ANIME AND VIDEO GAME SURVIVOR 2

The Magi…Meet Omokaine…

* * * *

Washu-chan: So you see, the molecules in your body are connected with this ‘Tom’ person because of the fact that the persona of a created character like Mr. Greenville is compatable with author creations of themselves…

Chromus: Right, but couldn’t you have said that an hour ago?

Washu-chan: Aww…but that wouldn’t have been any fun!

(Two Washu puppets emerge from no-where)

Puppet 1: Washu-chan is the best!

Puppet 2: Washu-chan can’t be beaten…

Washu-chan: But of course, of I am Washu, the greatest scientific genius in the universe!

Chromus: Jesus…well, I’d better get a guest host ready for this episode, I wasn’t planning on it, but it isn’t really like I have much of a choice. To be experimented on by Washu…wow…

Washu-chan: Well, come on my new victim, onwards and upwards!

(Shot of Chromus now tied up by a glowstick like rope and being dragged by Washu, as Ryo-ohki mews on…)

(5 seconds later…Ryo-ohki transforms into his spaceship form, as Chromus wanders what tortures are going to go on…)

* * * *

????: The voice of the spirits connected me last time, but this time, they won’t shine upon the waves of Tsunami after the turnabout is fair play routine adopted by Joseph Wheeler. Ashitaka didn’t heed the spirits warning, and therefore, didn’t play the game correctly. Now, is it all over as the tidal wave gets put out…or is there another play yet to be dealt with…

(Shot of three words engraved in sand, ‘BALTHASAR’ , ‘CASPAR’ , ‘MELCHIOR’)

????: Time will tell.

Tsucus Tribe:

CURRENT SURVIVORS:

Ami Mizuno – Sailor Moon

Hikari Horaki – Neon Genesis Evangelion

Joey Wheeler – Yu-Gi-Oh!

Ruri Hoshino – Martian Successor Nadesico

Sakura Kasunago – Street Fighter Alpha

Shinobu Maehara – Love Hina

Ukyo Kuonji – Ranma ½

JURY:

Ashitaka – Princess Mononoke

Felicia – Nightwarriors: Darkstalkers’ Revenge

* * * *

DAY 28 – Tsucus Tribe, Enil Island: 7.30am

Ami: This game quickly became ugly.

(Shot of Ukyo alone, trying to keep her mind off things, and she does that like she always does, by cooking…)

Ukyo: Owww! (a spark of fire hits her finger) Shoot…

Ami: Things not exactly going to planned…

(Shot of Ami up, her plain nightdress still worn, despite the early morning routine, she still has a smile on her face…)

Ukyo: Face it sweetie, either we are all screwed…or I am.

Ami: Ukyo…

Ukyo: Nope, I’m the obvious target. Joey likes you and Shinchan a lot more than me, especially after I shouted at him the other night…and how was I supposed to know they switched over to Ashitaka…

Ami: I know. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that either.

Ukyo: (fuming) If this was Nerima, he would have been hit upside down with my spatula…(sighs)…but that isn’t the case.

Ami: I didn’t think there would be a few tricks up in this game yet, I just hope we can rectify it…

(Ami goes to get some water as Ukyo watches her figure into the distance…)

Ukyo: I hope so sugar…I hope so…

* * * *

Joey: And it’s round one to Joey Wheeler!

(Joey and Sakura high five as they leave the camp)

Sakura: So, what now?

Joey: Maybe we can get Shinobu or Ami to extend the strength of it, I mean, Ami and Shinobu are close to…er, what are their names again?

Sakura: (sighs) Hikari and Ruri. Geez, sometimes I think what Ukyo said the other night was right on the money…

Joey: I would feel insulted, but I’m on Cloud 9 so I’ll forgive and forget…

Sakura: …at least until the next council anyway.

Joey: Yep. And as long as Ukyo doesn’t win immunity, we’re set.

Sakura: And if she does…

Joey: Eat now, worry later.

(Shot of Hikari following them, shaking her head…)

Hikari: It may be an alliance we have with Joey, but I don’t have to like it. But as they said, as much as we like each other, they were going to pick us off one by one. So…

(Hikari is about to leave, then notices something…)

Hikari: Hey, where’s Ruri and Shinobu?

* * * *

(Answers on a postcard and send it to Chomer162..never mind, Shinobu Maehara is on a corner of the ocean, by herself, in the depressed position…)

Shinobu: (quietly) Why?

Shinobu: I thought we were all friends…but this…this changes everything…is winning everything…is that all it comes down to? I never even considered that and have just enjoyed the game as much as I can…and now…I can’t even do that…

(Shinobu quietly sheds a tear, not hearing the callings of Hikari and Ami of breakfast….)

(But that’s only one blue haired cutie-pie…where’s the other?)

* * * *

(She been…working?)

Ruri: Melchior, Caspar and Balthasar…the three wise men of the east. Also the basis of the system of the magi, the three stages developed by the mother of Ritsuko Akagi, Hikari’s show.

(Ruri points at one)

Ruri: Her as a scientist.

(Ruri points at another)

Ruri: Her as a mother…

(Ruri points at the final one…)

Ruri: …and her as a woman. These represent the three stages of someone disecting herself into three stages…

(Ruri looks down)

Ruri: …and this time, the three stages represent something else. The three stages of…eli…

Hikari: (calling) RURI?

(Ruri looks up and places some leaves over the sand engravings, before standing up…)

Ruri: Kanjou? (Captain)

Hikari: Wherever you are, come in for breakfast…oh, and please say something, otherwise I’m going to panic…

(Ruri looks up, and smile.)

Ruri: You know, she reminds me sometimes of another idiotic captain. So why am I so attached to them?

(Ruri stands up, heading for breakfast, her mystery plan still a fair mystery…)

* * * *

9.00am

(By now, everyone has been gathered, although Shinobu had to be talked to by Ami to get her to the breakfast ‘table’. The atmosphere has definitely changed, with Ukyo barely talking, Shinobu more quiet than ever…and Ruri looking surprisingly bright-eyed…)

Hikari: Something up Ruri?

Ruri: No. Nothing…at least not yet.

Hikari: Huh?

Ruri: Don’t worry. (Begins to eat…)

Hikari: Ah well…I shouldn’t worry about her so much…(she looks at Sakura and Joey, openly chatty…)…those two however…(Hikari suddenly remembers something that happened the other day, and visibly pales…)

Sakura: Huh? (notices) Hikari?

Hikari: Uh…w-what?

Sakura: Are you O.K? You suddenly look like you’ve seen a ghost…

Hikari: Oh…it’s n-n-nothing…

Hikari: I nearly forget, I overheard them arguing and that Ukyo said something about Joey and Sakura being alone over at the old island…and I hate being suspicious…but did they have s…no, can’t think like that, those two wouldn’t live in sin…right?

Ami: Shinobu, aren’t you hungry?

(Shinobu remains quiet…)

Joey: Little sis?

(Suddenly, Shinobu looks up with tears in her eyes…)

Shinobu: (crying) Why did you do it? Why did you betray us?

(Everyone is now looking at the girl, her eyes gushing…)

Joey: Shino…

Shinobu: Is the game that important to you? To win for your sister? Maybe…but to do it like that…my sempai always told me I could do anything that I set my mind to…but I never saw your mind to act like that…

(Shinobu stands up and runs away crying…)

Ami: Shinobu! (Ami goes after her and Hikari is about to but Ukyo stops her…)

Hikari: What?

Ukyo: (whispering) Let her be…

* * * *

Ami: Shinobu, please, don’t be like this…we don’t like it, but it happened…

Shinobu: Ami-san…Ami-san…

(Shot of Shinobu crying into Ami’s arms, the Scout not used to the mother hen routine, but it seems to be working, rocking the shy girl…)

Ami: I never realised how much you cared…

Shinobu: If that’s what it takes…to…to win…then let them vote me off. I don’t care…I didn’t want to win this…I never came to win…and if that’s the way to win then I can’t be here!

Ami: Shinobu, don’t give up like that…

(Shinobu doesn’t say anything else, just cries a little bit longer, Ami comforts her a bit longer, as the silent waves of the sea hold the scene together as they just remain like that…)

* * * *

Hikari: Why did you do that?

(Shot of Ukyo, with Hikari to one side, her back to the girl. Hikari is upset about not trying to help her friend…)

Hikari: Well, why did you stop me?

(Suddenly, Ukyo turns…and Hikari is shocked to see tears in the spatula-girl’s eyes…)

Hikari: Huh?

Ukyo: You think this is just about Joey turning? Shinobu doesn’t feel that she was betrayed by Joey…she felt betrayed by YOU AS WELL!

Hikari: (stunned) M-me?

Ukyo: (wipes some tears) You know how much Shinobu has looked up to us? Myself, Ami and Joey included? Well, when we came here, she felt she was going to be an outcast again, and go into the shy girl mode again…and then she made friends with you. She LOVED you dammit…

Hikari: (blushing) Wh-what?

Ukyo: (realises what she said) Oh…well, not in that way…but like a sister…y’know…it’s just…gah. What I’m saying is that no matter what she did, she was never going to vote for you, and she told me that, so what happens, she feels that the same can’t be said for you…

(Hikari then remembers the promise she made with Shinobu…)

Hikari: Oh god…she feels…

Ukyo: (nods) She tells me everything. And she probably feels betrayed now, that you’re ready to take them one by one. Myself, Ami, Shinobu…

(She turns)

Ukyo: Hikari, I like you. You’re a lovely girl and a hell of a cook. But…betrayal…I don’t forgive…or forget.

(Ukyo begins to walk)

Ukyo: Please don’t break her heart again…

(Ukyo leaves, as Hikari now is feeling the tears…)

* * * *

Sakura: Joey…

(The duelist sits by a tree, deep in thought…well, close enough for him…)

Joey: Why do I all of a sudden feel like the lousiest guy in the world?

Sakura: Joey, you did it for your survival…

Joey: Maybe…but now I feel so rotten…did I do the right thing?

(Sakura sighs, and sits down and puts an arm round him…)

Sakura: You did what you had to do. (stands up) Now come on, we’d better get ready for this reward challenge…

Joey: I don’t think anyone is ready to do anything now…

Sakura: Sorry, in the rules bub.

(Joey and Sakura stand up, as Joey turns to look at Shinobu, wiping her eyes as Ami and Ukyo go with her, links hands with the girl. Across, Hikari is also watching them…)

(…and from afar, Ruri is on her own, watching everyone…)

* * * *

REWARD CHALLENGE

(The reward challenge is here, and the guys are at the usual beach…but there is one problem…)

Sakura: Hey, where is this host of ours?

(Actions speak louder than words…or maybe ask and you shall receive would be better, but none the less, coming from helicopter, the crew look up…)

(…and from the helicopter, a female figure jumps down from it, a smile on her pretty face as she lands despite jumping from 12 feet.)

????: Whew, back to my home away from home…

Ukyo: Hey, I recognise her…

????: Well, if you knew about last time I was in this situation, you know that I won.

Sakura: Oh, it’s that…

(Shot of the pretty Native American girl, and winner of Anime and Video Game Survivor, Julia Chang (from Tekken) emerging as the emergency guest host…)

Julia: Sorry, but I was brought in on short notice, and that Skuld girl had to give me the directions to here…I’ve been fairly busy back in my homeland…but that’s another story.

(Julia addresses the group)

Julia: Ah, and the new blood…(looks them over)…well, I hope you’ve enjoyed the game as much as I did last season…

(A few look embarrassed, but nothing is given out to the host…)

Julia: Very well. I was given instant memory quotas for the challenges thanks to that Skuld girl, and so I know exactly what is going to happen, starting with this reward challenge…and it’s a challenge which is going to be very physical and difficult…but the reward will be worth it…

(Julia points to the distance, pointing in both directions of Enil Island.)

Julia: Somewhere, on either island, whether your current residental area in the former Majori or the not so scouted Minori…

Joey: Uh oh…

Julia: …is a young girl named Suzie Wong. You need to find her to win the reward challenge. Use all your senses, sight, sound and smell will be vital. However, choose your direction carefully, because she is on one of the islands, whilst the other island holds nothing but emptiness and despair…sorry, been watching too many horror movies…

(sweatdrop infinity)

Julia: …basically, whoever finds her first wins. And the challenge begins…NOW!

(With no time to prepare at all, the group are mostly at a loss to go. Joey decides to take the initiative and bolt for old Minori, being an hour walk, they need to get there ASAP…following him are Ukyo, Sakura and Hikari. On the other hand, Ami and Ruri calmly go in the direction of Majori, with Shinobu undecided…in the end, deciding to go with Ruri and Ami.)

Julia: The hunt…is on!

* * * *

(Majori moving)

Ruri: …I can’t see us wasting time running. It’s going to be either one place or another. And I can sense the idiots doing this challenge figured that everyone would go in the direction we’re not used to…

Ami: …so that means they may have hidden her back at camp.

Ruri: A reasonable conclusion.

Shinobu: Umm…is it O.K that I’m here as well?

Ami: (smiles) Of course Shinobu, you are part of the tribe as well…

Shinobu: H-hai. (looks at Ruri as the pale girl looks back…)

Ruri: You know, we’ve never really talked much Shinobu. I think this might be the best time…

Shinobu: Um…is that O.K?

Ruri: (sighs) Id…no. That’s not it, that’s just her being shy. (smiles) Of course it is.

Ami: I think that’s a good idea guys. Ruri, meets Shinobu. Shinobu, meet Ruri.

Ruri: (extends hand) Ruri Hoshino.

Shinobu: (smiling her first bright smile all day) Shinobu Maehara.

(The two blue haired kawaiiers shake hands…awww….)

* * * *

(However, whilst the blue violets heading back to camp are having a Q & A, the red roses are unveiling their thorns heading towards Minori…)

Joey: (out of breath) Maybe…running…wasn’t the best idea…

Sakura: Aww…poor Joey can’t take the heat…but still…

(Sakura stares out as Ukyo has a good lead over all of them, especially Hikari who is just walking.)

Sakura: You’re not going to let her get any advantage are you…

Joey: Well…

Sakura: Are you?

(Joey gets a second wind as Ukyo looks behind and curses…)

Ukyo: (to herself) Those jackasses…I’ll show them…

(Whilst all of this, Hikari has temporarily turned into Shinji with her passive way just walking down the stretch of beach…)

Hikari: Is what she saying true? But I’m not betraying her…but if I don’t, then I’m betraying my team…but Joey has already betrayed them, so is it one for one…or does it matter?

(Hikari shakes her head with disgust…)

Hikari: No…I understand what she was saying. It’s the game…no matter how disgusting it is…

(Hikari begins to jog, looking ahead…)

Hikari: I…will…win.

* * * *

(Majori)

Ruri: …you remind me in a way of Mr. Tenkawa at times Miss Maehara…

Ami: Ruri-chan, she’s told you to just call her Shinobu…

Ruri: (blushes) Sorry, it’s a habit. But she’s a cook, is sensitive to battling, plus she’s very protective around others. It just seems…I’ve always wondered if anybody here is an ancestor of anybody from the Nadesico…

Shinobu: Huh?

Ruri: Well, I think Miss Subaru was born from the genes of one of Hikari’s friends, Yurika from Hikari, and I wondered if you and Cody were part of the Tenkawa’s?

Shinobu: (blushes) Ummm…

Ami: She’s gone all embarrassed now Ruri…

Ruri: (smiles) That’s O.K. I wonder if any of those idiots have found the girl yet…

(distance)

????: Oh, come on Lopmon, protect me from these nasty bugs…normally daddy just gets a newspaper and…

????: Suzie, ah what the heck…

(A blast of ice cascades around a small area of the camp as the three blunettes look at each other…)

Ruri: As I said, idiots.

Ami: Wanna race for it?

Shinobu: Umm…competition?

Ruri: She’s saying that because she’ll win.

Ami: (snaps her fingers) Darn.

Shinobu: Wow Ami-san, you’re getting evil as well!

Ami: (smiles) It’s all your fault Shinobu, you made me like this…

(The two girls laugh as Ruri shakes her head, but doesn’t say the I word. Meanwhile…)

* * * *

(Ukyo is already searching the camps by the time Joey and Sakura get there…)

Joey: Dammit, we’d better start looking elsewhere…

Sakura: What about the trees…or…

(Suddenly looks at an area around the trees, where one camp has been suspiciously moved from it’s original place. Sakura blushes quickly and shakes her head, hoping Ukyo didn’t see it…)

(Good news, she didn’t. Bad news…)

Hikari: What the…

(Notices Sakura’s embarrassed look as Joey also looks a bit red. Hikari keeps it in mind to have a word to these two 16 year olds…)

Ukyo: This sucks…knowing the way my luck was going, it’s at the other place…dammit, what a jackass!

(Hikari shrugs, and calmly looks near some rocks, as Joey and Sakura begin to search as well…of course, they needn’t bother…)

* * * *

Ami: By my calculations of the shouting, and from where we are, I say she’s approximately…

(Opens a fern of trees, where Suzie Wong is cheerfully pulling Lopmon’s cheeks. Lopmon needless to say, is less than cheerful…)

Suzie: Oh hi! Did you thwee come to rescue me?

Ami: Er…yes…(realises the problem…)…er, guys, how do we decide who wins immunity?

Shinobu: Umm…I don’t mind if you or Ruri…(Ruri puts a hand on her shoulder)

Ruri: I think you are the logical choice for this Shinobu.

Shinobu: Me?

Ruri: Of course. Ami has won a reward challenge before and I have won an immunity. You have yet to win one so I think you deserve to win this. Ami?

Ami: (nods) I agree with Ruri. I think you deserve some credit around here.

(Shinobu is awe…)

Shinobu: T-t-th-th-thank you! (gives Ami a hug before offering Ruri one…Ruri is at first hesistant, but accepts it. Shinobu goes up to Suzie, and notices the horn. She picks it up and blows it.)

(In the hopefully familiar words of Pokemole 2, ‘CHALLENGE COMPLETED’)

Julia: (back at the beach) That’s the signal, someone has won the challenge…

* * * *

(Shot of all 7 back at the beach, brought back by Nene and Priss on the site, as only the girls Ami, Shinobu and Ruri know who won, as the guys going to Minori still have no clue…)

Julia: Well, the horn sound meant that somebody found young Suzie here…(motions to the girl by her)…and that person wins the reward.

(Julia goes down and puts her hand on Shinobu’s shoulder, a lot of the group surprised…)

Julia: Congratulations Miss Shinobu Maehara. You have won today’s reward challenge.

(Shinobu gets a smile and a thumbs up from Ukyo, and from Hikari, as Shinobu seems to be all smiles again. Ami whispers to Ruri…)

Ami: That was sweet of you.

Ruri: I just felt she needed the break…nothing to do with how upset she was being this morning…not at all…

Ami: (smiles) Of course.

Ruri: I’m such an idiot…

Julia: And for Shinobu, this reward will be the perfect way to relax…(smiles)…a recreated environment of your home…but that’s all I’ll diverge for the moment…

(Shinobu gasps, and has a beautiful smile on her face, tears coming again, but this time of joy…)

Julia: Stay here Miss Maehara, and we’ll get you to the island recreation as soon as possible. Everyone else return to camp…

* * * *

Julia: It isn’t until 2 o’clock when the group finally make it back to their camp, and now Hikari has a chance to talk to two certain members of the tribe about a certain incident…

Hikari: O.K, so what did you guys do?

(At least she’s direct and to the point…)

Joey: Huh?

Sakura: What are you implying?

Hikari: Look, the other day, I accused Joey of being cosy with you, after he caught Ruri and Ami teaming up, I’ll ignore the hypocritical view that I’m showing here, but that’s not the point.

Joey: So, what is?

Hikari: Well…the other night…you two went away and…er…erm…(suddenly goes into Shinobu like shy-mode)

Sakura: I still don’t get it.

Hikari: …DID YOU HAVE…

(Before Hikari says the s word, Joey immediately clasps her mouth with his hands…)

Joey: O.K, O.K, I get it! Please don’t say it out loud…

Sakura: Oh, she was on about…erm…I’m n-not sure I can say…

Joey: No.

Hikari: (suspicious) Really?

Joey: (serious) Really.

Hikari: Good…because whether I believe you or not is irrelevent. Because if I find out you were living in sin, then…

(Hikari walks away as a red Sakura turns away from the tree she was strategically hiding in…)

Sakura: Man, her battle aura is stronger than Ryu’s…

Joey: Let’s see…I guess she’s suspicious about two 16 year olds alone together on a tropical island…

Sakura: (blushes) I guess so…

(Meanwhile…)

Ruri: She’s lost her humour.

Ami: I know…it seems not right without it.

(Ukyo is now comparing herself with Ryouga…no, not in that way you Ukyo/Ryouga fans…(still amazed how popular that one is)…but in the amount of angst she’s producing…she can’t even bother to get up and do anything…)

Ruri: Forget the humour. She’s lost her mind.

Ami: Well, I know she daydreams…but this is more of nightmares…

Ukyo: (to herself) Ran-chan, why can’t I do anything? Is it really I’m this helpless now…is that how you see me? Nothing more than a friend…

(Ukyo stands up)

Ukyo: The odds are stacked…but for you Ran-chan, I’ll beat them.

(Ukyo turns…and smiles to Ami.)

Ami: Is she back?

Ruri: I dunno. Is it safe to go there?

(As they ponder a possible death threat, Shinobu is about to have a lovely time…)

* * * *

(Generic nearby island number 2034…)

Shinobu: Sugoiiiii!!!!

(Shot of the island, and it’s recreated in the best way like the Hinatasou, there is a table where a selection of foods, made like Shinobu’s own cooking on the table, and by the ocean, there is a hot spring like area to make Shinobu feel at home.)

Julia: Well, this was the best we could do, but don’t eat it all at once…then again, maybe you should eat as much as you can…

Shinobu: Why?

Julia: (winks) You’ll see. (Julia leaves, allowing Shinobu some time to herself. She notices something Julia has dropped…Shinobu’s sketchbook.)

Shinobu: Arigatou!

* * * *

Ukyo: …everything has really caught up to me. I guess this double-cross just added another nail into me…I guess I miss home more than I thought…

Ruri: It’s understandable to miss your home…that makes two of us…

Ami: Make that three.

(three girls sigh in unison)

Ukyo: Where’s Hikari?

Ruri: Hikari-kanjou has been busy going to Minori tribe for some reason…

Ami: Wonder why…

(Shot of Hikari in Minori…destroying the little camps that was made…yep, she’s pissed…)

Hikari: I guess I’ve been so absorbed in the game, I forgot about my own morals. I’m competing to win this competition for Touji, yet I’ve had a hand in backstabbing. And now, I ignore what is going on between Sakura and Joey for my own benefits…maybe it’s time for no more…

(Hikari sighs)

Hikari: It’s impossible to stay true to myself if I can win this game. Shinobu can do that, she’s innocent enough to get away with that. Ruri can do that as well, no-one sees her as a threat and she can say anything she wants. If I was true to myself, I would have been voted off by now…being a class rep stinks sometimes.

(Hikari removes a sheet from the camp and picks it up)

Hikari: At least this way, I can stop anything else happening. I can be true to myself…

(Speaking of which, Joey and Sakura are wondering about Hikari’s actions…)

Joey: Hikari may be getting a bit too bossy…

Sakura: Hey, she’s always been the leader…it’s just we’ve been close, I just didn’t realise she…

Joey: Don’t fret. She isn’t important. As long as she votes with us…

Sakura: I’d classify that as important you know…

Joey: (sweatdrops) Er…in any case, Hikari isn’t our main worry. Ukyo is…you saw how she creamed us on getting there…O.K, it didn’t matter, but if the next challenge is similar…we’re screwed.

Sakura: Hey, I’m a street fighter as well, what makes you think I can’t beat Ukyo in a physical challenge…

Joey: Er…damn, everything is coming out wrong…

Sakura: I can see why you were the whipping boy…

* * * *

Shinobu: That’s enough…

(Shinobu is now relaxing in the hot spring area, wearing away a month’s worth of dirt and destruction from her young body…)

Shinobu: Ahh…I’ve missed this…

????: Then you don’t mind if we join you right Shinobu-chan?

(Shinobu looks up, and gasps…)

Shinobu: TAICHI-SAN!

(Emerging into the hot spring is Shinobu’s best friend, Taichi Akiko (Love Hina), basically looks like a freckle faced Sana Kurata with ponytails.)

Taichi: It’s great to see you again Shinobu-chan…

Shinobu: Th-thank you…

????: Hey, this is yummy…

(Shinobu looks up after hugging Taichi, and sees…)

Shinobu: KAOLLA!!!

(Shot of Kaolla Su, Hinatasou resident, and roomate and friend of Shinobu’s. Kaolla looks up from eating the dumplings made, and has an open smile…)

Kaolla: Aye, Shinobu!

(Kaolla jumps from the table, and from there jumps into the hot-spring, making a splash…Shinobu and Taichi are covered in the splash as Su emerges…with a hot-spring turtle on her head…)

Shinobu: T-Tama-chan!

Tama: Myeu!

Kaolla: Shinobu, why you not having turtle soup?

Taichi: Now, now, we can’t eat Tama-chan…

Kaolla: Hmmm…(lightly splashes some water at Taichi)

Taichi: Hey! (smiling) Battle! (splashes some, Kaolla ducks and hits Shinobu instead…the girl spitting water out, and smiling…)

Shinobu: A rematch then?

Kaolla: Roger!

(The three young ladies begin splashing each other, just enjoying themselves as they can, as Shinobu’s smile is the brightest spot you can see on the island…)

* * * *

4.00pm

Julia: Shinobu may have had the foods she loves, but back on the island, it is plain old rice for the starving island…

Hikari: Thanks for cooking Ukyo…(sigh)…I really didn’t have the mind to do it…

Ukyo: Trust me, I’m close to cracking as well…(hearing footsteps)…and here come a couple of vultures…

(Shot of Joey and Sakura coming back…from former Minori, a bit puzzled…)

Joey: Where did they go?

Hikari: (smiling) Oh, you mean those camp sheets…I decided to bring them in to use them for our camp. Good idea right, because I don’t see why they should go unwanted…

(Joey is dumbstruck…)

Ukyo: (smiles) Hey, Ami and Ruri…where they go?

(Cue shot of Ami and Ruri, Ruri almost dragging Ami somewhere…)

Ami: Ruri, we’ve got to go, dinner is almost ready?

Ruri: In a moment…I’m about to show you something that I’m hoping to trust you with.

(Ruri removes a fern nearby, still holding Ami’s hand. Ami is still confused…)

Ruri: This is how the game will change.

(Ami doesn’t notice anything immediate, but then spots the kanji writing on the floor, reading the three wise men…)

Ami: The wise men?

Ruri: Not in this case. It is a case of elimination. The representation of these three men, represents gold, frankincense and myrrh. It is also a representation of the person as a professional, the person as an individual, and the person towards others.

Ami: I still understand.

Ruri: Simple. (Ruri moves over to Balthasar…and wipes it away…Ami gasps.)

Ami: You mean…

Ruri: (nods) This is the plan…to remove the three most least deserving to win it. The three people who have played this game the worst will go next, leaving the 4 most deserving in the final.

Ami: Ruri, are you sure about this?

Ruri: That’s all I’ll say for now…keep this a secret from everyone, even Hikari. I trust you.

(Ami looks a bit stunned…but then nods)

Ami: Very well Ruri.

Ruri: (bows) Thank you…now let’s get back before they do think we are getting suspicious…

* * * *

(Back to Shinobu)

Kaolla: Wow Shinobu…you’re as good as ever…

Shinobu: Um…th-thank you Kaolla, but…can you get off, you’re heavy?

Kaolla: Hmph…meanie…

(Shot of Kaolla, clinging onto Shinobu’s back, as Shinobu drawing Taichi playing with Tama-chan. Su of course has created havoc around the island…fortunately she was searched for any of her many devices and inventions beforehand…)

Taichi: We have the time until the sun sets, why don’t we watch it together?

Shinobu: (nods) Mmm.

Kaolla: That’s boring!

Taichi: Oh come on Kaolla, even you need to sit down for a bit…

Shinobu: (thinking) Just praying that a red moon doesn’t come up…

(As the sun descends…and Kaolla ignoring Taichi and is busy chasing Tama-chan, Taichi and Shinobu talk)

Shinobu: It was good to see you again…

Taichi: Thank you Shinobu-chan.

Shinobu: I just hope everyone back home is cheering me on…

Kaolla: Huh? Oh, I almost forgot…

(Kaolla fidgets for a bit before drawing a piece of paper out, and giving it to Shinobu…)

Kaolla: Oh well, I guess it’s bye bye for now! Bye bye Shinobu!

(Taichi waves as Julia comes to pick up the three of them, Shinobu back to the island and Taichi and Kaolla back to present time Duelist Kingdom. Shinobu looks at the piece of paper, and as she reads it, begins to cry…)

Shinobu-chan, you can do it, win one for Hinatasou! – Naru

You’ve always been the quiet one, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go all the way. – Haruka.

Yosha! Shinobu, win and come back with the money…I’m sure with your skills you’ll destroy the competition! – Mistune

Go for it! – Sara

You are a strong willed flower. Don’t fold now victory is within sight. – Motoko.

(Shinobu looks at the last one…)

Shinobu-chan, you’ve done something that I couldn’t do. I knew you would shine at this. You are strong Shinobu-chan, and you can do anything you set your mind to. I am sure you will win this. Good luck.

Keitaro Urashima.

(Shinobu clutches the paper and cries…)

Shinobu: Urashima-sempai…(looks to the night sky threatening and nods…)…hai. I will win for you.

* * * *

7.45pm

Ami: Hey guys, she’s coming back!

(Shot of Shinobu coming back in her boat and waving to Ami and a trotting Hikari and Ukyo. Joey also goes, but hinders back a little bit, especially after what Shinobu said in the morning…)

Shinobu: Konnbawa!

Ukyo: So, how was the reward sugar?

Shinobu: Great! I got to rest in an almost Hinatasou situation…and a couple of my friends came here as well…

Hikari: That’s great sweetheart, there has been plenty to do here as well…we’ve missed you…

(Hikari and the two girls go with Shinobu. Joey seems ready to say something…but stops. Meanwhile, Shinobu clutches the piece of paper tight, unseen to any of the tribe…)

* * * *

10.00pm

(Shinobu is the only one outside as the group are either asleep or pretending to be asleep…)

(Shinobu continues to watch the stars, and the piece of paper like a treasure. Unaware that Ruri is also watching her…)

Ruri: It’s hard to compare myself to Shinobu…but that’s what I’m doing.

* * * *

DAY 29

Julia: The formal winds of a storm invaded the night…and cascaded into morning. The winds were particularly strong, and the camp barely held on…

(Shot of the new morning, still fairly windy but not as strong as it was last night. Instead, the misery has been pounded by the torrential rain, even at 10 in the morning, the group haven’t escaped the camp…)

Julia: This period of rain is known as Galactia’s rain, where Galactia dissolved into a torrent of rain, where Nene Romanova and Linna Yamazaki landed on this island, which is the current home of 7 people, soon to be 6 after tomorrow night.

Hikari: I don’t think any food is possible at this time…

Sakura: And when it comes 11 it means we’ve got to head to the immunity challenge…

Ukyo: (stomach rumbles) D’oh…shut up…

Joey: That’s the last thing we need to remind ourselves of…

Shinobu: Um…I can try and…

Ami: Don’t even think about it. The last thing we need is you coming down with pneumonia…

Ruri: (remembering her own sickness problems) Trust me Shinobu, that would be the most idiotic thing you could do…

(Still, the stomach rumbling still makes a few people sweatdrop…especially considering it’s coming from Ruri’s stomach…)

Ukyo: And you were saying sugar?

Ruri: O.K…I’m an idiot…

* * * *

Julia: The rain hasn’t stopped for the immunity challenge…which is extremely problematic considering the challenge itself…but despite it, they huddle outside and get ready to walk…and discuss…

Sakura: Well, I’ll need to discuss with Hikari, but I’m think we’ll go for Ukyo as long as she doesn’t win immunity. If she does…Ami?

Joey: (sighs) I like Ami…but yeah, she’s the next biggest threat physically. I’m just hoping it doesn’t go that far..

Sakura: Right. I’ll talk to Hikari and she’ll talk to Ruri, no problem.

(Ruri/Hikari)

Ruri: I don’t want to discuss anything…

Hikari: I know. Especially what I suspect them of doing…but I guess the game has made me more underhanded than I thought…

(Hikari goes as Ruri shakes)

Ruri: I guess Ami hasn’t told anyone…good…

(Shinobu/Ami/Ukyo)

Ukyo: Dammit! This rain isn’t helping matters now the wind has picked up…

Shinobu: I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear, the wind picking up is too loud…

Ukyo: (sweatdrops) Ah…

Ami: Let’s just get it over with, I may be good with the water, but that doesn’t mean I need to be in it like this…

Ukyo: You know, other than the author’s bias, I’m beginning to understand why he picked me for this…

(The survivor takes a wet and wild trip as the immunity challenge comes downwind…)

* * * *

IMMUNITY CHALLENGE – Tasuki’s Fan Flame – First person to get their fan to light wins immunity…

Julia: (with a bamboo umbrella similar to Ryoga Hibiki’s) Geez, nice weather for waterfowl isn’t it?

Joey: Can we just play rock, paper, scissors for this one?

Julia: Sorry, but we’ve had to do a bit of negotiating for this cameo, and besides, he’s a friend of Tamahome’s…kind of…

Ruri: Tamahome’s friend?

Julia: Yep…introducing…TASUKI!

(silence)

Julia: Er…Tasuki?

(Suddenly, we see the problem. Behind them in the sea, on a boat, is Tasuki, Suzaku warrior, a fearsome martial arts warrior with incredible speed and a fan which can generate flames…)

(…he also can’t swim…^_^)

Tasuki: HELP! WHO LEFT ME HERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE OCEAN…

Julia: Oh, sorry, we didn’t know you couldn’t swim…

(Somewhere, Tamahome is chuckling…)

Tasuki: I’M A MOUNTAIN MAN! GET ME OUTTA HERE…

(After a few minutes of Julia getting over there and dragging Tasuki’s panicky carcass, order is resumed…)

Julia: So, as you can see, this individual is not a water fanatic, hence why the rain isn’t doing him much good…

(Shot of Tasuki whimpering under a single leaf, as a few sweatdrops, weird looks, and one ‘idiot’ come from the group…)

Julia: …but he’s got to explain this challenge. So, come on…

Tasuki: Me? Come on…

Julia: That…or we send you back to the ship…

Tasuki: I’ll be good! (to the group, now more cocky than cowardly) Now listen up, see this is a fan. (shows his diamond fan…) Now, let’s see this fan do a little trick…

(Tasuki does his trademark pose, a side shot of him looking at the camera…)

Tasuki: REKKA…

(…he spins and a wad of flame comes out…)

Tasuki: …SHINEN!

(Despite the rain, the flame surrounds Tasuki without actually hurting him, before it is dispelled in the sea…)

Tasuki: Now, I don’t expect you guys to do that, however, I have 7 paper fans. You will have to use all means possible to burn them…and in this weather, that is going to be quite difficult…

Julia: …so basically, you need to use the old stones, sticks, flints, whatever you can find, and create a fire. In this weather, it isn’t going to be easy, and I hope none of you take too long.

Tasuki: HEY, THAT WAS MY LINE!

(Julia punts him with a bow and arrow kick…Tasuki blasting off again…)

Julia: Sorry, he’s just so bashable. (See also, Ranma Saotome, Keitaro Urashima and Team Rocket…) Anyway, I’ve got the fans so basically as soon as I give one to you, get onto anywhere on the beach and do what you can, you’ll need to search for items, and basically created a fire and burn the fan. Got it?

(The group nods, although a few shiver from the cold…)

Julia: So, come on up.

(Each of them get a fan, most of them wondering what the heck to try and do this…)

Julia: O.K, all set? Then get going…GO!

(The gang all start moving, although most of them are unsure what to do. Ami, Ruri and Hikari all seems to go to the jungle area, whilst Sakura heads for to just make camp under a bush. Ukyo begins to run upbeach, Joey follows Sakura’s example and takes shelter, and Shinobu just looks around and decides just to get out of the rain…)

(Ruri, Hikari and Ami seem to have the right idea, and finding the dry surface in the jungle. It’s the first one to reach Julia with a flame…the three girls all looking for something to cause a flame…)

(Joey and Sakura make a hole in the ground from the shelter, and begin using a stick, and try to get the sparks from that. Shinobu seems very unsure what to do and seems to have given up before starting. Ukyo is still nowhere to be seen…)

(…suddenly, she appears with a smooth part of a tree, which she somehow has cut off. She goes into the brush area with Shinobu and seems to try and make a fire board from it, simply from using her own battle aura…)

(…Hikari is making the best progress in the jungle, by using tree hard parts as flint against rocks. Ami and Ruri are following a similar process, Ami seemingly a bit further ahead in working than Ruri.)

(Joey is working a bit harder than Sakura, and the traditional method seems to be working…however Joey’s complaints about his hands aren’t helping…)

(Suddenly, the first spark flows…from Ukyo using her battle aura. Joey screams, realising plan A is in jeopardy…work those hands!)

(Ukyo feels the flame coming and sees the board’s heat rise. However, they are unaware of someone running to Julia…)

(Ukyo lights it and Joey and Sakura are going ‘oh crap’, but then the gods smile as Ukyo drops her fan in shock…)

Julia: Congratulations Hikari. You’ve won immunity.

(Shot of Hikari’s burning fan, and not too far behind her was Ami with Ruri emerging from the jungle. Ukyo curses under her breath, but still applauds Hikari’s success, as do Shinobu, Sakura and Joey, although in S & J’s case, for slightly different reasons…)

* * * *

Hikari: All I can say is never say never, and it was nice to win immunity.

Joey: We screwed up…but so did our main target.

Ukyo: Crap.

(Time: 1.15pm)

Julia: The time is nigh as with Hikari definitely safe, real strategy maybe needed. O.K, so last time my strategy was…not quite as desperate…but still…

(Shot of Ukyo cooking…ah well, at least she isn’t demonstrating the Saotome Special Technique, the Crouch of the Wild Tiger…for Ranma fans, laugh, for non-Ranma fans, it’s basically begging and pleading for mercy…still laugh though, comes in handy when Ranma makes fun of Akane’s cooking…)

Ukyo: At times like this, all I can do is cook, keeps my mind off…other worries…

Joey: (calling) Hey, don’t waste all that rice…

Ukyo: Yeah whatever. (devours a ready made rice ball before sighing) Somehow, I don’t feel hungry now…(begins to make the rice for the late breakfast, the rain not breaking but Ruri has made a small shelter to at least keep the fire ready…)

Shinobu: (coming up to her) Ucchan?

Ukyo: (smiles slightly) Hey Shinchan…

Shinobu: Are you going to be alright?

Ukyo: I’m fine sugar. But…can you do me a favour?

Shinobu: (nods) Sure.

Ukyo: Can you take over for me here? Suddenly…I think I need to be alone…

(Shinobu is a bit surprised, but nods. Ukyo bows to the petite girl as Shinobu looks on…)

Shinobu: That first day…she saved me…

(Looks around to see most of the camp missing, aside from Joey and Sakura. She sighs…)

Shinobu: …but can I do the same?

(Sadly, she shakes her head and sheds a tear…)

(Shot of Ukyo legs outstretched into the ocean)

Ukyo: Everyone seems to have a good reason to win this in some way or not. Me, it’s just to impress Ranchan and to get my business financially secure. Comparing my reason to Hikari or Joey is like comparing Pokemon to Princess Mononoke…

Ami: That’s not the Ukyo Kuonji I know.

(Shot of Ami, watching from the water…)

Ukyo: I should have known you would have been here sugar.

Ami: I can see that you are feeling that it’s all doom, right?

Ukyo: Let’s see, a traitor stabs me in the back, I screw up in immunity and oh yes, I’m probably going to go home tomorrow so yes, I’m a bit ticked off! (Realises her tone and stops)…Oh, I’m sorry Ami-chan, it’s just…

Ami: You’re frustrated right…(thinks about what Ruri told her…), I guess it does seem that way. I…I don’t know what to say in this situation…

Ukyo: (smiles slightly) Then don’t. It’s better this way. (better smile) At least I can say I’ve done better than Akane can’t I?

Ami: (smiles) That’s a bit better. Come on, the latest brunch is going to be gobbled up before we get there…

(Ukyo nods, and the two girls walk together back to the camp. At least, the smile is a bit better for the girls, but in the end, does it matter?)

* * * *

5.00pm

(A late brunch has meant that they manage to pass on a dinner and instead going to have a nice supper, especially as Hikari is going to try fishing, uplifted by her victory…)

(Shot of Hikari, taking her time in her underwater adventure. Hikari is quite a good swimmer, probably better than Sakura and Ukyo, but not as good as Ami.)

Ruri: Hikari seems much more relaxed now…

Sakura: Well, she should be. She’s safe. And now Ruri, you ready for tomorrow?

(Ruri nods)

Sakura: I don’t think I need to say who our target is, so…

Ruri: Don’t worry.

Sakura: Great, thanks Ruri!

(Sakura leaves, leaving Ruri to watch Hikari…she then turns to look at Shinobu talking with Ami, both girls giggling slightly as Ruri looks on…)

Ruri: Apart from maybe Minato and Yukina, I don’t think I’ve seen two girls before been that close. Ami seems different…she has…charm.

(Ruri looks around the camp again…and nods)

Ruri: The first part of the magi will be stopped tomorrow.

* * * *

7.00pm

Hikari: Well…it’s a bit small but…

(Hikari’s catch is only one ray, but however Ruri and Ami compensates by collecting a few dozen sea snails, and boiling the flesh on the fire and pan. Although Shinobu is a little freaked out first, they taste similar to shrimp…)

Joey: Hey, as long as it’s edible, I’m not complaining…

Shinobu: This is good Hikari-san…

Hikari: …just not the sort of food you’d be expecting right. I guess your sempai and friends back home will not be expecting that…

Shinobu: (nods) I guess not…

Shinobu: I didn’t realise how many things I was doing different to my normal life, the Hinatasou will be surprised…

Ukyo: I appreciate you doing this Hikari…I’ve been…a bit down…

Hikari: (red from guilt) Er…(not sure what to say…)

Ruri: I don’t need to say it do I?

Ami: Judging from their expressions, I suggest no, you don’t.

(The rest of the dinner becomes quiet, as the fate of the tribe is in their own hands…)

* * * *

10.00pm

(Shot of a camp, where Joey and Sakura are now sleeping outside, near each other, however, so is Hikari and Ruri, watching over them maybe, but perhaps for different reasons…)

(Inside camp, Ami is reading, Shinobu asleep, Ukyo stroking a stray blue hair from the shy girl…)

Ukyo: (whispers) If I can’t win this…I’ll make sure you do…

(Half an hour later, Ami calls it a night and soon, the camp is completely silent…)

* * * *

DAY 30

Julia: Approaching the month mark, the game is well under way and after today, 6 out of 16 will be competing for the title of strongest survivor…

9.45am…

Julia: …however, the depression of Council has simply let to some getting up…and others not so…

(Shot of Hikari still in camp, the only one in there…but she has a good reason…)

Hikari: Hey, I’m immune, so they can’t vote me off. What? I can’t be a bit lazy either…you would be if you had to cook for your sisters all the time…

(…O.K, she’s got a plausible reason…)

Shinobu: Hikari, it’s ready!

Hikari: Hai.

(Hikari steps out, and notices that a few people are missing. Namely, Ruri and Ami…)

Hikari: What they plotting now?

Ukyo: Why, what makes you think they’d plot anything?

Joey: Shall I search for them…

(A look of complete hyprocism ends that…)

Joey: Oh yeah…(sweatdrops)…never mind.

* * * *

Ruri: I guess the one thing I’ve missed back home is being busy. I used to have endless tasks to do on the Nadesico.

Ami: Same here…although my tasks usually involved studying or…the other thing…

Ruri: Don’t worry, I knew about that anyway.

Ami: I’ll still never get used to this future thing…lord knows what Tamahome and Ashitaka was thinking…

Ruri: Well, I can help you…

Ami: Huh?

Ruri: (smiles) Learning about the latest medicines and technology from a time nearly 200 years in the future…what would all you’re colleagues and friends think about that…

Ami: W-wow…

Ruri: Besides, I’d be honoured if you won this Ami-san.

Ami: Th-thank you. So I’m not one of the three you’ve targetted…

Ruri: (shakes her head) No…you’ll see what happens tonight.

Ami: Is it…Ukyo?

(Ruri simply remains silent)

Ami: O.K, I won’t ask.

Ruri: As I said, tonight. Anyway…

(As Ruri and Ami are talking, we see a slight piece of paper in Ruri’s hand. It looks like a newspaper report, and words on it include ‘…descendant of the legendary doctor Ami Mizuno, Inez Fressange continues to create her theories on boson jumping, now linked with medical healing…)

* * * *

(After Ruri and Ami get back and finish a small breakfast…well…leftovers…it’s time for the meetings between the two separate tribes…)

Hikari: You know, I still don’t believe that you too di…

Sakura: Hikari, please, that is the last thing I want to talk to you about now…just trust me on this one.

Hikari: (sighs) Very well, but please, working with Joey Wheeler was kind of a surprise, couldn’t you have let me try and talk to Shinobu instead…maybe Ruri could have gone somewhere with Ami, heck, even Felicia maybe with Ukyo…

Sakura: (shakes her head) You saw what happened…heck, you were part of what happened when Joey saw Ruri and Ami co-working. Besides, it was a shock to the system wasn’t it when Joey joined us…even the most righteous of us betray others…if anyone goes is the cost…

Hikari: Went with Joey’s weakness.

Sakura: What could I do? It was the only way of getting him to break from Shinobu’s cute face! I had to prey on his weak point…his sister. (blushes) Although he is pretty cute…

Hikari: (facefaults) You aren’t Minako Aino’s clone, well, Sailor Sakura?

Sakura: HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I’M NOT A SCOUT! (I just wear a fuku and look pretty convincing as a scout…that’s all…) Besides, she’s over there…

(Points over at Ami, reading and relaxing, the only one of the Tsucus tribe to not have a care in the world…or at least about tonight’s council.)

Sakura: Maybe we should go after Ami instead, considering how much she’s influencing Ruri…

Hikari: No…

Sakura: Shinobu then…

Hikari: Don’t go there.

Sakura: Don’t worry…Shinobu isn’t a threat. Ami is, but not as big as Ukyo.

Hikari: (sighs) I would prefer Joey myself…but I can’t do that.

Sakura: Smart girl.

(Sakura goes over to somewhere, probably where Joey is…)

Ruri: Hikari-kanjou? Hey…yoo hoo…

(Hikari doesn’t notice Ruri-chan staring over her…until she pulls a face at her…which causes Hikari to jump back…)

Ruri: Like captain on Nadesico, like captain of the island…

Hikari: S-sorry Ruri-ruri, just a bit surprised…didn’t expect you to do something like that…

Ruri: I guess you were thinking a bit much…

Hikari: Just tonight…all this pressure, voting someone off…it comes to an end I didn’t expect…

Ruri: …and I’m predicting probably continue that trend tonight…

Hikari: Huh?

Ruri: Hikari…don’t worry. Things will work out. The promise Cody made with us will be fulfilled…the right way.

(Ruri walks off as Hikari stares at the mysterious pale girl…)

Hikari: Ruri…

(Meanwhile, Shinobu’s gesture is somehow convincing towards Ukyo…)

Shinobu: No…he’s still a part of our old tribe…I don’t want to vote for him again!

Ukyo: Well, what do we do?

Shinobu: Well…last time, didn’t they vote for the ones they didn’t want to win, and the votes got tallied up?

Ukyo: Hmmm…that’s a point…

Shinobu: So, even if we don’t get there, that means the ones we don’t want to win have little chance of getting to the final as well…

Ukyo: So, who do you suggest?

Shinobu: I’m not voting for Hikari, so it’s your choice. Ruri or Sakura.

Ukyo: Hmmm…let’s see…should I go for the blue haired genius not named Ami who is cute as a kitten but is no phsyical threat to me, or shall I go for the double-crossing tramp who is playing Joey like a flute, and is a physical threat to me…

Shinobu: (sweatdrops) Um…when you put it that way…

Ukyo: (smiles) Oh well…

Ukyo: Payback is a bitch…then again, so is she.

* * * *

2.00pm

Ami: It’s been a long time since I’ve been studying, but with Ruri as my tutor, it’s like I’ve got a new chance…

Ruri: Don’t worry, I realise you won’t need this in your time and plane, but you can use these ideas for your impending future…(to herself – considering after how many times you get reborn, you live for over a century…)

Ami: What was that?

Ruri: Nothing…anyway, with your basics of medical technology, in the future, the years will develop a number of improvements to the regular medical usage, penicillin, painkillers, anaesthesia…

Ami: How do these developments occur?

Ruri: Omokaine was sketchy on the details…wishes I brought my laptop as my luxury item…who do I look like? Koushiro Izumi?

Ami: (chuckles) Sometimes being too smart can be a downfall right Ruri?

Ruri: (nods) Especially being a genius on a ship of fools.

Ami: But you miss those fools don’t you?

(Ruri nods)

Ami: Whilst I would never say my friends are fools, they are still my friends, and I still miss them. I guess without Usagi and Rei’s arguments, my life wouldn’t seem normal.

Ruri: (quietly) I wouldn’t count on seeing them any time soon though…

Ami: Huh?

Ruri: No matter…now in the future, we have these implants…

(As the two girls continue to occupy themselves…)

Joey: Two little bookworms sitting on a bench…er…

Sakura: Dumbass…

Joey: Hey!

Sakura: I guess getting two geniuses together was kind of inevitable. Oh well…Ruri will stick with us to survive, just as long as we don’t take out Ami…

Joey: But what happens after tonight….Ukyo goes, but we’ve got Shinobu and Ami left…and considering how much Ruri and Hikari get along with them…

Sakura: Good point…we’ll start worrying about that tomorrow…

Joey: (sarcastic) What a strategist…

(Sakura bashes her elbow against Joey’s thick skull as punishment…or foreplay…you decide…)

(…meanwhile…)

Ukyo: You know, I never thought I’d be the moral type, but seeing those two together…it just makes me sick…

Hikari: I’m here you know…

Ukyo: Er…erm…gomen?

Hikari: Believe it or not I agree with you…but I also feel that…

Ukyo: …a bit of sour grapes sugar? Yeah maybe…

Hikari: Ukyo, you do know…

Ukyo: Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard it before…(looks at Hikari)…but at least you did what I hoped and patched it up with Shinobu.

(Shot of Shinobu going over to Ami and Ruri…and looking perplexed about what they are talking about…)

Ukyo: Hikari…tonight, I go…but promise me to keep Shinobu on as far as you can…if you can do that, you’ve got my vote.

Hikari: Huh?

Ukyo: From the jury silly. Unless of course, Shinobu or Ami get there with you…

Hikari: (sweatdrops) Gee thanks..

Ukyo: Seriously, whatever happens tonight….

(Ukyo holds her hand out and Hikari shakes it. The two stand for a bit before Ukyo hugs Hikari. Hikari smiles sadly…)

Hikari: Sorry…

* * * *

6.00pm

Julia: The time is getting closer, in an hour, the lucky seven will be travelling to Tribal Council to await yet another destiny. And for one of them, their destiny is to await tonight and every other night from the bench.

(There are three groups, three together in two groups, and one on her own…)

Sakura: Is Ruri clear?

Hikari: Yes…she had her disagreements, but did agree. I guess even geniuses can see the ideas of others…

Joey: Hmmm…oh well…another day, another casting away one of your original tribe…

Sakura: Really…you sound you have regrets?

Joey: Anyone else, yes. However, Ukyo is the strongest and must be dealt with…

Sakura: Glad you see it.

Joey: …plus this is revenge for all those jokes and making fun of me!

(The two girls, quite rightfully, sweatdrop…)

Ukyo: If this my last night, I will treasure every moment I had with you guys. You were so different from my usual friends…and that is definitely a good thing…

Shinobu: Ucchan…

Ukyo: Don’t worry, I’ll never forget you…heck, maybe I can introduce you to the Nerima madhouse…(thinks for a minute)…on the other hand…

Shinobu: (giggles) Thank you…

Ami: As long as we’re together…maybe there is still a way to get Joey away from them…

Ukyo: Fat chance…

(The three share a hug…but Ami turns slightly…as Ruri watches from the tree. Ami then makes a few motions with her fingers…which Ruri nods to…)

Ruri: Sign language. Time for the two non-idiots to show that brains work well over brawn…

* * * *

TRIBAL COUNCIL

(Lugia’s shrine is a little different as the 7 enter. The shrine has three flames circling, and in the middle, Julia is meditating…)

Julia: ….

Joey: Uh oh…

(Julia’s eyes snap open, surprising all but Ruri as they reel back…)

Julia: Sorry, but this place is so peaceful, and it helps to clear my mind. Thinking of home always does that…I’m sorry everyone, I know I’ve got a job to do…

(After a couple minutes of preparation, Julia prepares herself for her job…)

Julia: Well everyone, I’ve been here many times…actually, every time in the first survivor, and it never was a pleasant experience. The butterflies must have got to everyone at least once, and I’m sure there are more tonight. Hikari, like myself, you showed that the second bananas can perform to the maximum last night…

Hikari: Yeah, no offense but I’d like to see Asuka or Ayanami get this far…

Ruri: Trust me, they wouldn’t.

(The dry sense of humor stopped the impending dread the group have, but as we can see, Shinobu’s look of pain from Ukyo’s clutching her hand too tight kinda shows the suspense…)

Julia: Very well…I don’t really want to go into anyone’s strategy, because I’ve been in a few myself, so I won’t ask about anything else…so shall we make this short and sweet? (a murmur of approval) Before we go, we’d like to introduce the jury…where a young Mr. Ashitaka is joining Miss. Felicia on the jury bench…

(Shot of Ashitaka, nodding with respect as Felicia stretches out and yawns…hey, can’t take the cat out of her…)

Julia: They will watch tonight’s movements as much as you guys and girls will. So, let’s the vote…commence.

(As the laptops descend, and the screen appears above them, Julia makes a note to the audience…)

Julia: Considering what happened last time, we are now keeping tabs of the votes from previous episodes. Which are;

Joey (6)

Ami (2)

Everyone else hasn’t got a vote yet since the slate was wiped clean…

Hikari: The loss of another Tsunami member will always help, and I guess I’m glad it’s one I don’t have to feel terribly guilty about…

Vote: UKYO

Hikari: …but just a bit. Ukyo, sorry, but you are now the main threat. I’ll keep your words to heart though…

Ami: The blood of Tsunami is that…it’s blood thicker than the water that comes from the hands of Sailor Mercury…

Vote: SAKURA

Ami: Whether it’s hopeless or not, we’re carrying the votes.

Sakura: From one fighter to another, the worst injury a fighter can have is his or her pride…

Vote: UKYO

Sakura: …if pride hurts, then what you will be feeling now is 10 times worse. Sorry.

Ukyo: Ah well, is this it?

Vote: SAKURA

Ukyo: Maybe, but I’ll still get the last words…

Joey: I’ve voted for Ashitaka, so my soul can take out my own teammates…well, except maybe for Shinobu…

Vote: UKYO

Joey: …you’re not going to be a blot on my conscience when I win that money for Serenity…you made a great okonomiyaki though…

Shinobu: I’m glad we’re not voting for Joey…and I guess almost any vote feels bad now…

Vote: SAKURA

Shinobu: …I just hope when it’s my turn, they feel the same guilt I do…

(Finally…)

Ruri: …idiot.

(We don’t see her vote…)

* * * *

Julia: A bit more advanced that the way I did it, but just as affective. Now, the votes have been tabled, so please turn your attention to the big blue screen…

(The group does so, nervousness in the air…)

Julia: Now, let’s see what’s happened…

(The screen flashes, and the first name comes up…)

Julia: Ukyo.

Ukyo: Wow…what a surprise…

Julia: Ah…second vote, Ukyo.

(Ukyo sighs and holds Shinobu’s hand closer, like they did in that fateful first vote…)

Julia: Third vote. Sakura…hmm, cherry blossoms seem to get in this game a lot don’t they?

(Sakura blushes, but shrugs…)

Julia: Vote four, Ukyo.

(Ukyo shakes her head…)

Julia: Next vote…no, not yet, Sakura. 3 for Ukyo and 2 to Sakura. Next vote…Sakura.

(Sakura nods, still a smile.)

Julia: If the next vote is for either of the fighting girls, then they go. Anyone else and we go to a tie, and considering that neither of you have any votes, this could be messy. We’ve had two ties already, both messy…

(Ruri nods, remembering Tamahomes, whilst Ashitaka looks down bowed to the floor…)

Julia: The final vote…

(The flash, the stare…and the gasp of breath…)

Julia: …Sakura.

(Sakura stutters, not expecting this at all…at first, she seems to want to ask about the computer being faulty…but realises nope…the screen never lies. Joey also stares in shock, as does Ukyo, but for her, it’s a good shock. Shinobu has a sempai smile on her face, Ami also smiling, Hikari neutral and Ruri…well, being Ruri.)

Julia: Sakura Kasunago, can you please come up here?

(Sakura stands up wobbily, still unable to accept it…but goes up there nonetheless, looking over the group, knowing someone betrayed her…)

Julia: Sakura, your time on the island has gone. The song contains your passing…(Power of One plays)…it’s time for you to go.

(Sakura nods, makes one look to the gang…and leaves, no goodbyes, not even to Joey….it’s over.)

Julia: Cherry blossom’s fall in spring, but in the dead of night, this one has fallen. Well, Chromus will be back tomorrow…but for night, all of you, return to your camp, and wonder what has happened…

(The guys and girls do that, as the blood of a Locus has been broken…but so has the heart of a tidal wave…)

(…and somewhere in that 6, a small smile appears on a blue-headed girl…)

* * * *

Sakura’s confessional;

Well…I was had. That’s all I can say. I don’t know who did it…maybe Joey perhaps blood did run thicker than water…Hikari, her closeness to Shinobu? Or Ruri to Ami? Something happened which I wasn’t aware of…and I blew it. That is what my epitaph will say…but I have no regrets. I played the game to win…and it didn’t end that way…but in the end, I at least can see something in the game, and say what to say at the jury, depending on who gets there. Oh, and Joey…no matter what happened between us…make sure that Mai girl doesn’t kill you…what? You don’t know what I’m on about…(chuckles)…let’s just say I have good eyes…

Who Sakura wants to win – Joey – Difficult one because I’m still unsure what happened at council, but I guess just for the fact that he does have a kind heart, and his reason is excellent…just for that, he gets my vote.

Who Sakura thinks will win - Shinobu – I don’t think she realises how good of a chance she has to win. Her sweet and innocent character is perfect for getting votes, and the great thing for her is, she doesn’t even realise it. She is loved by everyone in the tribe, even Ruri I think, which means if she gets in the final two, she could sweep the jury…

Who Sakura wants to go next – Ukyo – No reason, just I think she as far as winning the money goes, is the least deserving.

THE FINAL VOTE

Ruri: Balthasar is taken out. The first of the three who need to go if someone with honour and deserving to win the money is to make it. Yes, it may be idiotic to go after my own tribe…but on a personal basis, I like all of Tsunami a bit more than Sakura. Oh…no offence.

* * * *

Sakura’s stats on the island;

Sakura was physically fit, and able and had all round skills. In the early stages of the game, she was not a bother to anyone and glided through to the merge. During that time and before in fact, she managed to get with secret meetings with Joey of Tsunami and got into a friendship which became something...more. This friendship eventually led to Joey going with Locus to finish off the once invincible Tsunami. However, what Sakura didn’t count on was a double cross from young Ruri, and found herself lost for words when the final vote wasn’t for Ukyo…but for her…

VOTES

Sakura (4) – Ami, Shinobu, Ukyo, Ruri

Ukyo (3) – Hikari, Joey, Sakura

Next time;

One of the three is down, who is Ruri’s next target? And what happens when Hikari finds out Ruri’s vote for Sakura?

Joey is all alone…in a desperate measure, he pleads for help from Shinobu. Shinobu may be willing to forgive and forget…but what about Ami and Ukyo?

Reward Challenge: Boot Camp meets Battle Athletes: A simple obstacle course…to be taken twice?

Immunity Challenge: Shinobu may have already had a visit from Taichi and Kaolla, but she could be visiting more old friends…however, she musn’t speak with them! The last to crack wins immunity…

And then 6 become 5…

* * * *