[

mood

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drained

]

(OOC: Here playing catch up. This might be a little rushed. Sorry for the very long delay.)

BANG! BANG! BANG!

It was as if everything was in slow motion. Hirono saw the three bullets she fired as they flew out of her pistol heading straight for Yukie.

As the bullets made there way to their intended target, Hirono turned her head and saw Mitsuko as she too lifted her gun to shoot at Yukie. But then Mitsuko seemed to hesitate to fire.

What is she doing?

Mitsuko adjusted the straps of her bag as if uncomfortable. Mitsuko then looked at Hirono as if Hirono had become crazed. And then Mitsuko ran away and Hirono was left there alone.

She actually ran away? What the fuck?

Only one of the bullets made its target and incased itself in Yukie’s arm. Yukie’s scream as the bullet ripped into her flesh sounded inhuman to Hirono’s ears; the piercing scream sounding like the feral cry of wild banshee. Hirono’s whole body spasm at the echoing shriek.

Yukie looked as is she were trying to raise her bullet ridden arm to aim at Hirono to fire back but the weight of the gun seemed to heavy for her to lift.

You can’t even lift that cannon.

Seeing no way to retaliate, Yukie turned and ran, leaving her gun behind.

Fuck it that bitch I hate running. Someone well run into her eventually and finish the job.

Hirono moved closer to Chisato’s body that was left lying to waste on the ground. She then crouched down to get a good look at the body.

Chisato’s eyes remained open, wide open and blindly staring up at the sky. Her body had two bullet holes in them. There was a medium sized bullet hole around her lower abdomen and a quite a large hole more towards the middle of her chest where her heart once beat. The hole in the center of her chest was much more gruesome and obviously by a very close range spot.

The scene would be horrific to any normal person but Hirono couldn’t feel anything empathetic to this lost of life.

As Hirono stood she kicked the body over so that Chisato was now lying on her stomach.

Not my choice of fertilizer but whatever.

As Hirono stood, she fished her lighter and a cigarette of her bag and began to smoke as she walked away. She was kind of sluggish with the lack of sleep but she knew that she shouldn’t rest so close to a corpse.

Let’s get this show on the road.

“Good morning class! Sleep well? You've worked extra hard this time! I'm proud of you!”

Hirono stopped mid step once she heard Kitano’s voice.

“Oh fuck me!”

Hirono crossed her legs and sat Indian style on the ground getting out her things.

“Here are the dead in the order they died! Boy #3, Tatsumichi Ooki! Girl #9, Yuko Sakaki! Girl #19, Chisato Matsui! Girl #1, Mizuho Inada! Boy #11, Hiroki Sugimura Girl #8, Kayoko Kotohiki! and just in, Girl #14, Mayumi Tendo!”

“Why the fuck is he so damned cheerful and awake this early in the morning? ITS SIX O’CLOOCK ASSHOLE IN THE FUCKING AM!”

“I'm adding more danger zones! From 8:00, F2, that's F2! From 10:00, C3, that's C3! Only 16 of you to go! The real competition starts here, but don't give up! Talk to you again at noon!”

“Noon? Oh joy on a stick.”

As Hirono finished marking her list she put everything away and got up.

“I need to get a good place to sleep.”

And once again Hirono set off.

A little further down the bunny trail…

Hirono soon realized that there was no really good place to hide and sleep in this zone. But she knew that she couldn’t make it anywhere else without falling out.

Then a solution appeared right in front of her.

In front of Hirono was a large tree with limbs that reached low enough to grab on but high and thick enough to rest and keep hidden.

What the hell I give it a try.

Soon Hirono was up in the tree, somewhat comfortably lying on the branches, with her tightly in her arms like a teddy bear in the arms of an insecure five year old.

It isn’t like I have had worse sleeping arrangements.

Though the rising sun in all its majestic glory was rising right before Hirono, it was wasted upon her. She just turned over and fell into a dreamless sleep.

******

“Good afternoon everyone!”

Hirono began to wake at the sound of Kitano’s voice.

“What…”

”No new kills this report! I'm very disappointed in you! I hope you aren't planning to take this to the time limit! It would be such a waste to have no winner at all...”

“Baby Jesus on a fucking tricycle! I couldn’t have just slept through the goddamn report?”

Hirono once again took out her list and was ready to mark down the new danger zones since there was no deaths this report.

“I'm adding more danger zones! From 14:00, G3, that's G3! And from 16:00, I3! Speak to you again at 6! Don't slack now!”

“Whatever.”

As Hirono was putting her things in her bag her gun feel out and to the ground. Hirono tried to grab it before it feel but only starting falling after it and landing on it when she hit the ground.

Ouch…

[

mood

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anxious

]

(Permission granted by Allen. If you don’t like it you know what to do.)

In the late night hours on the island, as Hirono walked through the woods, she heard footsteps carefully walking up behind her.

So someone thinks they’re slick.

Hirono slipped her pistol out of her waistband and into her hand, making sure to be as discrete as possible.

Pistol held close, Hirono slowed down and began to walk in an angled direction so that her living shadow would be forced weave in and out of the tree and brush to keep track.

When Hirono found a big wide tree she steeped in front of it and stooped down.

The mysterious figure walked up beside the tree the Hirono was hiding in front of. When the figure had walked a few feet beyond Hirono took her chance and pounced, knocking the figure to the ground, holding the pistol’s barrel against their head.

“Hirono its me! Now get the hell off!”

“Mitsuko?”

Hirono, who was lying with her full wait on Mitsuko, push-upped off of Mitsuko and sat Indian style.

“Well what the hell do you think you’re doing stalking after people like that?”

“Well I know you’re playing so I was taking some precautions.”

“Precautions? How the hell do you even know I’m playing?”

“I saw the aftermath of the demise of little Satomi.”

Damn, I need to make surer I cover my tracks better.

“Well I’m playing. So what? I have no doubt you’re playing.”

“Yea I am playing. I’m not going to try and hide it. I don’t really care if you’re playing either. As long as you don’t attack me…”

Mitsuko pointed to the pistol in Hirono’s hand.

“then I have no beef with you.”

“Same here.”

Both girl calmed down a bit and began to relax.

“Since you took all this effort to follow me I guess you have some plan in mind?”

“Maybe I do and maybe I don’t.”

“Stop being a wise ass Mitsuko. If you got a plan I want to here it.”

“I have plans for myself that may or may not include you. When I figure out that I want you as a part of my little scheme then I’ll let you know.”

“Explain to me why it is that I deal with you at all and am letting you live?”

“Because you love me and there’s no one better.”

******

It had just begun to rain as Hirono maybe her way through the city, her murderous deeds of the last hour not yet finished burning itself into her memory.

Hirono did not feel guilty or sad for the loss of life by her hands.

Hirono did not feel elated or joyful for the burden that she had just freed herself from.

Hirono couldn’t even say that she nothing because there was some type of feeling that was coursing through her body, but she just could describe it.

“I need somewhere to go.”

Hirono found a payphone and called the only person that she knew could help her now.

“Hello?”

“Mitsuko?”

“Hey Hirono. What do you need?”

“I just need a place to crash”

“Well just come over.”

“Yea I should be over there in about twenty minutes.”

“Ok. I’ll see you soon. I’ll leave the door open you ya.”

“Bye”

Hirono hung up the payphone with a sigh of relief and then began her trek to Mitsuko’s.

When Hirono reached Mitsuko’s, as promised, the door was unlocked. Hirono walked in and made her way into the living room. Mitsuko was sitting on the couch watching something on the TV.

“Hey Mitsuko.”

“Hey Hirono. Come sit down.”

Hirono pulled off her jacket, laying it on a chair, and making her way over to the couch, sitting down next to Mitsuko.

“Hey why do you smell like smoke? I know you have a cigarette every once in a why but damn!”

Tears started to slide down Hirono’s face. Mitsuko took Hirono into a hug and stroked her hair.

“Oh baby I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to do anything to make you upset.”

“No no I’m fine. I just need to get some rest.”

“Well come on. You can sleep with me in my room.”

“Ok.”

Hirono and Mitsuko walked over to the bedroom and got into the bed, facing each other.

“You know we have to look out for ourselves? Right Hirono? No one is going to do it for us. You did was the right. Whatever that was.”

Hirono kissed Mitsuko.

“Thanks Mitsuko. You’re always good to me.”

******

Classical music filled the air, signaling the time for the midnight report by Kitano. Hirono and Mitsuko looked in the direction of where the music was coming from

“Hello class! It's midnight! Time for another report!”

“Death never sounded more moving did it Mitsuko?”

Both girls took out their maps and class lists to write down the new information.

“Another productive six hours! 5 new deaths! In the order they died: Girl #16, Yuka Nakagawa Boy #21, Kazuhiko Yamamoto, Girl #18, Satomi Noda, Girl #15, Shuuya Nanahara, and Girl #6, Yukiko Kitano! You're nearly down to half numbers! Don't slack now! I'm adding more danger zones! From 01:00, C4! That's C4! From 03:00, I9, that's I9! And from 05:00, E9!”

“Hirono can you give me you map? I missed the 6PM report.”

Hirono pasted Mitsuko her map and class list.

“Yea sure.”

After Mitsuko was done she pasted the map and class list back to Hirono.

“So Yoshimi bit the bullet?”

“Yea. I knew she wouldn’t be able to make it without either of us to protect her.”

“Well- ”

BANG! BANG!

“What the hell?”

“Well someone couldn’t wait long after the report to start up another body count.”

“That was pretty close to here.”

“Yea. Do you want to see what is up?”

“Ok. Is that gun loaded”

“It sure as fuck is. Do you have any weapons?”

Mitsuko showed Hirono her bag.

“Damn with all that you have and all that I have we’re raining like fucking gangbusters!”

“Don’t ever say that again.”

“Whatever.”

Hirono and Mitsuko started to walk in the direction that they heard the gunshots. Just as they had reached a clearing they saw they body of Chisato lying on the ground and Yukie running at Mizuho and firing her gun.

BANG! BANG!

Mizuho turned to run away but was tagged in the arm. She still managed to escape though and ran into the woods.

“Damn.”

Hirono had stepped on a branch bringing attention to her and Mitsuko’s position.

Before Yukie had had a chance to react to the sudden nosie Hirono opened fire.

BANG! BANG BANG!

(Ok voting time! Does Hirono Kill, Wound, or Miss Yukie? Its 6:04PM. Get ready! Set! Vote!)

[

mood

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cold

]

“Get up you murderous slut!”

Hirono open her eyes the find herself staring down the barrel of a shot gun held by Satomi Noda.

Well damn I didn’t know karma came around this quick. And I have to be stuck up by this frigid bitch? Couldn’t I have gotten a break on who would be my demise?

“Why don’t you get the gun out of my face right now?”

“Fuck off. I know if I let you go you’ll go off killing someone! Killing friends of mine! Killing me! Just get up and then don’t move!”

This bitch is so uptight you’d think there was a cucumber up her ass.

Hirono raised her hands in a sign of no aggression and stood up so that she was facing Satomi.

Hirono didn’t feel very awkward standing in front of the girl in nothing but her bra and panties. She was somewhat jaded to the idea of people walking in on her when she was not fully dressed. It came with the territory of having sex as an occupation.

Satomi on the other had difficulty keeping her eyes on Hirono. She felt uncomfortable looking at Hirono, who gave her a steady confident gaze, right in the eyes, and she was very comfortable looking downward because Hirono was only in her underwear. To hide her insecurities she held the shotgun for firmly.

“You deserve to die in this game, fucking all the boys for money like a the dirty whore that you are. And I bet you’re into drugs and gambling and all those bad things that are out there.”

“Well if you’d get out of that ice box of yours and into the broiler you’d know that life is a lot more interesting on the other side.”

“Didn’t I tell you to shut the fuck up?! Now just be quiet!”

“Well could I at least put on some clothes? It’s getting kind of cold out here.”

Satomi weighted her options, her eyes darting from Hirono to the bag where Hirono’s school uniform lay inside.

“Move away from your stuff I’ll hand you your clothes.”

Hirono moved away from her stuff as Satomi moved in. Satomi laid the rifle down and began to look in the bag.

“Would you mind not riffling through my things like that? I don’t have an iron and if you keep doing that I’ll look a mess.”

Satomi picked up the shotgun and swung it around to Hirono.

“Shut up!”

“Oh like you could ever fire that at me pussy. I bet you don’t even know how to use it.”

“Shut up!”

Satomi aimed right at Hirono’s head and tried to pull the trigger… but couldn’t.

“Stupid twit. You left the safety on.”

Hirono charged at Satomi and graded the shotgun. Both held on fiercely, tugging back and forth.

Hirono, with one big jerk, pulled the shotgun out of Satomi’s hands, falling backward and tumbling head over feet.

Satomi ran to grab the shotgun but Hirono swung the shotgun like bat and mashed it into the side of Satomi’s head.

CRACK!

Blood and shards of skull spewed from Satomi’s head. Satomi fell to her knees and then fell over the ground dead, eyes still open in shock and terror. Hirono walked over to Satomi’s body and wiped the blood off the shotgun on Satomi’s uniform.

“Just can’t catch a break. Well I can’t stay here now. I got to keep moving.”

Hirono went over to her things and began to dress. She then threw her bag over her shoulder, picked up the shotgun and started walking.

[

mood

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dirty

]

As Hirono broke threw the trees, she look forward to see a crystal blue lake before her. The glimmer of the evening sun on the surface was so inviting that she could not contain herself. With a little squeal and reckless abandonment, she made a beeline straight for the water.

Right at the waters edge, before Hirono was going to jump in, symphony music came over the speakers, announcing the coming of Kitano’s report.

“Oh come on! That’s like jerking a guy off and then not letting him come!”

“Evening class! Your best performance yet. 6 new deaths! In the order they died: Boy #13, Yuichirou Takiguchi,”

Hirono plopped down on the ground, pulling out you class list to mark off the dead and the up coming danger zones.

Takiguchi.

That Otaku freak that looked like he should be in the third grade instead of the ninth.

"Girl #15, Noriko Nakagawa”

Is it me or does Kitano sad a little… depressed? What the fuck does he have to be depressed about? The body count is being upped. And whoever wins this game is going to be the one in need of some serious therapy.

 “Girl #21, Yoshimi Yahagi”

Yoshimi.

I guess she couldn’t take it. So sweet but she didn’t have the heart to be ruthless.

“Girl #3, Megumi Etou”

Megumi.

I guess after she heard of Shinji’s death she decided to kill herself.

“Girl #18, Fumiyo Fujiyoshi”

I little want to be bully. Probably bit off more than she could chew.

“And finally, boy #2, Keita Iijima.”

Perhaps another Shinji related suicide? Damn that boy was popular.

Kitano made a little sigh into the microphone and continued with the report.

“Here are the danger zones! Listen carefully! From 19:00, F8! That's F8! From 21:00, I5! That's I5! And from 23:00, E1! Keep up the good work. Talk to you at midnight!”

“Midnight? There goes my beauty sleep.”

Hirono put the class list away and proceeded to take off her uniform until she was left in her underwear.

Hirono jumped into the water and became fully immersed; the cold water so was refreshing. When she broke the surface, she began to float on her back and stared into the darkening sky.

“I haven’t felt this good in so long.”

When Hirono was finished soaking in the lake she swam over to the shore where her belongings were and laid down to dry out.

As the day sank in to the night, Hirono laid on the shoreline half awake half sleep listening to the loudening nighttime sounds.

Suddenly Hirono heard the cock of a gun.

Shite.

[

mood

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uncomfortable

]

After she had headed northwards and made some distance between herself and the flaming inferno behind her, Hirono crouched down beneath a tree. She took out a bottle of water and her map out of her bag. then pulled a cigarette from out of her pack and lit it.

OK so I need to get as far away from here as possible so that anyone nearby who heard me doesn’t come guns blazing. And I need a place that is safe for me to stay and not be too worried.

Hirono took a long drag of her cigarette and studied the map intently.

I would love to be able to go to the lighthouse in I10. The light house would be the perfect vantage point. I could see any enemies from far off and shoot them down before they could get close and enter. The light house is also good for shelter. But everyone is probably thinking the same thing I am.

She grabbed the bottle of water and took a swig.

Last thing I need is a fucking class reunion with classmates that probably have better weapons than I do. Also,  from the looks of these danger zones the light house is probably going to be boxed in and I would be so screwed if that were to happen, shelter or not.

Hirono took her pencil out and mad a little sad face in the corner of I10 on the map.

Any building isn’t safe because someone is more than likely there already.

Hirono frowned a little.

This is so fucking annoying. There is no “good” way to go about this. Either I find shelter and risk stumbling into someone with a better weapon or a wonder around the island like a lost puppy till some sneaks up on me and kill me.

Hirono pulled her two guns out and held then in each hand.

True, I’ll be a gun totting puppy but still I can be a victim to surprise nonetheless.

Hirono put down her gun and examined the one she had acquired from the house.

Huh. It’s empty.

Hirono grabbed the box of shells and filled the empty clip.

There we go. Now I have a lethal weapon.

After putting the guns away, Hirono looked back to the map.

Well there isn’t much down here to the south. So I guess I will head back up north to see if there is anything up there. But first things first I have to find a way to get this gasoline smell off of me.

Hirono looked at the map.

There’s a lake northward in H6. Good a place as any and its not that far away.

Hirono put everything back into her bag and headed toward where the lake was.

[

mood

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cold

]

(OOC: I know, I know, its taking me a very long time in-between posts. I have tennis to deal with, the beginning of school, and my mother dragging me about for end of the summer vacations before everything gets to busy to “bond” [at least I got a to meet a cute foreign out of it. Now only if he would actually TALK to me is stead of just smiling that cute smile of his… I digress]. I promise I’ll try more.)

Hirono’s life seemed paused in this instant. It was as if time was nonexistent to her, it was a foreign and unknown concept to her.

The here and now in the Naoki’s study in the aftermath of a murder was all that was there to Hirono. There was no there and then. There was no will be and will happen. It was like some higher power had hit the pause button on Hirono’s life. This moment in time was the most important to see and reflect upon in great measure.

Hirono sat in the leather chair facing the lifeless body of Naoki, gazing somewhat blindly at the cold dead eyes of Naoki. Her eyes were filming over with dryness because she had not blinked for a very long time

 Naoki blank  eyes stared back into her eyes, which  were filled with the warmth and flicker of life, his eyes, although those dead eyes were devoid of life, in them a flash of a message that only Hirono could interpret.

Murder can’t erase the guilt.

“We’ll see about that.”

Hirono rose out of the leather chair walked over to the lifeless Naoki.

******

“Hir-”

BANG!

As Hirono fired the gun at Shuuya flew his left hand up into the air is if to stop the bullet. As Shuuya pulled his hand down only his thumb and index finger remained, his other three fingers were blown and left a bloody mess were they once were.

Shuuya dove out of the nearest window before Hirono could have a chance to aim a second shot at him. Glass fragments flew everywhere, some stained with Shuuya’s blood.

Hirono swung the gun to aim at her next closest target, Haruka.

BANG!

To bullet totally missed Haruka as the girl dove behind a table. As Hirono moved in closer to Haruka as she hid behind the table, Noriko aim a pistol at Hirono and tried to fire.

Click.

The pistol was empty.

Hirono aimed the gun at Noriko.

“That’s nothing to me and nothing to you. We all gotta do what we gotta do.”

BANG!

Hirono shot Noriko right in the chest. A little blood bust from Noriko’s chest as Noriko dropped to her knees and then fell over dead.

Hirono aimed the gun back at the table where Haruka was hidden behind but the girl was no longer there.

“Oh well.”

Hirono lowered her gun and surveyed the damage. Shattered glass was all over the floor, blood was everywhere, three fingers laid on the floor that once belonged to Shuuya Nanahara, and the now deceased body of Noriko Nakagawa lay sprawled out on the floor before Hirono.

Hirono tucked her gun in the back of her skirt and proceeded to drag Noriko’s body into the back room.

******

Hirono dragged Naoki’s body into the leather chair.

“God you’re fucking heavy.”

When the body was settled into the chair, Hirono took the bottle of brandy and poured it all over Naoki, the chair, and around the room.

Hirono threw the gun into the gun into the fire place. Then she took the fire tongs and brought one of the logs out of the fire and placed in Naoki’s lap.

Naoki’s body lit up like a golden Christmas tree.

Hirono stood in front of the burning body, the flames licking him all over like a happy dog.

“Murder might not erase the guilt but it damn sure makes me feel good.”

Hirono, satisfied, walked out of the room and headed to the front door.

******

Hirono found a gas can in the back when she laid Noriko’s body down.

“Leave no evidence behind.”

Hirono picked up the gas can and brought it into the front. Once she laid it down, she began to rummage in the bags of her three fellow students.

Hirono picked out what was useful to her:

• Six loafs of bread

• Six bottles of water

• Six flashlight batteries

• Pistol

• Box of bullets

When she got all what she thought could be used latter Hirono stuff it all into her bag and grabbed the gas can and walked out the door.

Hirono found a lighter and cigarette in her bag and lit the cigarette.

She left a trail of gasoline around the house and then threw the gas can into the house when she had come back into the front.

Hirono took the cigarette from her mouth and threw it. And flame shot up and began to work its way around the house and inside as well.

With a deep breathe Hirono turned around and walked way from the burning house, never looking back.

Death or life or life or death
Death is life and life is death
I gotta use words when I talk to you
But if you understand or if you don’t-

“Damn. What was the rest of the poem?”

Hirono paused in her walking to try find the missing words but she couldn’t seem to grasp them.

“I don’t know why it even matters anyway. It’s not like they are going to help me in any in this game. I can’t even remember who said them.”

It bothered Hirono somewhat that she felt the need to complete the small poem, no matter how trivial it seemed. It wasn’t going to be the life preserver in the stormy swirl of blood of the Battle Royale Sea. It was no secret password or code. It sure wasn’t the most cheerful little ditty to come to mind. But for some reason she just couldn’t get it off of her mind.

“Watch this damn silly poem be the death of me.”

Hirono tried her best Kitano

“Girl # 10 Hirono Shimizu, death by mental thought process. Well while its was by far the most creative death of this game so far, I’m rather disappointed that none of you were quick enough to catch her at her weakest and kill her yourselves. And now with the danger zones.”

Hirono made a brief chuckle.

“I need to get out of this forest. All this fresh abundant oxygen these trees are giving off have gone a bit to much to my head.”

Then over the island in waves from invisible speakers, music that was meant to be soothing and inspiring, but now carried a connotation of death and destruction began to fill Hirono’s ears.

“Oh great, Bitty Dick is hear again to give us our quarterly news report.”

“Good afternoon class! Time for the noon report! You've done better this time. There are five less of you now than there were six hours ago! Here is the list of the dead in the order they died! Girl number 4, Sakura Ogawa! Boy number 16, Kazushi Niida! Boy number 10, Ryuhei Sasagawa! Boy number 18, Tadakatsu Hatagami! And to finish off, boy number 19, Shinji Mimura!”

Hirono took out her class list and crossed out her recently deceased classmates.

“Just couldn’t cut it I suppose. It’s a shame because some of them seemed liked they would have had a chance.”

Hirono waited with pencil poised ready to cross out the next danger zones to corner in the students of 3B in this rat experiment.

“Here are the new forbidden zones! Listen carefully! From 13:00, E6! That's E6! From 15:00, E2! E2! And from 17:00, H8! There are 34 of you still alive! It's time to get back to work now!”

“Thanks for the count Kitano for us math challenged idiots who can’t do simple subtraction. We may not show up for class but we did pass the second grade when we were forced to go.”

Hirono continued on and walked to into a clearing where there was a house.

“Sanctuary! But lets not be stupid with this. Take it slow. Take it easy.”

Hirono crouched low, with her pistol held close to her, and made her way over to the house.

******

Hirono leaned on the glass counter and waited for the owner of the Pawn Shop, Daichi, to finish with a customer.

“Now I’ll give you twenty for the lot. That is my final offer.”

“Come on man. I know this is worth at least sixty.”

“Then you can find some chump who will give you sixty for it ‘cause I’m not paying it. Get out of my store.”

“Fuck you man. I knew I could do better.”

The man grabbed his things and walked out of the store.

“Lousy punks. Think their riches are worth millions when they are truly just shite. I love what can I do for you today? Do I need to spot you a few? Well I guess not with that young fella you’ve been trailing behind?”

Hirono walked over to where Daichi was standing and gave him a kiss the man on the cheek.

“I need a gun.”

“A gun? Now what would a young thing like yourself need a gun for? A bit young for the Yukaza to be on your tail don’t you think?”

“I just need one Uncle D. Do you think you could give me one?”

“I don’t feel very comfortable doing that. I feel like I have to take care of you and I don’t think this would be the right thing. I took care of your Ma when her family put her on the street and I took care of you when she couldn’t handle it. What kind of person would I be if I just handed over something dangerous to something as sweet and precious as yourself?”

Hirono came behind the counter where Daichi and stood close enough for them to be touching. Though Daichi towered over Hirono, Hirono still had a commanding force to her.

“You may have taken care of my mother and me but I know it was for a price. I may be considered a child but I’m not stupid. I know you used to come in and fuck my mother while I played with my dolls. I’m willing to pay the same if you just give me the gun.”

Hirono slipped her hand to the front of Daichi’s pants and began to rub him slowly up and down. Daichi became a little weak in the knees, leaning into Hirono, and grunted softly as she worked him.

“The difference is that I’m willing to do it freely and will make this worth your while.”

“I think…we… oh yea… can come to and arrangement.”

“I thought so.”

And Hirono dropped to her knees, taking Daichi’s pants along with her.

******

Hirono creep her way to the house as slowly and as quietly as she could without seemingly being detected by any occupiers that might be there.

She said a payer to herself that there wouldn’t be anyone there so she could just kick back a bit and not have to worry about who was hiding in the next bush.

To make sure she wouldn’t walk in on a surprise, she crawled over to the window to peak inside. As she peered into the window she saw three figures.

“Shite. There are three of them. Odds are at least on of them has a good weapon. If I walk away and they see me I might not make it alive.”

As Hirono looked more carefully she saw that the three figures belonged to Shuuya
Nanahara, Haruka Tanizawa, and Noriko Nakagawa.

“Just fluffs. None of these three would play the game. Shuuya is a big soft and a big “I’m a lover not a fight” complex. Tanizawa and Nakagawa are just a couple of chits. All three of them don’t have to balls to get a little blood on them and play this game. Easy kills.”

Hirono went over to the door, smashing it open, and stood as she aimed her pistol at her three targets.

******

Hirono sat in Naoki’s dark study in the big leather chair with a little brown package in her lap. This is where Naoki found her when he came home.

Naoki was given a little jump when he found Hirono sitting in the room when he turned on the light.

“Now why are you sitting here in the dark? A little dark and depressing don’t you think? I thought you hated this room any way? Bad memories and such.”

“I like this room fine, thank you very much. In fact it is my favorite room in this whole house.”

“If you say so. What do you have in your hands there? A present for me perhaps?”

“Yes it is a present for you.”

Hirono stood taking the gun out of the bag and aiming it at Naoki.

“Well that isn’t one of my guns. Look at the poor shape its in. What a shame. Will it even shoot properly?”

“We’ll see now wont we?”

“You think this will get rid of your guilt Hirono? Bring back you precious Kenta? It wont you know. Death or life or life or death. Death is life and life is death-”

******

Hirono aimed at Shuuya.

BANG!

******

Naoki looked down at the bullet hole then looked back up at Hirono

“I gotta use words when I talk to you. But if you understand or if you don’t-”

******

Hirono aimed at Haruka.

BANG!

******

Naoki staggered back into the book shelves, knocking some of the books down, and slid down to the ground. There was blood trickling slowly down the side of his mouth.

With the gun still pointed at Naoki, Hirono come over to him and knelt in front of him. He motioned Hirono to come close and she did. Then he whispered a few words in her ear before he lay dead.

******

Hirono aimed the gun at Noriko.

“That’s nothing to me and nothing to you. We all gotta do what we gotta do.”

BANG!

[

mood

|

drained

]

I have to walk up hills. I have to walk down hills. There are trees, bushes, underbrush, shrubs, under growth, and more goddamn trees. This is fucking insane. Everything looks a-fucking-like. I feel like I’m walking threw the Jolly Green Giant’s ass hairs!

Hirono stumbled through the trees trying to find her way to a clearing or to some kind of land mark to pinpoint where she was, because at the point she was completely and utterly lost.

Her body ached all over from running around the island like a chicken with its head cut off. Her body was bent over like she was an old woman in her late 70s instead of the young teenager she really was. Every step meant a burning pain striking up her calves. She also had a terrible migraine from the stress of all that was happening around her. It felt as if some was taking an ice pick and slowly hammering it into her brain, pushing pass the bone of her skull, through the gray matter and such.

There have never been hangovers this bad in the history of the world.

Hirono was becoming slower and slower and more sluggish as she trudged on. She began to knock into the trees, not going in a straight direction.

If I keep going on like this I’m going to be lost and not no where to go. Next thing you know I’ll be the one dumb ass that that died by walking into a fucking danger zone. And then “BOOM!”  in the words of our lovely Oneesan and that lovely transmitted radio wave will be sent to my ever stylish collar and then oops, no more head.

Hirono decided to stop where she was and took her map out of her bag. Kneeling, she looked at map trying to get an idea of where she was.

OK so I left from somewhere around F4 and I’ve been walking in a southeastish direction for like what- 45 minutes? I guess that would put me around- Fuck I don’t know!

Hirono crumpled the map in her hand and threw it away from her out of her sight as if to look at it or be near it sickened her like kryptonite.

Why the hell couldn’t have just put us in a room and said “Here. Go play Russian Roulette.”

Hirono twirled her gun around her finger.

At least Kitano would have gotten his body count and I could already be burning in hell with all the other sinners popping hot tamales and drinking Hot Minty Kiss. That would sure as hell save us all a lot of time.

Hirono sat back and pulled a bottle of water out of her bag. Then she began to draw random lines in the dirt with a twig.

I can’t break now. I wouldn’t be here now if I hadn’t taken charge and didn’t let people bring me down. I look pathetic like this. An easy target for some fucker like Nobu to get me. That would be pitiful. I’d at least like to be taken out by one of the transfer. They don’t let sissy pansies into this game to play for fun. If I wasn’t so fucking afraid of them I would join with either one. Both of them are easy on the eyes. We could probably come to some kind of arrangement… Like that would ever happen. Let me get off my lazy ass.

Hirono threw down the twig she was doodling with, packed everything back into her bag and got up. Dusting herself off, she started walking.

Left behind where Hirono was doodling in the dirt was the name Naoki crossed out. It was as if her subconscious was leaking out some motivation for her.

[

mood

|

cranky

]

"Good morning class!"

Hirono’s head made a slight jerk at the intrusion of Kitano’s voice to her sleep. She began to rub the sleep from her eyes as Kitano continued on with the report.

"Finished sleeping yet?”

Maybe I’m not done sleeping jackass. Dirty and braches aren’t the best substitute for mattress for a good night’s sleep.

Hirono grouchily rolled her bag over to her and pulled out her class list/map and a pen.

“I know it's a tiring game, but that's no excuse for laziness! Only 3 students are dead! I'm disappointed in you already!"

And I bet your wife’s disappointed in your small dick so let’s have bygones be bygones and get this show on the road.

"The following students have died in the last 6 hours! Girl number 7, Yumiko Kusaka, Boy number 8, Yoji Kuramoto, and to finish off, Boy number 20, Kyouichi Motobuchi! You'd better pick up the pace! The deadline for collar detonation may seem far off, but it's getting closer all the time!"

Hirono found each of the three former classmates on her class list and crossed them off rather unceremoniously. She then steadied her pen over the map ready to cross the danger zones.

"Here are the danger zones! Listen carefully, you don't want to miss these! From 7:00am, F3! That's F3! From 9:00am, I8! I8! And from 11:00am, C5!"

Kitano cleared his throat as if to say another smart remark, but he just simply ended the report in his most charmful way.

"Speak to you at noon. Don't slack now."

Hirono stared down at the paper paying closer attention to what was before her.

Yumiko Kusaka

Hmmm...  pretty sure she was friends with that Yukiko chick. Both pretty stuck up the ass in my book. Not that bad of a lost to the game.

Yoji Kuramoto.

That’s the boy Yoshimi was supposedly all a flutter in love with. A bit of a pest but I dealt with him only for Yoshimi’s sake. She’ll probably be heart broken over. Hope she doesn’t lose her head over it. Its not with dying because your boyfriend didn’t have the balls to stay alive in this game.

Kyouichi Motobuchi.

Class president and total jerk off. So pathetic even his hand refused to do what the other girls wouldn’t think of doing. More than likely spent all his time sucking off that frog faced Oda.

I can’t even have faith in my other classmates killing off the actually potentially dangerous ones of the group instead of these three pussies? But then who am I to talk. I haven’t done anything yet worth noticing. No death claims on my list. I guess I have to keep my head cool and play this game to the fullest. I can’t let past experiences get in the way of staying alive.

Hirono put everything away back into her bag. She stood up and dusted her self off; glancing around her for the direction she would start to head towards.

If I’m right I’m in F4 so heading west wouldn’t be a good idea. To the north would probably mean bumping into someone unexpectedly since the school is in that direction. I guess I’ll so south east then.

Hirono picked up her bag, throwing it over her shoulder, tucked her gun into the waste of her skirt and headed to the south east part of the island.

[

mood

|

scared

]

Naoki looked at himself in the mirror admiring how dashing he looked in his suit. Satisfied with his appearance he walked through the door of an adjoining room where Hirono sat in front of a vanity, riffling through the draws. When Hirono heard Naoki enter the room see stopped what she was doing and looked at him through the reflection of the vanity mirror.

“Hirono, I need you to wear the red dress for tonight please.”

“No.”

“And why not?”

“Because I think its ugly and it fits to tight.”

“And that is exactly why you are going to wear it. I want to show you off to the other businessmen.”

“I’m not some car that you flaunt in front of your friends. If you want that then you can get one of your whores that I know you’re fucking. I’m not stupid.”

“But none are as special as you are sweet Hirono. You’re unique because I know I can keep you and play with you as I please.”

“Fuck off.”

“Now now we don’t like that language. That’s talk only for the bed and while yes we are in a bedroom I just can’t bring myself to get it up. So now just get yourself together and be downstairs in ten minutes.”

Naoki, with a sly smile, walked over to Hirono and gave her a kiss on the cheek and then made his way out of the room.

Hirono stared at the at the back of Naoki and was filled with such rage that she began to tremble uncontrollably. Hirono wanted to scream loud to put a banshee to shame so badly that her throat felt raw as if she had. Energy flew electrically through her body like some lightening rod in a storm. The electricity flowed violently like a raging river trying to find an exit.

Suddenly there was a loud crack. Shards of the mirror fell from its frame like red and silver confetti.

“Aaah!”

Hirono cried out in excruciating pain. She crumpled to the floor with her hand clutched her to her chest.

Naoki was halfway down the stairs when he heard the mirror break.  He ran back into the room to see what had happened. When he saw that shattered mirror and the bloody Hirono, he rushed down to the floor to see how badly she was hurt.

But Hirono wouldn’t let him touch her and crawled from him every time he came close until she was backed into a corner, holding herself tightly with her good arm shaking her head furiously.

“Well if you wont let me help you then you can just bleed here. Try not to get it on the carpet. Those cleaners cost a fucking fortune.”

Naoki got up and walked out of the room. Hirono stared at the door for an endless amount of time.

When she felt she could, she walked to the bathroom and began to pick the glass out of her hand. When the cut was clean she graded the rubbing alcohol out of the cabinet. She unscrewed the bottle and held her breath and poured the alcohol over her cut.

Hirono’s body was all but ready to wince in pain, but there was no pain. She felt the alcohol cleaning the bacteria out of her cut but it was a numb feeling.

No pain. I guess nothing can hurt me now.

Hirono began to laugh at this turn of events. She felt somewhat lightheaded with this uncontrollable giddiness.

Let’s see who the big tough guy is now.

[

mood

|

distressed

]

In the late afternoon of a Saturday, the rain was lightly drizzling on the party of four standing around an open grave.

“We are gathered here to lay to rest the soul of Kenta Soto…”

Mrs. Soto began to cry hysterically into Hirono’s shoulder, clutching into her arm so tightly that it felt like bruising was happening.

Mr. Soto placed his hands on his wife’s back and began to rub reassuringly, but this only made the hysterical mother cry harder.

With mutual nods between Mr. Soto and Hirono, Hirono led Mrs. Soto away from her son’s grave over to where two black cars were parked on the side of the road. The two women leaned against one of the cars. Mrs. Soto slowly calmed down and gave the occasional hiccup.

Hirono pulled out a cigarette case and took two cigarettes out, lit them, and handed one to Mrs. Soto, who took it shakily and took a long drag.

“Thank you Hirono. You know you’re too young to smoke.”

“Yeah I know.”

“You know you were always like a daughter to us Hirono. I think I would see you more at the house more than Kenta. I never minded taking care of you when you would come over. You were Kenta’s best and most treasured friend. I always had a secret desire that you and Kenta would come together. I always saw that glint of attraction between you two and I never understood why you two never did. I would have loved to have been your mother-in-law.”

Hirono felt herself begin to choke up thinking of her guilt over Kenta’s death and this undeserved affection given to her by a woman who she thought of as a mother.

This is a woman that had taken her in and cared for ten times better then her own mother had. Hirono felt like she owed this woman so much and in return had taken the most precious thing from her.

Mrs. Soto suddenly griped Hirono’s hand and stared intently into the young girl’s eyes.

“Why would Kenta feel the need to be in such a horrible part of the city and a time like that? He knows that bad things happen to people who go down there with yukaza and other sorts of terrible things. Why Hirono? Why? I know he was with you earlier that afternoon. Did he saw anything to you?”

Tears began to slide down Hirono’s face. She didn’t want to lie to the woman but she knew she had to for both their sakes.

“I don’t know Mrs. Soto. I really don’t. He didn’t tell me anything.”

“I believe you Hirono. I guess none of us will ever know.”

At that time Mr. Soto walked over and took his arm around his wife protectively.

“Its time to go now dear.”

“OK. Hirono, would you like ride with us. I don’t want you walking home by yours-”

“I think Hirono can get herself home alright. Yes?”

“Yes. Someone is picking me up.”

“See. No problems. Why don’t you get yourself in the car dear and I’ll meet you there.”

As. Mrs. Soto headed to the car, Mr. Soto came very close to Hirono, pressing her against the car.

“I know you know something. I never liked Kenta hanging out with the trash on the corner but I thought maybe you could be different from the other whores. But you’re the same as them. You led him down the path to death. Keep away from me and my wife. She may not see threw you, but I do.”

Mr. Soto backed away and got into his and drove away. Hirono just stood there in shock, not knowing how to feel. She wanted to scream out after the car “Yes! Yes! Yes! I know what happened! It was me that happened! I killed Kenta! I didn’t mean to. Pease forgive me.” But that wouldn’t solve anything Hirono knew so she kept silent as the Soto’s car drove away from her. She slowly began to regain composure and walked to the entranced of the cemetery where she entered into a waiting car.

“You understand that you can’t tell?”

“Yes Naoki.”

“Good because you know the truth never did anyone any good.  Now throw out that goddamn cigarette. I hate cigarette smoke.”

[

mood

|

uncomfortable

]

After a while Hirono began to become a little tired from all the walking.

Guess I should have been actually participating in gym instead sitting outside the gym with Mitsuko and Yoshimi smoking.

Hirono decided to settle down against a tree to check out what was in her government supplied pack. Just as the lovely Oneesan had told the class, she had been provided with the bare essentials:

• Two loafs of bread

• Two bottles of water

• Flashlight

• Map of the island with the list of here classmates along the side

• Compass

• Colt .45 Pistol

Well what do we have here?

Hirono lifted the pistol out of her bag and held it lightly in her hands, the black metal of the pistol glimmering in the moonlight, she began turning it over in her hands to examine closely.

Hirono then held the pistol out and aimed at the tree across from where she was sitting, mimicking shooting the pistol.

Bang bang. You’re dead.

The pistol seemed so familiar to Hirono, as if she had held the gun in her hands before.

I wonder if the government buys their arms for the Program off the black market.

She liked the firmness of the pistol’s handle in her hands. She seemed to go into a sort of focused trance like she was zeroing in on a kill. Everything around her seemed to become come together and blurred and then disappeared into a milky whiteness. The only thing the seemed to be able to see was a shadowy figure the slowly became clearer to Hirono.

Kenta?

Since Naoki’s business was in trafficking arms, it was a sort of rule for him that he would take his girls to the firing range to see if they could “take the heat”.

Hirono was one of the few girls that peeked Naoki’s interest for more than a fleeting moment. She not only could handle the weight of a gun in her firm but delicate hands, but she could shoot almost like a fucking pro on her first try. Nothing turned him on more that a girl who could shoot.

Naoki took Hirono to an underground firing range beneath the home of a client and good friend of Naoki’s.

“Have you ever used a gun before baby?”

“No. But I always liked to watch those American action movies. Those guys always seemed so powerful to me handling those machine guns.”

Naoki laughed a little as he led Hirono to the gun rack.

“Well I don’t know about machine guns but we can start off with this … ”

Naoki handed Hirono Colt Python. Hirono felt the gun in her hand as if she were trying to ingrain it into her memory by touch.

“Oh now this is pretty. I’d love to shoot this one.”

“And that you will.”

Naoki took Hirono over to the target and place the gun in her hands and set her up to shoot.

“Ok when you feel ready just pull the trigger”

Hirono took a deep breath and pulled the trigger of the gun

“Wow! That was such an incredible rush!”

“I thought you might like it.”

Naoki began kissing Hirono’s neck as his hands began to roam down her body and as he reached the hem of her skirt began to lift it.

“Why don’t you try shoot off a couple of more rounds. Hmm?”

Hirono and her best friend Kenta got onto the bus and moved to the backwhere they stretched out amonst the seats.

“Kenta you have got to see where this guy lives! Its fantastic!“

“I don’t know Hiro. You know I don’t like these types of guys…especially when they are round you.”

“Oh you big worry wort. You always think something is going to happen to me. Why can’t you accept that I’m growning up. I don’t need to be taken care of like a baby. I am older than you.”

“Only be 5 months.”

“Whatever. Here’s our stop.”

Hirono and Kenta got off the bus and began to the walk to Naoki’s home in the luxurious part of town.

When they reached the door it was opened by the butler and they were let in.

“Hey is Mr. Naoki home?”

“No Miss. He wont be in until later this evening.”

“OK, that’s cool. This is Kenta. He is a friend of mine. Could you let me know when he comes in please.”

“Yes Miss.”

Hirono took Kenta by the hand and led him to the study and closed the doors behind them.

The study had a warm and comfy feel to the place. The room was rich in brown a gold hues that were illuminated by the lit fire place.

Hirono walked over to the drink table as Kenta walked over to sit in the large brown leather chair.

“Could I offer you a drink sir?”

“Why yes miss. That would be lovely.”

Hirono made a drink for Kenta and  took a drink for herself as well and then laid herself out on the bear skin rug in front of Kenta.

As time went on and the bottle of Brandy became low, Hirono and Kenta became more and more intoxicated.

“I think I could live like this, Kenta. Naoki really like me and I have become very comfortable with him and the things that he has given me.”

“But do you love him?”

“I’m fond of him. Isn’t that enough?”

Kenta seemed to become very angry at this point.

“No! It’s not enough! You shouldn’t be throwing yourself around like a whore because Naoki can give you nice things!”

“And what’s so wrong with that! I don’t want to continue living in a life filled with filth and squalor! This could be my chance to get out of all of this!”

Kenta rose out of his chair and picked Hirono up on her feet. He began to shake her.

“But if the love isn’t real then it won’t last! Can’t you understand that! Why should someone like Naoki get to have you just because he has beautiful things when there is someone like me who truly loves you and would do anything to give you what you wanted!”

“You… love me?”

“Yes Hiro. I’ve always loved you. Couldn’t you see that?! I’ve always loved you!”

Kenta stopped shaking Hirono, bowing his head and taking a step back.

“Ever since we were little I’ve loved you. I knew you would never feel that way about me and so I took the role as your best friend knowing that was as close as I could get to you. But I don’t even think I can do that now.”

Hirono stepped towards Kenta and lifted his head with her hands.

“I love you too Kenta.”

Hirono gave Kenta a deep and passionate kiss and Kenta began to kiss her back. They each then began to remove each other’s clothing and laid down on the rug.

Naoki entered his home feeling as if something was wrong but ignored the feeling. He walked into the living room and was met by his butler.

“Is there anything new for me?”

“No sir there isn’t. Miss Hirono is here to see you though sir. I believe her and her friend are in the study.”

“Thank you.”

Naoki walked into the study to find Hirono half naked, cuddled beside some strange boy who was also half naked.

Filled with rage Naoki walked over to Hirono and repeatedly began to kick Hirono in the stomach.

“What the hell is this you slut! I should fucking kill you!”

Hirono gathered herself in the fetal position to protect herself.

Kenta rose and tackled Naoki to the ground. They began to role around the ground fighting. Hirono huddled herself into a corner crying as she watching in horror.

“Please please please stop fighting.”

Neither heard her as they knocked into to furniture. Naoki was able to get the upper hand and was now choking Kenta. Hirono looked for something to stop them. Behind the books in the bookcase Hirono was able to find a pistol. She aimed at Naoki hoping to just graze him and make him stop. But she was so nervous that her hands her shaking and it was hard to keep her aim steady.

I’ve got to try.

BANG!

Both Naoki and Kenta became still. Then Kenta became limp and let go of Naoki. Naoki released Kenta and pushed away from him.

NO!

Hirono ran over to Kenta and held him in her arms. Tears streamed down her face and landed on his now ashen cheeks.

“I’m so sorry Kenta. I didn’t mean for this to happen. I loved you. I love you. Please don’t leave me. Please.”

Naoki inched toward Hirono and Kenta.

“Hirono…?”

Hirono swung the gun around and aimed at Naoki.

“Keep the fuck away from me. You killed Naoki. Stay away.”

“I’m sorry my sweet but it was you who pulled the trigger and now we have this mess on our hands. I wonder what the police would say?”

“No! I didn’t mean it. It was an accident.”

Naoki came beside Hirono and wrapped his arms around her.

“But I don’t think the police will see it like that. It seems you need my help”

Hirono relaxed and feel into Naoki crying uncontrollably dropping the gun. Naoki began stroking Hirono’s head.

“Now now now. I’m sure we can make arrangements on how to deal with this”

Hirono came out of her trance with a single tear rolling down her cheek. Frightened, she threw then gun away from her, collapsing to the ground.

Wining this game might be harder than I thought.

What the fuck is this shite? What the hell happened?

Hirono never thought there could ever be a headache worse that during a hang over after a heavy night of drinking. She obvious stood corrected as she woke up on the cold floor of some darkened classroom. All her classmates seemed to be suffering from the effects as one by one they all wakened.

Though the room was only illuminated by the moonlight, Hirono could see that they were in an abandoned classroom was littered with desks and chair, some of which her classmates were draped upon like some old overcoat. There was also a layer of dust so thick that the room looked like had grown fur.

Ever heard of a duster?

Suddenly there was the sound of a group marching towards the door. The lights suddenly cam on and Hirono was temporarily blind by the unexpected intrusion of light.

As her eyes slowly adjusted she saw that a man in a gaudy tracksuit entered the room. He walked as if he owned the ground that was so fortunate to crushed under his feet. The man was followed by a small troop of soldiers.

The man laid himself lazily in the teacher’s chair and paused  as if there was all the time in the world. Then he threw his hands into the air like some over dramatic drag queen.

“Wondering why you’re all here, right? Congratulations! You’re in a Battle Royale.”

Hirono had heard of some program called Battle Royale. An ex boyfriend that was a bookie use to call it his “hot commodity”. Supposedly it was some kind of game were a class was picked to participate in a free for all fight to the death. No one  knew where or how it was conducted but everyone had their theories. Hirono used to imagine that it was some gladiator style event that was entertainment for those in the upper crust of the government. But she never really believed it existed. Not until she ended up in this abandoned classroom. Not until she saw the mutilated body of her teacher in front of her eyes. Not until the idea had sunk into her head that she could freely kill her classmates.

The events that happened next like movie she was only half watching. Tracksuit put on a video that showed some unbelievably happy girl calling herself “Oneesan” giving the rules to Battle Royale.

Afterwards the students started to leave in boy girl order one after another. When it was Hirono’s turn, she left the classroom as coolly as possible.

Don’t ever let them see you sweat.

Even though Mitsuko would be right behind her Hirono didn’t wait. She couldn’t let a friendship get in the way of her survival. Mitsuko couldn’t be truly trusted anyway. If they were meant to hook up then they would, but for now Hirono was on her own.