMPALED!

Starlow - TURNED TO DUST!

Kusanagi - SLICED OPEN!

Kars - CRUSHED IN A LANDSLIDE!

Ami Kawashima - SPINE SNAPPED IN HALF!

Toshinori Yagi - PUNCHED CLEAN THROUGH!

Peter Parker - CHOKED OUT!

Yato - SHOT IN THE GUT!

Risky Boots - LOST AT SEA!

Tony Stark - BLOWN TO SMITHEREENS!

Yusuke Kitagawa - POISONED!

---------------

Outside the hallway, you could hear familiar voices. "Way to go, genius. Didn't you say you had some sort of melatonin lollipop?"

"I did, but it's gone missing! So I had to go and grab my tranquilizer darts. You, on the other hand, could have watched them instead of changing clothes!"

"Hey, you're the one in charge of watching these idiots, not me! My job is-well, was-to make sure I-No didn't go crazy."

"Yeah, you did a great job of that, didn't you?"

It sounds like they're close by, but thankfully their arguing is keeping them distracted. Long enough for you all to get a move on and sneak away, at least.

Meanwhile, Yusuke would find himself waking up in a chair in an empty room. Well, empty save for a wall covered in televisions.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

The Doctor looked mighty pleased with himself when the flipped the blue coin into the air and into one of his huge pockets. "Now that that is taken care of, I'm curious to see where you lead us next, Gon." He turned towards the boy flashing a huge grin. "What should we do next?"​

@Verite

 

[Gummi Bunnies]

"Pianta Village sounds fine." Shantae said as she began to head there. As they walked, the half-genie would look down at Maria and try to smile, though it was hard considering the circumstances.

"Are you okay?" Shantae asked. She knew that all these deaths would have some effect on the poor girl.

@Yun Lee @Gummi Bunnies​

❝ Uu... ❞ Voicing out the usual filler word she uses often, Maria didn't exactly feel right with simply saying that she was fine. It was... a complicated feeling. Though, she couldn't leave Shantae with no answer at all.

❝ I don't know. A lot happened since the plane ride... it's a lot to take in, but I think I can keep going. Mama's waiting for me... uuu... ❞ Now that she thought about it, it's her first time not accompanied with people she's known well, such as her relatives or the Golden Witch Beatrice. She figured that how this game worked was different than a Witch's Game, where people died and weren't sent for the Golden Land. As Maria mumbled at the end of her words about her mom once again, she thought about what was possibly going on while she's gone.

@Yun Lee @thatguyinthestore​

 

[Yun Lee]

This time, Yusuke would find a completely new video, with no music playing at all. In fact, it seemed just like regular surveillance footage. At nighttime, on Gelato Beach, a girl he would recognize from the third game was on her knees, in tears. Before her stood someone out of focus, unable to be seen. What could be seen, however, was them holding a gun to the girl's head.

"You...you're going to do it? R-Really...?" Though she sobbed, she seemed to have a look of utter ecstasy on her face.

"I've waited so long...for this moment..."

The mysterious figure cocked the gun.

"F-Finally...you're going to...kill me..."

Their arm steadied, taking aim.

"...thank you..."

BANG!

The girl fell backward to the ground, dead as a pool of blood formed. The person who shot her stepped forward, looking to the camera. Their face was finally in sight.

"Now...that just won't do."

She aimed the gun at the camera, and with a BANG!, the screen abruptly cut to black.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

 

[Archmage Jeremiah]

Risky would run off, and would hear something coming from a room further down the hall, out of earshot of either Jack or Krieger.

"L E T ' S G A M B L E ! ! !"

Stopping in her tracks and cocking her head up higher, Risky Boots caught the odd sound byte, and listened to it over and over in her head. After a few moments of recollection, the pirate silently gasped, and grinned at Yato with a smug glint in her eye. "Get ready to be schooled, children," was what she said before dashing down the halls barefoot, following the sound.

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore​

 

[thatguyinthestore]

Stopping in her tracks and cocking her head up higher, Risky Boots caught the odd sound byte, and listened to it over and over in her head. After a few moments of recollection, the pirate silently gasped, and grinned at Yato with a smug glint in her eye. "Get ready to be schooled, children," was what she said before dashing down the halls barefoot, following the sound.

@Yun Lee @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore​

Bowser Jr watched as Risky ran down the hall in annoyance. Of course, he didn't take too kindly to these people running away. They were his babysitters, after all!

"Hey! You get back here!" The young Koopa yelled as he ran down the hall after Risky.

@Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @York @Yun Lee @Afterlife​

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

This time, Yusuke would find a completely new video, with no music playing at all. In fact, it seemed just like regular surveillance footage. At nighttime, on Gelato Beach, a girl he would recognize from the third game was on her knees, in tears. Before her stood someone out of focus, unable to be seen. What could be seen, however, was them holding a gun to the girl's head.

"You...you're going to do it? R-Really...?" Though she sobbed, she seemed to have a look of utter ecstasy on her face.

"I've waited so long...for this moment..."

The mysterious figure cocked the gun.

"F-Finally...you're going to...kill me..."

Their arm steadied, taking aim.

"...thank you..."

BANG!

The girl fell backward to the ground, dead as a pool of blood formed. The person who shot her stepped forward, looking to the camera. Their face was finally in sight.

"Now...that just won't do."

She aimed the gun at the camera, and with a BANG!, the screen abruptly cut to black.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty​

As the next video began to roll, Yusuke immediately realized that he didn't recognize this one. His entire focus fell upon the screen, his mind so fixated on what he was viewing that he visibly flinched and staggered back when Yumeko's face would appear before she shot at the camera. He almost fell back into the chair he had started off sitting in, but quickly composed himself after the video ended.

"I've... seen enough," he said to himself, releasing a sigh. He turned away from the televisions for a moment and decided to look and see if the room had an exit.

@Yun Lee​

 

[Mari]

Yusuke was gone. Another fallen comrade. Ernesti's expression was a bit more neutral, as opposed to a smile that didn't seem close to fading.

"Pianta Village. Sounds like a good destination?" Ernesti asks in a curt manner.

@Mari @Minerva​

Yamashiro looked around, and could not help but notice how much their numbers had decreased now. Many had fallen now, leaving a small group to continue the battle. She nodded in agreement to Ernesti... the battleship acknowledged that he had a good recommendation and she agreed with it from her own strategic point of view.

"Pianta Village is good, it seems many of us are going there. With our low numbers it might be smart to stay together as much as possible now."​

Yamashiro's spirits were still high, as one would expect of someone who had been through many battles and extended conflicts. But, she still felt sorrow for those who passed on, especially since there were many this time compared to before. She closed her eyes and whispered, before they set off towards the village:

"I hope they find peace and happiness on the other side."​

@Crow @Minerva @Yun Lee

 

[Yun Lee]

Yusuke would find an unlocked door right behind him. Just outside would be a hallway, where he would see Risky, Yato, and Bowser Jr.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore​

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Yusuke would find an unlocked door right behind him. Just outside would be a hallway, where he would see Risky, Yato, and Bowser Jr.

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore​

The boy exited through the door he found, stepping out into the hallway. He looked around for a moment, doing a double take when he would see Risky and Yato in particular. Wanting to investigate further, he walked toward them.

"Risky-san? Yato-sama? How are you really... here?" he questioned hesitantly, quite surprised to see them. It was almost too good to be true. Watching them die had been quite bothersome to Yusuke, so seeing them in the flesh was quite a sight for sore eyes. "Or perhaps you are not here... could you be apparitions of purgatory sent to haunt my stay in the afterlife!?" he exclaimed with a gasp.

He approached the group with caution, stepping in front of Yato. He looked the god up and down before reaching out to grab his face. He tugged at the other male's ears and squeezed his cheeks. "Speak, specter!"

@Yun Lee @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

 

[thatguyinthestore]

The boy exited through the door he found, stepping out into the hallway. He looked around for a moment, doing a double take when he would see Risky and Yato in particular. Wanting to investigate further, he walked toward them.

"Risky-san? Yato-sama? How are you really... here?" he questioned hesitantly, quite surprised to see them. It was almost too good to be true. Watching them die had been quite bothersome to Yusuke, so seeing them in the flesh was quite a sight for sore eyes. "Or perhaps you are not here... could you be apparitions of purgatory sent to haunt my stay in the afterlife!?" he exclaimed with a gasp.

He approached the group with caution, stepping in front of Yato. He looked the god up and down before reaching out to grab his face. He tugged at the other male's ears and squeezed his cheeks. "Speak, specter!"

@Yun Lee @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

Bowser Jr watched Yusuke in confusion.

"You're weird."

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @York @Yun Lee​

 

[Archmage Jeremiah]

The boy exited through the door he found, stepping out into the hallway. He looked around for a moment, doing a double take when he would see Risky and Yato in particular. Wanting to investigate further, he walked toward them.

"Risky-san? Yato-sama? How are you really... here?" he questioned hesitantly, quite surprised to see them. It was almost too good to be true. Watching them die had been quite bothersome to Yusuke, so seeing them in the flesh was quite a sight for sore eyes. "Or perhaps you are not here... could you be apparitions of purgatory sent to haunt my stay in the afterlife!?" he exclaimed with a gasp.

He approached the group with caution, stepping in front of Yato. He looked the god up and down before reaching out to grab his face. He tugged at the other male's ears and squeezed his cheeks. "Speak, specter!"

@Yun Lee @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

Bowser Jr watched Yusuke in confusion.

"You're weird."

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @York @Yun Lee​

Raising a finger to her lips, Risky Boots shushed the both of them and hastily led everyone into the open door Yusuke had just stepped out of. "Quiet, both of you!" she whispered, "There'll be time for questions when we're not being followed!"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @thatguyinthestore @Takumi @Afterlife​

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Bowser Jr watched Yusuke in confusion.

"You're weird."

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @York @Yun Lee​

Raising a finger to her lips, Risky Boots shushed the both of them and hastily led everyone into the open door Yusuke had just stepped out of. "Quiet, both of you!" she whispered, "There'll be time for questions when we're not being followed!"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @thatguyinthestore @Takumi @Afterlife​

"Hmph," was all Yusuke would mutter upon hearing someone call him weird. Whether it was strange, weird, bizarre, or eccentric, Yusuke had been called just about every name--by friends and strangers alike--he could think of that singled himself out as being odd. Being dead, so it seemed, was already no different than being alive when it came to that. He was so used to this title that he didn't even defend himself. It was typical for him to either purposely ignore such names, or even to tune them out entirely.

"You're one to talk," he finally added, however, when he would turn and get a good look at Bowser Jr. "Say, you're one of those Goomba things, aren't you? Now I'm more assured than ever that I'm seeing illusions. The last one I saw was much bigger than you," he said, his head still looking in Bowser Jr's direction while he continued to squeeze and mess with Yato's face--almost as if he had forgotten to stop. He also seemed to have mistakenly called a Koopa the wrong name yet again.

He glanced to Risky, however, when she would be so intent on going into the room he had just left.

Yeah, nice to see you too, Risky. : |

He chose to ignore her shushing, confused as to what was going on. "Who exactly is following us? What is even going on?" he asked even though she had just stated that there was no time for questions. Why should he even worry about someone following them? He was dead! Not to mention, he was still under the impression that he was imagining all of this.

@Yun Lee @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

 

[Archmage Jeremiah]

"Hmph," was all Yusuke would mutter upon hearing someone call him weird. Whether it was strange, weird, bizarre, or eccentric, Yusuke had been called just about every name--by friends and strangers alike--he could think of that singled himself out as being odd. Being dead, so it seemed, was already no different than being alive when it came to that. He was so used to this title that he didn't even defend himself. It was typical for him to either purposely ignore such names, or even to tune them out entirely.

"You're one to talk," he finally added, however, when he would turn and get a good look at Bowser Jr. "Say, you're one of those Goomba things, aren't you? Now I'm more assured than ever that I'm seeing illusions. The last one I saw was much bigger than you," he said, his head still looking in Bowser Jr's direction while he continued to squeeze and mess with Yato's face--almost as if he had forgotten to stop. He also seemed to have mistakenly called a Koopa the wrong name yet again.

He glanced to Risky, however, when she would be so intent on going into the room he had just left.

Yeah, nice to see you too, Risky. : |

He chose to ignore her shushing, confused as to what was going on. "Who exactly is following us? What is even going on?" he asked even though she had just stated that there was no time for questions. Why should he even worry about someone following them? He was dead! Not to mention, he was still under the impression that he was imagining all of this.

@Yun Lee @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

Risky Boots firmly pressed her hand over Yusuke's mouth to force his silence. "What did I just-?" But her grip didn't remain for very long. Glancing past Yusuke, Risky's hand slowly fell down off his chin, and her eyes glazed over as the gears behind them began to spin. "Shut the door," she ordered no-one in particular while she slipped past Yusuke to approach the TV setup laid out before her. "And tell me...is this exactly what I think it is?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @thatguyinthestore @Takumi @Mason Moretti @Afterlife​

 

[Takumi]

The boy exited through the door he found, stepping out into the hallway. He looked around for a moment, doing a double take when he would see Risky and Yato in particular. Wanting to investigate further, he walked toward them.

"Risky-san? Yato-sama? How are you really... here?" he questioned hesitantly, quite surprised to see them. It was almost too good to be true. Watching them die had been quite bothersome to Yusuke, so seeing them in the flesh was quite a sight for sore eyes. "Or perhaps you are not here... could you be apparitions of purgatory sent to haunt my stay in the afterlife!?" he exclaimed with a gasp.

He approached the group with caution, stepping in front of Yato. He looked the god up and down before reaching out to grab his face. He tugged at the other male's ears and squeezed his cheeks. "Speak, specter!"

@Yun Lee @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

Bowser Jr watched Yusuke in confusion.

"You're weird."

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @Takumi @Archmage Jeremiah @York @Yun Lee​

Raising a finger to her lips, Risky Boots shushed the both of them and hastily led everyone into the open door Yusuke had just stepped out of. "Quiet, both of you!" she whispered, "There'll be time for questions when we're not being followed!"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @thatguyinthestore @Takumi @Afterlife​

"Hmph," was all Yusuke would mutter upon hearing someone call him weird. Whether it was strange, weird, bizarre, or eccentric, Yusuke had been called just about every name--by friends and strangers alike--he could think of that singled himself out as being odd. Being dead, so it seemed, was already no different than being alive when it came to that. He was so used to this title that he didn't even defend himself. It was typical for him to either purposely ignore such names, or even to tune them out entirely.

"You're one to talk," he finally added, however, when he would turn and get a good look at Bowser Jr. "Say, you're one of those Goomba things, aren't you? Now I'm more assured than ever that I'm seeing illusions. The last one I saw was much bigger than you," he said, his head still looking in Bowser Jr's direction while he continued to squeeze and mess with Yato's face--almost as if he had forgotten to stop. He also seemed to have mistakenly called a Koopa the wrong name yet again.

He glanced to Risky, however, when she would be so intent on going into the room he had just left.

Yeah, nice to see you too, Risky. : |

He chose to ignore her shushing, confused as to what was going on. "Who exactly is following us? What is even going on?" he asked even though she had just stated that there was no time for questions. Why should he even worry about someone following them? He was dead! Not to mention, he was still under the impression that he was imagining all of this.

@Yun Lee @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​

"Yusu-mmph?" Yato grunted as his ears were pulled and his face was being squished, followed by Risky leading them into the room Yusuke just left. The god would of questioned how Yusuke died, if he wasn't instantly being attacked. Why did Yusuke pick him of all people? It didn't bother him, but it did catch the god off guard a little.

"That's Bowsher's son, and the guys following ush are Captain Jack and some scientisht. Said they were watching ush." he answered, trying to pull Yusuke's hands off his face, followed by closing the door.

@thatguyinthestore @Yun Lee @Mason Moretti @Archmage Jeremiah @Kentucky @York @J A Y F R OM T H E 6 I X @Afterlife

 

[Klutzy Ninja Kitty]

Risky Boots firmly pressed her hand over Yusuke's mouth to force his silence. "What did I just-?" But her grip didn't remain for very long. Glancing past Yusuke, Risky's hand slowly fell down off his chin, and her eyes glazed over as the gears behind them began to spin. "Shut the door," she ordered no-one in particular while she slipped past Yusuke to approach the TV setup laid out before her. "And tell me...is this exactly what I think it is?"

@Klutzy Ninja Kitty @thatguyinthestore @Takumi @Mason Moretti @Afterlife​

"Yusu-mmph?" Yato grunted as his ears were pulled and his face was being squished, followed by Risky leading them into the room Yusuke just left. The god would of questioned how Yusuke died, if he wasn't instantly being attacked. Why did Yusuke pick him of all people? It didn't bother him, but it did catch the god off guard a little.

"That's Bowsher's son, and the guys following ush are Captain Jack and some scientisht. Said they were watching ush." he answered, trying to pull Yusuke's hands off his face, followed by closing the door.

@thatguyinthestore @Yun Lee @Mason Moretti @Archmage Jeremiah @Kentucky @York @J A Y F R OM T H E 6 I X @Afterlife

Before Yusuke could say anything else, he would feel Risky's hand pressed across his mouth. He wouldn't even attempt to remove it, however, because it was gone again as quick as he would blink.

"It's a television," Yusuke stated flatly to Risky in a matter-of-fact tone of voice. Once they were inside the room, however, he realized he was still grabbing onto Yato's face--surprised by how real he felt. "Wait... then... you're not a spirit?" he questioned himself, releasing his hold on the god when he would find this to be true.

"F-Forgive me!" he exclaimed, bowing his head to Yato. "That was no way for a commoner like me to treat an all mighty god such as yourself. Although, I am relieved to see you and--" Yusuke cut himself for a moment frowning and bowing his head again to Yato. This time, he was less frantic and just sounded sad.

"I take it back... don't forgive me. I failed you, Yato-sama. I was unable to watch over Hiyori-san for you. I deserve no mercy from you," he said miserably, keeping his head down. "I left her with Alesha-san, but it was supposed to be my responsibility. I should've endeavored will all of my might to survive. I wholeheartedly apologize..."

@Yun Lee @Archmage Jeremiah @Takumi @Mason Moretti @thatguyinthestore @Afterlife​