WEEK 4 DAY 1: MISSION

[wonderful_mods]

Mission: Make an offering to God.
Time Limit: Medium
Noise Plane: Duet
Wall Instructions: Key walls around the Naganaki Shrine. Condition must be a Pact. Seal off the dorm and school.
Wall Rewards: Chaos
Reaped Rewards: One Stroke, Vast Wealth
Mission Rewards: 1000 yen

[It's a slightly different mission than the standard "go here" you get on the first day, although that's still basically what it amounts to. There's a shrine not far from the train station, and it has a Donation Box ...

However, the task is more difficult than what may have been anticipated by veterans of the game, for as soon as the mission mail appears and the timer appears on the Players' hands, the stray noise in the area begin to attack any Players without a pact... better hope you're not alone.]

Comments

[notsogrimreaper]

Ah! I-Ichigo-kun! You...

[He was going to ask where he came from, but he corrects himself. It's taking a while to get used to not seeing everyone. He sighs and gives the Reaper a weak smile.]

Yeah. Yeah, I'm alive.

[tamedhollow]

Sorry! I didn't mean to spook you. [he puts his hands in his pockets. It's pretty obvious that Ryoji isn't his... normal self.] Well, that's good, right?

[notsogrimreaper]

No... Not really.

[Even before all of this, Ryoji hadn't wanted to come back to life, just because of what he had done last time. And now, it may be happening all over again.]

[tamedhollow]

[Ichigo's mouth is set in a hard line, and he places his hands carefully on Ryoji's shoulders]

... Ryoji. What's the matter?

[notsogrimreaper]

I-I...

This place is Tatsumi Port Island. It's... where I lived.

[tamedhollow]

So... wait, this is your home? [he looks around] Well... why's that bad?

[notsogrimreaper]

The last time I was here, I tried to destroy the world. Minato-kun stopped it, at the cost of his life.

...But he's still alive here.

[There's nothing Ryoji can do except be blunt about it. He's still in shock anyways, and even if he was in control of his emotions, he'd have to tell everyone as quickly as possible. He wouldn't put something this dangerous off.]

[tamedhollow]

... Why would you.... you... [Ichigo looks stunned. What? DESTROY?]

[notsogrimreaper]

It's what I was created to do. I told you I'm Death. Because of my existence, the mother of Shadows, Nyx, would be called down, and I would help her begin the Fall.

... I don't want to, but I don't have a choice.

[tamedhollow]

But Death... it's not about destroying EVERYTHING! Death is part of the cycle of life! [he frowns] What's... what's going to happen?

[notsogrimreaper]

I know that, but... here, people want to just start over. Wipe the world of everything so there's a clean slate... They wish for death.

Soon, I will lose this form and become the Avatar for Nyx... a monster. I won't be able to do anything but destroy this world. I won't rest until every being is wiped from the face of the earth.

I-I don't want that to happen. I don't want to do this again!

[tamedhollow]

[Ichigo's look of concern hardens until it looks more like determination]

.... I'll stop you. If I have to, I'll stop you.

[notsogrimreaper]

... That's what I was going to ask you to do. There may be a way to stop it from happening, so I'd be happy if you tried.

[Of course, what Ichigo would have to do would probably be hard for anyone to manage. After what happened last time, Ryoji knows this is only delaying it for a little while longer, but he doesn't want anyone to have to sacrifice themselves instead of him.]

[tamedhollow]

[he frowns. Someone so resolved to just... die? He shakes his head]

What would I have to do?

[notsogrimreaper]

You'd have to kill me. I'm not human, so it may be difficult to accomplish, but I'm not as powerful like this. It should be possible.

...And if I came back in the Game, I would have to be Erased. Even if I'm dead, Nyx would still find me. I'd have to be completely wiped from existence before this place was safe.

[tamedhollow]

It can use you as an avatar, even in the Game? That's insane. That's... [he shakes his head] ... Then we have to wait for the last possible moment, yeah?

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji slowly nods.]

I'd... be happy if you at least gave me a few more days to live. I'd like to say goodbye to everyone first. But we can't wait until the last moment. We need enough time to kill me twice, right?

[tamedhollow]

No... no no. We can wait until it's the end of day 7, and we're about to leave. That way, you'll wake up in the Game wherever we are next week, right? And everything will be ok. I'll just have to protect people from you until then.

[notsogrimreaper]

I have a feeling that might be too late...

Could we do it on the sixth day? I don't want to cause more trouble for everyone here. I know you don't want to completely kill me, but... it'll be better if I'm gone. There won't be a chance of this happening again.

[tamedhollow]

I'll... [he trails off, looking away and running a hand through his hair] ... I'll think about it. Alright? We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

[notsogrimreaper]

...I'm sorry. I know it's a lot to ask of you. I just want everyone to be safe.

[tamedhollow]

[Ichigo places a hand on Ryoji's shoulder, offering the most comforting smile he can muster. He's pretty good at it, and he knows to close his eyes when he does it, else they'll betray how worried he really is]

I know. And I'm going to do everything I can to help.

[notsogrimreaper]

[It's a small comfort, one that Ryoji is very grateful to have. Ichigo's words help more, though. He understands what Ryoji needs him to do... and for once, Ryoji's death is accepted.]

Thank you. I'm sorry to force this on you when you're working. I-I shouldn't interrupt any longer.

[tamedhollow]

Ha... it's fine. I'm kind of slacking off anyway. This whole "duet" thing really has me off my game, you know? But yeah. I should get back to work.

[notsogrimreaper]

"Duet"? Is that something going on in the Game?

[Are they doing singing missions now?]