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

[poppetstrings]

[Lucky for Ryoji, she's following him too, right into an area with a Decal on it, luckily enough.

It's too bad she can't exactly get his attention by the normal means, so instead she'll have to maneuver her way around him so he can see.

... Hopefully, even without her face, he'll at least recognize her coat.]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji jumps when Xion steps in front of him, but even though her face is obscured, that coat tells him exactly who it is. Immediately, he hugs her, squeezing as tight as he can to make sure she's real.]

Xion... thank God... Are you okay? I was so worried.

[poppetstrings]

[She's not real. In fact, she feels slightly hard to the touch, like a doll would.

She doesn't answer, but hugs him back to try and reassure him.]

[notsogrimreaper]

[Ryoji hugs her for a long time, before finally pulling away, giving her a worried look.]

So, are you back in the Game? What are you this time?

[poppetstrings]

[No answer. She can't.

She holds up her pin, though.]

[notsogrimreaper]

T-Then a Player... I'm so sorry.

[And that lack of speaking just makes him more worried.]

Xion-chan, is something wrong? Can you speak?

[poppetstrings]

[She shakes her head.]

[notsogrimreaper]

... Right, your price.

[Ryoji bites his lip for a moment before brightening just slightly. He slips a notepad out of his pocket and passes it to her, offering a pen soon after.]

You can write things down, can't you? Please, I want to know what happened.

[poppetstrings]

[She takes the notepad and the pen, writing it down.]

I fought Xemnas. He's from my world, and he's bad news.

[notsogrimreaper]

Wait... Xemnas? He said his name is Xehanort...

[Ryoji gives her a confused look.]

Did he lie about his name? He said he'd never met you, though.

[poppetstrings]

No.

[She pauses for a moment.]

He said Xemnas was his future self. But I figured if I could get rid of him now, none of the horrible things would have ever happened back home.

Everyone would be happier.

[notsogrimreaper]

... I understand that. I wanted the same thing in my world. If Minato-kun had killed me, everyone would be happier.

O-Or at least that's what I thought.

[poppetstrings]

I don't think it's the same thing, sorry. With him around, it's not just one world that's in trouble. It's all of them. He want's something called Kingdom Hearts. I don't know why, but I know it's bad news if he manages to get it.

I can't let him get it, Ryoji. I can't.

[notsogrimreaper]

Don't worry, Xion. We won't let him do that, okay?

[poppetstrings]

I'm sorry I couldn't stop him on my own.

[notsogrimreaper]

No, Xion, I'm sorry. I should have been there sooner. I could have helped you... Y-You wouldn't be...

[poppetstrings]

Ryoji, It's fine. I didn't want anyone else involved. I'll deal with this myself.

[notsogrimreaper]

But I want to be involved. I won't let you get hurt again, Xion-chan.

[poppetstrings]

I can't get hurt, Ryoji. I'm not human, no matter how much I try. This just serves as a reminder.

[notsogrimreaper]

If you can't get hurt, then why were you killed?

S-Stop saying that... just because you aren't human doesn't mean you don't deserve to be protected.

[poppetstrings]

That was different. That.. What you saw wasn't me. Just a reflection of memories. This is me, Ryoji.

[She puts the pen down, slowly taking off her glove, and holding up a jointed, dolls hand to him.]

[notsogrimreaper]

Xion...

[He takes her hand in his, rubbing a thumb over it and inhaling sharply.]

This isn't all that you are. You are still your own person, even if you're not flesh and blood.

I can't get hurt either, really... So I don't mind helping you.

[He's lying. Being an RGer means that he has a human side again, so he must be able to be hurt somehow.]

[poppetstrings]

[She shakes her head, removing her hand from his and writing again.]

That's not true. If you're not a reaper anymore, you're an RGer. And just like me, that means you can die.

[notsogrimreaper]

Maybe... but dying doesn't hurt me. I don't feel pain...

[If he lies, then Xion won't worry as much.]

[poppetstrings]

[Suddenly, and without warning, she raises her hand, cuffing him hard on the back of his head, before furiously writing down.]

Don't lie to me.