Deadman Forest

Chapter Twenty One

Yuuko's POV

Today was the last day at deadman forest, I have to admit I did relax for today.
In the morning I trained but during lunch hours I rested, we were all relaxed today and it reminds me of the days when we were younger. Overall, today was boring.
Tomorrow is going to be exciting!
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Later tonight:
I lay in bed looking up at the roof, my throat is really dry and my head is spinning with thoughts.
'What if you have to kill your best friend?' 'What if I die?'
I bite my nails, I stop once i feel that their nearly down to the skin. I close my eyes and picture tomorrow.
Myself running through the woods, gasping for air, trying to find water and blood. Human blood of my very first kill of the games. Hunting animals, building fires, collecting berries and setting traps.
Tomorrow is my first day of being free, back at home I would never get even the taste of that. My home is a small place where we don't talk to anyone outside of it. That was one of the reasons why Kimiko and I lost our connections.

Rei's POV

Tomorrow is going to be very exciting. I can finally let out the wild animal in me. I may not look it but I'm beast.

The price us Nekos have to pay. The very first Neko, was the offspring of a human man and female fox spirit taking the form of a female woman.

The Neko had a hard time controlling it's power, and soon died after having another offspring. That's actually how my dad got locked up. He went insane, they force our kind into wars because of our spirit.

My family was never a battle ready family, after a few years the heat of battle got to him. But not wanting him to die, of unstableness, they locked him up, the last time I saw my dad was when I was seven. It wasn't that bad though, because of Nezumi, Yuuko and Kimiko. It wasn't half bad.

Gonna have to admit now that I had a crush on Nezumi when I was seven.

The only thing I'm worried about now is if I can control myself out there. Whatever happens I don't want my partner to think I'm a freak.

Nezumi's POV

Tomorrow... Tomorrow is scary but also exciting. I am a ninja so most of the other contestants won't see me coming.
'Become one with the shadows' my father always said.
I will win this, with whatever power it takes! I'm not afraid of anyone or anything!
Well...Yuuko can be scary sometimes...a faint blush on my face occurs.
I look at the roof and smile, bring it on Deadman Forest.
I close my eyes and all I see are my friends; Yuuko, Rei and Kimiko. I have a good feeling that they'll be safe tomorrow and I'm glad that there is going to be trees so I can go up high and meditate.
The thing is, I can see in the dark with my own eyes. Ever since I was young I could, it gave a bad advantage when I played in-the-dark-games because I could see everything.

Kimiko's POV

*Ceremonial Horn*

I opened my eyes, we all slept in our own rooms last night. There was not going to be much at breakfast today. We had to fend for our selves out there.

Today I just wore a blue T-shirt with gray shorts. As I left my room. I saw Nezumi also leaving his. "Ready?" He asked patting my head, "As I'll ever be." I responded leaning into his touch.

When we passed the fifth floor we saw no sign of Yuuko, so we kept going down. The second floor was coming up and we saw Rei talking with Yuuko. "Waited for us?" I asked hugging Yuuko.

She hugged back, "Mhm, let's go." As we walked in there was a package on all the seats. Everyone started filing in after us. The announcer once again came to the podium.

"This is gift for you all. Please feel free to open it up." Everyone paused, took a deep breath and proceeded to open up their package. It was a compact with a mirror on both sides.

We looked up at him like he was insane. "I know it doesn't look like much now. But it will in the game. You see this compact's mirror show your altered person's face along with your original."

I raised my hand, "Contestant 27?" "So we get to see how others see us but, this can't possibly be the only feature it has can it?"

"Right you are 27, this can also be used as a compass to your partner. But it only activates when you are close to them. But if the mirror gets damaged in anyway you are on your own."

"Unfortunately, this is the only information I can give you now. Everything else will be said in game. Enjoy your last breakfast in Deadman Mansion." He walked off.

After breakfast we were all asked to return to our rooms to get our armor put on and to get on our teleportation pods. As we reached the second floor Rei said, "Good luck guys. I hope at least one out the four of us wins!"

He walked into his room. "May the best one win." Yuuko said going into her room, "I wish you the best Kimiko." Nezumi ruffled my hair, "You too. After this let's get ice cream from the new parlor?" I smiled chidlishly at him. "Will do!" And we went into our rooms.

The same maid that got frightened was the one who help me put my armor on. "I wish you the best Kimiko-chan." She said putting my hair into a ponytail. "Thank you er...-" "Mika." "Thank you very much Mika-sama."

*Ceremonial horn*

"It's time I take my leave. I'll be rooting for you." The two boys who scared her came running in. "Come on Mika-nee! We need to get good seats!" She hugged me then took each of their little hands, "Alright alright. Let's go."

The teleporter started glowing. I stepped on, "Alright! Here we go!"