Previously on Manga Survivor:
Light(v/o):Skypeia continued to struggle to survive...
(Large pellets of hail fall on the Skypeia boat, impacting off the boat and the castaways.)
Light(v/o): While Baroque lived in peace.
(Lee energetically tutors Rukia.)
Light(v/o):Maya blackmailed her way into the alliance on Baroque.
Sanosuke: I don't trust Maya, and I have no idea what she's up to. But letting her into the alliance was the only way she would keep quiet...
Light(v/o):Back on Skypeia, Ippo and Edward made their mutual dislike known.
(Ippo and Ed square off Iron Chef-style, over the campfire.)
Edward: I'm just sick of having to do everything around here!
Light(v/o):Skypeia lost their third challenge in a row when Baroque won immunity, sending them to tribal council again.
(Shots of the immunity challenge, and Baroque celebrating after finding their "treasure".)
Light(v/o): Saki tried to break up the young alliance, but in the end...
(Now Light is standing at Tribal Council, instead of off screen.)
Light: Second person voted out of Manga Survivor: Grand Line... Yoh.
Light(v/o): Yoh was voted out for his bad work ethic. Fourteen are left. Who will be voted out tonight?
MANGA SURVIVOR: GRAND LINE
Baroque Tribe
Cagalli Ula Atha Gundam SEED
Leorio Hunter X Hunter
Maya Natsume Tenjho Tenge
Mitsuko Souma Battle Royale
Rock Lee Naruto
Rukia Kuchiki Bleach
Ryo Akiyama Digimon
Sanosuke Sagara Rurouni Kenshin
Skypeia Tribe
Edward Elric Fullmetal Alchemist
Ippo Souchiro Hajime no Ippo
Konoka Konoe Mahou Sensei Negima
Mitsuki Koyama Full Moon wo Sagashite
Nodoka Saotome Ranma ½
Saki Kasukabe Genshinken
Sena Kobayashi Eyeshield 21
Yoh Asakura Shaman King
39 DAYS...
16 CASTAWAYS...
1 SURVIVOR!
DAY 6
Skypeia Tribe (Winter Island)
(And then there were six. The members of Skypeia trudge into their camp, shivering in the cold night air. Setting their torches down, they each collapse in the shelter or around the fire.)
Edward: Can we not go to tribal next time? Because these late-night canoe rides are really getting to be a pain.
Mitsuki: Yeah, we might go off course.
Sena: That's not exactly the biggest problem...
(Ippo stares into the fire thoughtfully, right before blurting out what he's thinking.)
Ippo: Who voted for Konoka?
Edward: Pardon?
Ippo: There were two votes for Konoka. One was obviously Yoh's, but whose was the other?
Saki: Does it matter? Can't we get some sleep?
Ippo: I'm just wondering because I thought we were all together on this.
Edward: There are a lot of things you don't know.
(Edward marches past Ippo, laying down in the shelter.)
Ippo: What's that supposed to mean?
Edward: We don't all have to follow your orders.
Ippo: I don't--
Mitsuki: Please guys, can we just get some sleep?
Ippo: Fine.
Saki: Ed and Ippo really don't get along. They just have such different ways of going about things that they argue about nearly everything.
* * *
DAY 7
(The tribe has gotten up and seem to be productive however, they are all moving slowly, as though their lack of success thus far is dragging them down. Sena approaches Ippo, who is bringing an armful of fruit back to camp.)
Sena: Hey, Ippo.
Ippo: What's up? Any tree mail yet?
Sena: No, not yet. But I wanted to tell you that it wasn't Ed who voted for Konoka last night. I think it was Saki.
Ippo: Saki? Why?
Sena: Well, she was talking to me earlier, and she was trying to convince me to help her and the others vote Konoka out. She had this big plan.
Ippo: Wow... thanks, but that complicates things.
Ippo: So not only did Saki go behind our backs, but she didn't own up to the vote afterwards. I don't like people playing that way, but I guess if that's what she did, she'll have to pay for it.
* * *
Baroque Tribe (Summer Island)
(Meanwhile, Baroque seems to have hit their first storm, as wind and rain are now buffeting their campsite. The entire tribe is crammed into the shelter... well, except for one guy.)
Lee: Are you sure you guys do not want to come out? There is a nice balmly breeze.
Rukia: ...I think I'll stay in here, thank you very much.
Lee: Suit yourself!
(The ninja dashes off, undeterred perhaps even a little energized by the storm.)
Mitsuko: When's the storm going to stop, Sano-kun?
Sanosuke: Soon.
Cagalli: How do you know? You a weatherman?
Sanosuke: Hey, be quiet?
(He stretches his arm out and, faking casualness, puts an arm around Mitsuko, pulling her in closer. Maya and Rukia giggle a bit.)
Maya: It's really kind of adorable. There's nothing quite like the first time a boy gets screwed over by a beautiful woman.
Cagalli: Look, if Sanosuke and Mitsuko want to go swap spit, I could care less. But the fact that they do it everywhere they go? Gross.
* * *
Skypeia Tribe (Winter Island)
(It's lunchtime, and the tribe is gathered around the fire as Ed rations out some chicken. There isn't much left of the three Edward got at the start of the game.)
Ippo: Anyone want to come fishing with me today? Sena? Mitsuki?
Saki: I'll go.
Ippo: Uh... you sure you don't want to come Sena?
Sena (uncomfortable): Well, yeah, but if Saki wants to...
(Mitsuki gulps down the last of her lunch. Immediately after, her stomach rumbles loudly. The teen idol grins sheepishly.)
Mitsuki: Uh... can I have some more?
Edward: Yeah, at supper. We're almost out of this.
Mitsuki: Come on! I'm not full at all!
Edward: Do I look like I care?
Ippo: Ed!
Edward: What? We need to ration our food!
Edward:You know what I've noticed? Everytime there's some sort of fight or conflict, Ippo is in the middle of it. I'm not sure whether he's just like that or if it's actually strategy.
(Saki stands up, angry.)
Saki: You know, I'm getting sick of you guys trying to push us around.
Sena: What's that supposed to mean? We aren't pushing anyone around! I-i'm sorry.
Ippo: Don't apologize to them, Sena. You want us to be nice to you after you voted for us?
Saki: Well forgive me! We're still on the same team, idiot.
(Ippo steps forward and looms in the face of Saki.)
Ippo: Don't call me an idiot.
(Edward interposes himself between the two of them, grabbing onto Ippo's arm.)
Edward: Keep your hands off of her!
Konoka: GUYS!
(Everyone stops to glare at Konoka.)
Konoka: Stop fighting with each other. None of this is a big deal. Mitsuki, I'll give you some nuts I picked earlier. Saki, I'm not mad at you for voting for me. And Ippo and Ed... well, I don't think you two will be happy until you beat each other up, and that can't happen on the show, so both of you just chill.
Edward: ...wow, okay.
Konoka: Now, what do you say to a game of darts?
Saki: Darts?
Konoka: A present from the recently departed mister Asakura.
(The group heads off into the woods, in one piece for now.)
Sena: It's like an all-night practise... people are tired and hungry, and everyone's just on the edge. It's no wonder we're blowing up at each other.
* * *
Baroque Tribe (Summer Island)
(The storm seems to have finally died down, with the Baroque tribe unsteadily heading out across the damp ground.)
Mitsuko: Ew! The beach is, like, solid.
Cagalli: And everyone asked why I brought boots...
(Sanosuke and Maya are poking at the firewood ineffectively, trying to get a flame.)
Maya: Yeah, this is all shot to hell. We're going to have to go into the forest and see if there's anything dry.
Sanosuke: Just when you think you've got a good thing going...
(Lee bounds into the campsite, treemail in his hand.)
Lee: Yatta! That was refreshing!
Sanosuke: You're a freak, you know that Lee? But in the good way.
Lee: Look what I found!
(Lee holds up the treemail. Inside is a dinner plate and a small sundial with the time of the challenge marked.)
Lee: This must be for the reward challenge.
Mitsuko: A plate? What's that supposed to mean?
Ryo: Maybe the challenge is one of those plate-breaking games, like at carnivals.
Maya: I think it involves eating. Course, that may just be wishful thinking...
* * *
Challenge Beach (Spring Island)
(As the tribes come in, the beach is set up a little differently this time. There are still the coloured mats, but this time Light is standing behind a table covered in dishes concealed by silver domes. That's right... food challenge time!)
Mitsuki: Yes! Something to eat!
Saki: I hate to break it to you, but challenge food isn't normally very appetizing.
Light: You have no idea.
Saki: What's that?
Light (changing the subject): Baroque, take a look at the new Skypeia. Minus Yoh, voted out at the last tribal council.
(Most of the Baroque members look surprised at the cut. Sanosuke grins cockily.)
Light: Today is the obligatory eating challenge. Here's how it's going to work. There are six dishes of food from home some real treats. However, to get to each, you first have to go through some... local cuisine. And since nobody really lives on these damn islands, it's just gross stuff we rounded up in the jungle.
Maya: Well, at least you're being honest about it.
Light: You'll do this one at a time. To win the good food, you have to finish a plate of the bad food in under a minute, and show me an empty mouth. If you can't do it, the opposing tribe takes a crack at it. This goes on until we're outta food. Remember that each survivor can only go for food once.
(Everyone looks eager for the challenge. A quick shot rotation shows that pre-challenge formalities have taken place.)
Light: Skypeia, you won the coin toss, so you get to go first. Who's it going to be?
Mitsuki: Let me go. I'm starved.
(Mitsuki gets up, going over to the dish Light leads her to.)
Sanosuke: Don't slip!
Cagalli: Oh, stop heckling.
(Light removes the silver top with a dramatic flourish.)
Light: First item... five dead spiders. Not poisonous, but not exactly sanitary either. Enjoy.
(Mitsuki hesitates, but acts quickly, popping two in her mouth at a time. She's quickly done before the time expires.)
Light: Got it.
Mitsuki: Nice and crunchy. I could've done without the legs, though.
Light: For your troubles, you get a big plate of cheese and crackers to share with your tribe.
Mitsuki: Those better be good crackers, is all I'm saying.
(Mitsuki takes the plate back to her tribe seats, and a flurry of hands takes half the plate.)
Light: Baroque, you get next crack.
Cagalli: I've eaten rations. This can't be much worse.
(With a dramatic flourish, Light lifts the cover off of Cagalli's dish to reveal several fine root lines.)
Light: Local roots. Do your best.
(Cagalli confidently takes a bite of one, and pales, disgusted with the taste. Her face set in grim determination, she stuffs as many as she can into her face, suffering the bitter taste for glory and better food.)
Light: Cagalli, gets it just in time! You've earned your tribe a hot plate of okonomiyaki.
(A caption at the bottom of the screen reads All okonomiyaki provided by Ucchan's, as per Anime References Law 13.2.)
Light: All right, Skypeia gets to go next. So far everyone's been successful, but it only gets harder from here.
Saki: Just try to gross me out.
(Saki steps up to bat for her tribe, as Cagalli passes the okonomiyaki around. Light unveils her plate... which is full of various forms of local bugs, plants, and the like.)
Saki: What is this, a party platter?
Light: No, it just isn't finished yet.
(Light singals to a production assistant, who brings him a blender from offstage. He dumps the entire plate of goods into the blender and turns it on, creating a fine green mush.)
Light: Island smoothie.
Leorio: Wait a minute, that blender wasn't plugged into anything.
Light: Don't ask questions. Saki, you've got to get this down in a minute. Go!
(Saki pinches her nose, and downs a sip of the shake. She coughs a bit, but manages to get it down. On the second sip, she immediately slams the drink down and gets up, clutching her stomach. She bends down and pukes on the sand under the table.)
Light: ...that bad?
Saki: What the hell is in that thing?
Light: Hey, you saw it being made. Baroque, you get a shot at the shake now. Who wants to take it?
(Nobody looks very eager, but Ryo steps up to the plate.)
Light: Good on you. Ryo, all you have to do is get the rest of it down.
(Ryo starts chugging it, then promptly spits half of it back up in the cup. Starting slowly, he is able to swallow the vile concoction over time... but it's not quick enough. Light sounds the buzzer.)
Light: That's it.
Ryo: Wait, I had to drink that nasty stuff, and we don't get anything?
Light: Sorry, but that's the way it works. Actually, wait. I'm not sorry at all.
(Grumbling, Ryo retrns to his seat, while Light reveals what would have been the prize... a case of Mountain Dew.)
Leorio: The soft drink of the gods? NOOOO!
Light: Unfortunately, yes. And hey, I'm getting a little thirsty...
(Light cracks open the can and downs it with heavy gulps. Fourteen survivors look on enviously.)
Light: It's delicious and refreshing... at least according to our sponsors.
Mitsuko: Can we get on with it?
Light: All right... next item. Fried baby penguin.
(The penguin... well, imagine the cutest thing ever conceived, staring up at you with those beady little eyes. The female contingent fo survivors, with the notable exception of Mitsuko, fall over swooning.)
Rukia: So... cute!
Light: Skypeia, you get first crack.
Mitsuki: I'm not eating that! It's adorable!
(Ed wordlessly steps up and downs the animal in three bites.)
Edward: Tastes like chicken. What's the prize?
Mitsuki: You're a MONSTER!
Light: Burger and fries. You can share that with your tribes.
(Ed takes it back to the Skypeia bench, and they all dig in, Mitsuki and Konoka hesitantly. Edward eats the burger, but the fries are up for the taking.)
Light: All right, only two dishes left. Baroque, it's your turn. Who's next?
Lee: Let me! I will bring honour to my tribe.
(Lee pushes through, plunking down in front of the table. Light takes the cover off the dish with a flourish, revealing several large bugs arranged artfully in the plate.)
Light: Grand Line armoured beet-- hey, wait a sec!
(Lee has already started to devour the first beetle. Moving lightning fast, the ninja is done within a minute.)
Lee: That was tasty!
Light: ...I was going to say that you didn't have to eat the shells, but whatever.
Lee: Those were crunchy!
Light: Kid, they should have broken your teeth. But whatever. Here, you get surf and turf.
(Lee takes the plate of food back to his tribemates, who dig in like a pack of ravenous wolves.)
Light: Last one, guys. Skypeia, you get first shot. Who wants to step up?
(The tribe looks at each other warily, and then Ippo nods and stands up.)
Ippo: I'll do it.
Light: All right. Step right up and get your taste of... slime!
(Light reveals the plate, occupied bya translucent green blob.)
Ippo: Hey, Jello! This should be no problem... hey, get back here!
(The slime scurries away, with a mind of its own. Ippo hesitates, staring down the living creature.)
Saki: Don't just sit there, catch it and eat it!
(Ippo springs into action, catching the slime in his hands. The creature slips through though, and Ippo has to grab for it again. Finally, Ippo brings the slime up to his mouth to try and eat it... only to spit it right back up.)
Ippo: That's disgusting! And it was moving around in my mouth. Is it a-alive?
Light: You betcha. And time's up. Ippo, so sorry, but no food for you. Baroque, want a go?
Sanosuke: Well, I think I could take a challenge.
Cagalli (sotto): Sano always goes last.
Rukia (sotto): He loves being the dramatic one.
(Sanosuke strides up to the slime, which is still wiggling around on the table. With a blur of motion, he slams his fist into the slime. This seems to stop the green liquid from moving, even if it is now wrapped around Sanosuke's fist. Sano ends over and bites off a big piece, grimacing as he chokes it down.)
Light: Doesn't taste great, does it?
Sanosuke: No... but victory does...
(Face set, Sanosuke gobbles down the slime, thoroughly detesting it. He shows Light an empty mouth just in time.)
Light: Sanosuke gets it down!
Sanosuke: Thanks... I can go throw up now, right?
Light: You most certainly can.
(Sanosuke does so.)
Light: Charming. Baroque, your prize is a big ice cream sundae, as a little desert to the food you've already got... although I would recommend washing out your mouth first, Sanosuke.
Lee: Ice cream! YES!
Maya: I don't think you need any sugar, Lee...
Light: Well, that's all I have for you. Go home, guys.
Leorio: Really? The show's over?
(Light rubs his temple in exasperation.)
Light: I meant back to your camps.
Leorio: Ah well. I can always try.
(The tribes leave the beach. Although there was no declared winner, Skypeia are stll hanging their heads a little low.)
* * *
Skypeia Tribe (Winter Island)
(The tribe boat drifts into camp. It's lightly snowing, but for once they aren't welcomed home with a raging storm. Still, nobody seems particularly cheery about it.)
Mitsuki: Well... we won something, guys! Those fries were tasty!
Saki: Yeah. It's nice having junk food. Reminds me of home.
Konoka: ...yeah...
Mitsuki: Are you okay, Kono?
(Konoka shivers, resolutely staring into the water.)
Konoka: I'll be fine.
Konoka: Between that bump on the head and all of the cold weather, I'm not feeling so well... but I can keep playing. It's really nothing to worry the tribe about... the last thing we need is another thing to bring us down.
* * *
Baroque Tribe (Summer Island)
(Night has fallen, and most of the Baroque tribe is sleeping soundly. Cagalli, however, is sitting out in front of the fire, staring into it thoughtfully. Mitsuko gets up and sleepily walks out of the shelter.)
Mitsuko: Can't sleep?
Cagalli: Yeah. I think I've gotten a bit claustrophobic, after sleeping in that little thing for a week with seven other people.
Mitsuko: Wow, has it already been a weak?
Cagalli: It felt longer, to me. I didn't think I would be homesick, but well, I am. I just wish Athrun was here.
Mitsuko: That your boyfriend?
Cagalli: I guess.
Mitsuko:Don't worry about him too much. He's probably screwing around while you're gone.
(Cagalli sharply turns towards Mitsuko, offended.)
Cagalli: Hey! He's not like that.
Mitsuko (chuckling): You don't have a lot of experience with guys, do you? When you get down to it, they're animals. Every last one of them.
Cagalli: Well, you certainly treat them like that.
Mitsuko: And it works, doesn't it? Just a little bit of that damsel-in-distress routine and a chance at me and I've got him wrapped around my little finger.
Cagalli: And you're proud of it?
(Mitsuko winces, and makes a shushing motion.)
Mitsuko: Don't talk so loud, you'll wake everyone up. I'm just calling it as I see it.
Cagalli: Fine. Just don't try to sound sophisticated when you're really just a whore.
(Mitsuko looks shocked as Cagalli storms out of the campsite, presumably off to be by herself somewhere.)
* * *
DAY 8
(We open up not on the usual beach, ut on a small glade in the forest, in which Cagalli seems to have nodded off. The sun filters through the branches, stirring her from her sleep.)
Cagalli: Uh... must have fell asleep.
(She sits in the glade for a little while, listening to the forest wake up.)
Cagalli: It's nice here... peaceful. Not like back at camp.
Cagalli: I kind of snapped at Mitsuko last night. I'm trying to keep my mouth shut in this game because I don't want to piss people off, but the way she was talking... well, I just don't agree with playing the game that way. I just couldn't keep quiet.
(Rukia walks in through the trees, smiling.)
Rukia: There you are. I wondered where you got off to.
Cagalli: Sorry. Needed to be by myself for a while.
Rukia: That's fine. But you need to get back to camp. We've got a challenge soon.
Cagalli: Sure... hey Rukia?
Rukia: Yeah?
Cagalli: We need to get rid of Mitsuko. Stat.
Rukia: Why her?
Cagalli: She's the brains of the group. Without her, Sanosuke and Ryo are helpless.
Rukia: Okay. But do you think we can swing all of the others?
Cagalli: I'm not sure about Lee who is? -- but Leorio and Maya should see logic.
Rukia: We can try, at least.
(The two girls head back to camp.)
Rukia: Cagalli is very emotional, and very judgemental... if she doesn't like you, good luck. So it's no surprise she wants to vote out Mitsuko first. I'm not convinced that it's a good move, but I might go along with it.
* * *
Skypeia Tribe (Winter Island)
(Mitsuki and Saki are out fishing, the two girls not having much luck. Saki leans back and starts talking.)
Saki: So Mitsuki. What exactly is going on with you and Ippo?
Mitsuki: What do you mean?
Saki: I'm not dumb, you know. I think you and Ippo have a little something going on.
(Mitsuki flushes.)
Mitsuki: We're just friends.
Saki: Uh huh. Just remember kid... you never know what could happen. One of you could be gone tomorrow.
Mitsuki: I think we're pretty safe.
(Saki grins, though fortunately she's facing away from Mitsuki.)
Saki: Really? Because Sena's been asking around about voting you off.
Mitsuki: You're kidding.
Saki: Sorry. Don't worry, though. It probably won't come to anything. I mean, even if he did decide to go after you, he'd still need to convince another one of you guys to turn.
(Mitsuki stares glumly at the water.)
Saki: I'm being sneaky right now, lying to Mitsuki like that. Hey, don't look at me like that! It's the only way I have a shot of making it past the next vote!
(The two girls hear some shouts and screams from the direction of the camp.)
Mitsuki: Huh?
Saki: Some sort of ruckus... we'd better get back.
* * *
(The Skypeia camp is in disarray. Food and wood has been tossed everywhere, the fire is out, and Konoka and Sena are quietly cowering in the shelter. Saki and Mitsuki run onto the scene.)
Saki: What happened here?
Ippo: A boar came into camp while most of us were away and started rummaging through our stuff. He got all the chicken we have left, and most of the meat we'd managed to collect.
Edward: And as you can see, when we ran into him he made a little bit of a mess.
Saki: Great. As if our tribe wasn't screwed enough.
(The tribe immediately gets to work, picking up the mess and trying to salvage what they can of the camp. All of a sudden, Konoka perks up.)
Konoka: I almost forgot! We got treemail!
Edward: Because I was really thinking we could use a challenge right about now.
Sena: What did they send us this time? A... kendo stick?
(Mitsuki picks up the bokken and poses with it.)
Mitsuki: My name is Mitsuki Koyama, and you killed my father. Prepare to die!
Edward: This kind of challenge could be up my alley.
Saki: Have you ever used a sword not attatched to your arm?
Edward: ...it's the same thing, I swear.
* * *
Baroque Tribe (Summer Island)
(Meanwhile, Sanosuke is holding a similar bokken in his hands. The other seven members of Baroque stand in front of him, in a horiontal row. All of them carry sticks of roughly the same length as the bokken.)
Sanosuke: All right, listen up everyone! We don't have long, but I'm going to teach you some basic sword techniques!
Sanosuke: Kaoru occasionally gets me to teach back at the dojo, and I figured I'd try my hand at it here. I mean, assuming this challenge is based at least partially on swordfighting, I'll clean up but that's just one guy out of the team. If I can pass a little bit of my skills onto the others... well that's a different story.
(Most of the tribe stans at firm attention as Sanosuke goes over how to hold the sword and basic procedures. Cagalli is kind of slouched over, likely tired from lack of sleep. Leorio is paying more attention to waves rolling in than Sanosuke.)
Sanosuke: Now, the first technique.
(Sanosuke snaps forward in a blur, striking down Leorio. The Hunter rubs the bruise on his head.)
Leorio: What was that for?
Sanosuke: Technique number one. Attack when they least expect it.
* * *
Skypeia Tribe (Winter Island)
(The tribe is getting ready to leave. Ippo carries the kendo stick with him, awkwardly slicing at air as they walk.)
Sena: Hey, guys! Let's do the chant.
Edward: Can we not?
Sena: Huh?
Edward: I mean, think about it. We do the stupid chant every time, and every time we lose. If it does anything, it's bad luck.
(Sena stares at the ground sheepishly.)
Sena: I-i guess I never thought of it that way before.
Mitsuki: Don't worry about it. Chant or not, we're still going to go out there and kick butt.
Edward (not convinced): Yeah, sure...
* * *
Challenge Beach (Spring Island)
(The tribes roll in, Skypeia first, then Baroque. Ryo is carrying the immunity idol while Sanosuke leads the way with the bokken.)
Light: Welcome to today's immunity challenge. Immunity's at stake... Baroque, give it back.
(Ryo does a little wave to the idol.)
Ryo: Buh-bye. See you soon.
(Ippo snorts and Ed growls, but Ryo doesn't pay them any attention.)
Light: Today's challenge is based on the ancient art of kendo, which is a refinement of the even more ancient art of hitting people with sharp things. Fortunately, the swords we use in this challenge aren't sharp, but rather wooden training swords. We wouldn't want anyone to get hurt, after all.
Leorio: I'm sure. That would give you a nice ratings boost, wouldn't it?
Light: Let me rephrase that... we don't want anyone getting hurt if it looks like we're responsible. Anyway, each of you will square off one-on-one in sparring matches. First one to score two hits on their opponent wins the match. First team to fourvictories gets immunity, the other has tribal council tomorrow. Each tribe member will fight once, and if a seventh match is required each team will pick a representative. Baroque, you're sitting two people out for this challenge.
Sanosuke (immediately): Cagalli and Mitsuko.
(Cagalli seems a little chilly about the abrupt decision, but dutifully sits out. The six from Baroque face down their opponents, the sun hanging high above.)
Light: All right guys, who's first?
Mitsuki: I guess I'll go.
Rukia: Engarde!
(The two black-haired girls walk forward until they touch swords, Rukia staring down at Mitsuki from her significant height advantage. Mitsuki manages to block the first few of Rukia's shots, but the shinigami is obviously more experienced with a sword and lands two light taps easily.)
Light: That's two! Rukia picks up the first win for her team! Who's next?
(Ryo steps forward with bravado. Saki confidently walks up to him.)
Ryo: You've got to be kidding me.
Saki: Keep on laughing, kid. You'll get yours.
(The mismatched pair quickly lock swords, trying to battle it out. Eventually, Ryo's greater strength prevails and he breaks through for the first hit. Saki retreats back, evaluating a new strategy. She takes advantage of her greater height and reach by jabbing the sword forward when Ryo comes charging in, striking him before he can hit her and evening the score. After that, Saki uses her height, striking down on Ryo from above. The Tamer uses a bit of Sanosuke's training to deflect the sword and strike through to hit Saki.)
Light: Ryo takes it 2-1! Baroque is up 2-0.
Ryo: In your face!
Saki: You'll still get yours... someday, when you least expect it.
Konoka (sweatdropping): Saki is a little scary.
(Skip ahead to the next bout. Leorio and Ed are squaring off, staring each other down. Ed moves quickly, pressing into Leorio's guard with the lower length of his sword. Leorio, not used to fighting with weapons at all, is put on the defensive immediately. Edward ducks under a wild swing and quickly hits Leorio twice in the legs.)
Light: Edward wins! Skypeia is still in this!
Sanosuke: What are you doing Leorio?
Leorio: It's not my fault! He was too close to the ground to hit!
(Edward turns towards Leorio, murder writen on his face.)
Edward: What... did you... say?
Leorio: Uh... nothing?
Edward: DID YOU JUST CALL ME A PIPSQUEAK HALFLING DIMINUTIVE MIDGET TOO SMALL TO SEE WITH A MAGNIFYING GLASS--
(Used to this by now, Ed's tribemates grab onto him and restrain him.)
Light: ...right there. Anyway, next match-up.
Konoka: I guess I've got to go sometime.
Sena: Will you be okay?
Konoka: Don't worry! I'll just try to remember how Setsuna does it.
Maya: I'll go easy on you, kid.
(Maya is obviously the quicker and stronger of the two girls, and although Konoka is able to defend herself for quite awhile, Maya is able to score both of the hits she needs by simply wearing the Mahora girl down. Konoka falls to her knees.)
Light: Maya wins! 3-1, Skypeia can't lose another round if they want to take this thing.
Ippo: Are you okay, Konoka?
Konoka (tired): Yeah... she just hits hard...
Maya: Sorry, kid.
Light: Who's up next?
Sena: I guess I'll do it.
Lee: YOSH! Sena, you are brimming to overflow with the power of youth! I shall face you in honourable combat!
(Lee and Sena prove that they're the fastest survivors in the game as they rush each other, reduced to blurs of motion. Their swords are too fast to follow, but no one is able to land a hit.)
Mitsuki: Whoa.
(Acting on instinct, Lee spins around and kicks Sena in the head. The kick sends Sena flying, but also Light in to break it up.)
Light: Whoa! Kicking is a foul, Lee. Sena gets a point off of that.
Lee: I have shamed my family with this dishonourable act! Sena, can you ever forgive me?
Sena: Huh? Uh... sure Lee.
(For what it's worth, Sena is now sporting a big bruise on his forehead. He doesn't seem too hurt, though, as he and Lee rush at each other once again. They both aim for diffferent places this time, and both fighters hit at the same time.)
Light: Simultaneous hit! Sena, you have two points now, you win!
Sena: Phew...
Light: Baroque still has the advantage, 3-2. If they win this next one, they can win immunity... again.
Ippo: Hey!
Light: Ippo and Sanosuke, you're the only ones left for your tribe.
(The tension is palpable as the two men who have emerged as leaders, at least in appearance, for their tribes square off face-to-face. Sanosuke holds his sword confidently, like a professional, while Ippo is going back to what he knows and has his fists out in a boxing stance, one holding the sword.)
Light: Skypeia, you need to win this one! Ready, go!
(Sanosuke strikes quickly, his sword flying forward, but Ippo is no slouch either. He ducks and weaves under and over the strikes. Unfortunately, like other inexperienced fighters, he is immediately put on the defensive. Sanosuke goes wide on one hit, however, and Ippo jabs through to hit him with the broad end of his bokken.)
Light: Ippo scores the first point!
(Ippo seems more confident, having actually hit Sanosuke. Unfortunately, this puts him on the offensive a bit much, and Sanosuke is able to deflect one of his blows and hit Ippo before he can get his sword up. The trained swordsman is on Ippo like crazy after that, coming in with a flurry of blows from every direction, and it's only a matter of time until one goes through.)
Light: Sanosuke takes it! Baroque wins immunity!
(Ippo goes over to his allies, hanging his head low, knowing that he's responsible for yet another loss. Sanosuke confidently strides over and takes the immunity idol.)
Light: Baroque, you can go home, you will remain in tact for another three days. Skypeia... you must be sick of tribal council by now, but you'll still be going again tomorrow. I'll see you there.
(The expressions on the Skypeian's faces vary from sad (Ippo) to angry (Ed) to worried (Saki). But they all row back to camp, a little slower this time.)
* * *
Skypeia Tribe (Winter Island)
Edward: Okay, what the hell was that?
Konoka: I think it was a cloud.
(Ed just stares at Konoka, who is lying on her back staring peacefully up at the sky.)
Edward: No, that challenge! That was pathetic! We got our asses kicked.
Mitsuki: I'm sorry... I tried to do well, but she was just too fast...
Edward: They're always just a bit too fast, a bit too strong... and how did they all know how to fight like that?
Ippo: It would help if we had more than scraps to eat.
Saki: And if there wasn't a storm every two seconds.
(Edward looks like he's about to blow, but manages to cool down.)
Edward: Look, we can make all the excuses we want. But something has to change, and it has to change fast. We can't keep losing like this.
(The alchemist pounds the dirt, frustrated.)
* * *
(Saki is up in a tree. She looks unsteady in the branches, but clings on to them anyway, as she hacks away at a coconut. Konoka walks up.)
(Without waiting for a response, Saki hacks off one of the coconuts, which falls quickly to the ground. Konoka comes in to grab it, and manages to catch the fruit.)
Saki: You know, Konoka... I'm feeling pretty doomed right about now.
Konoka: Really? You should get down from there, then.
Saki: No, because of tribal. I mean, I think I'm going to be next to go.
Konoka: Don't be so negative Saki! You never know what could happen!
(Saki hangs her head overdramatically.)
Saki: I've resigned myself to my fate. I'm just working hard in the hopes that it'll save me.
Konoka: Aw...
Saki: I'm not really lying... I'm in a tough situation. Edward's too valuable to vote off, and the other four will never vote for each other, so I'm the only one left. I've got to do everything I can to survive... so I'm trying to make Konoka feel bad for me, try to get Mitsuki to stop trusting the alliance... anything I have to do
* * *
Baroque Tribe (Summer Island)
(Ryo is snoozing away in the shelter, while Cagalli and Leorio are sitting around the fire, slowly feeding it.)
Leorio: There really isn't a lot to do at camp. I mean, sure you can work, but we've got a decent supply of food and aworking shelter there's only so much you need to do. And after that it's trying to find something entertaining to do with the rest of the tribe, who must be the seven most irritating people in the world.
Cagalli: Passing time on the island is like taking a family road trip. Mind-numbing.
Cagalli: I can't believe we haven't gone to tribal yet.
Leorio: Yeah. I kind of feel sorry for the other team.
Cagalli: Really?
Leorio: No, not really. Better them than me.
(Cagalli laughs, and smirks.)
Cagalli: You're cruel.
Leorio: Hey, at least I'm honest.
Cagalli: True. Those other guys just strut around acting so high and mighty when they know that they're no better than anyone else in this game.
Leorio: I guess so. I imagine you'd want to go after them if we ever went to Tribal Council?
Cagalli: Don't jinx it like that!
Leorio: Sorry.
Cagalli: And to answer your question, yes I would.
Leorio: Great. They're too big threats, and they could dominate the game if we let them.
Cagalli: Beating Skypeia is our first priority, but after that we have to go after the Sanosuke-Ryo-Mitsuko group. I've already got Rukia on board. What do you say.
(Leorio extends a hand and Cagalli shakes it.)
Leorio: Consider it a deal. Pleasure doing business with you.
(Cagalli smiles and looks towards the distance, while Leorio stares into the fire.)
Leorio: Apparently I'm in an alliance with Cagalli and Rukia now, largely because Sanosuke and company didn't invite me to play. Truth be told, Cagalli and Sanosuke seem like opposite sides of the same coin to me... but I think this alliance might be convenient for me. And if not, then I'm gone.
(Ryo rolls over and gets up from the shelter, completely awake. He gives the camera a knowing smile.)
Ryo: I could really do without Cagalli around camp. She's going after the people that actually win challenges and keep us alive, like myself and Sanosuke, for no reason whatsoever. Without us, she would have been gone long ago.
* * *
Winter Island (Baroque Tribe)
(Edward and Ippo meet at sundown. The two rivals stare across from each other, a cold win blowing.)
Edward: You ready?
Ippo: Yeah. Let's settle this once and for all!
(The other four Skypeia members stand around, watching the confrontation with growing unease.)
Edward/Ippo: Roshambo!
(Both boys have paper.)
Edward/Ippo: Roshambo!
(Double rock.)
Saki: And if that isn't representative of anything...
Mitsuki: This could take a while.
* * *
DAY 9
Mitsuki: How much longer?
Ippo: How much longer what?
Mitsuki: Do we have to go to tribal council. I hate that place.
Konoka (sleepily): Well, if you want we could vote you off.
Mitsuki: Don't even joke.
(Ippo looks upon the two girls, frowning.)
Ippo: Mitsuki is back down in the dumps again. I really hate seeing her like that. And Konoka is still sick. Things aren't looking good.
Ippo: So who do you want to vote out tonight?
Mitsuki: Nobody.
Ippo: Sorry, wrong question. Who do we need to vote out tonight?
Mitsuki: I'm not sure if we can survive without Ed. We're going to have to keep him and vote out Saki. Sorry.
Ippo: That's what I was thinking too. Well, I've been able to live with Ed so far... a couple more days shouldn't be a problem.
Konoka: The mood at camp is horrible. Everyone's miserable, and nobody thinks that we can come back. (coughs) I'd like to cheer them up, but... well, I'm not very energetic recently.
* * *
Baroque Tribe
(Everyone is once again milling around the camp. Mitsuko is lying in Sanosuke's arms, half-asleep.)
Mitsuko: Sano-kun...
Sanosuke: Yeah?
Mitsuko: Tell me about you. What's it like where you live?
Sanosuke: It's nice and peaceful... well, not really peaceful at all. There's always someone coming in to throw down with someone. Never a dull moment.
Mitsuko: Go on.
(Elsewhere, Cagalli and Rukia are quietly gagging. Maya is standing nearby, wading through the water with a spear.)
Cagalli: I can't stand those two.
Maya: I know. Give me a break.
Rukia (quietly): Say Maya... come tribal council... you want to take them out?
Maya (whispering): I dunno... Sanosuke is good in challenges.
Cagalli (quietly): At least Mitsuko then. She's useless and she's got Sano and Ryo wrapped around her fingers.
Rukia (quietly): We can do without them. Besides, we outnumber them anyway.
(Maya casts a glance over to Sanosuke and Mitsuko, hiding a smile.)
Maya (whispering): Who else is on board?
Cagalli (quietly): Leorio. Lee still won't talk strategy, but I'm sure he'll see the light.
Maya (whispering): Give me some time to think about it... but you have a point.
(Cagalli and Rukia get up and walk off, obviously proud. Maya just looks puzzled.)
Maya: I'm kinda sorta in two alliances right now. I could go either way, truth be told... it's all about who's a bigger threat. It's good to have options, at least, because anything can happen in this game.
* * *
Skypeia Tribe (Winter Island)
(Saki and Sena are out fishing, drifting along in the rowboat again. Neither seems to be having much look.)
Saki: This is so boring...
Sena: Agreed...
Saki: You know Sena... I've levelled with you before. You and I both know that you're number four in your alliance.
Sena: That's not true at all. We don't have numbers.
Saki: Bullshit. If you really think that, all it means is that the others don't want you to know your number.
(Sena doesn't protest, he just glares angrily at the water.)
Saki: We could turn this game around. I don't want to overthrow Ippo or anything, but if we just vote out Konoka tonight... well, it would make you a necessary part of the alliance for sure.
Sena: I wouldn't be a part of the alliance then.
Saki: But you still get my drift.
(Sena is still not facing Saki. He pulls back on his line suddenly, only for it to come up empty.)
Saki: All I'm saying is that right now you'll last for two tribal councils after this. Go with me and... well, we'll at least shake things up.
Sena: ...I'll think about it.
Saki: Everyone says they'll think about it. Seems to me that they should have been thinking already.
Saki: I'm just tossing around feelers, hoping that somehow somebody will switch, and I can survive. It's still a long shot, but I'm not going down without a fight.
* * *
(Edward claps his hands together and, with a flash of light, the ground in front of him roars up. A thin spike shoots out of the ground. The earthen weapon pierces through the body of a high-flying bird, which drops to the ground when Ed reverses his alchemy.)
Edward: Ta da. Lunch.
Ippo: Impressive.
Edward: Bet you can't do something like that.
(Ippo says nothing, but spies a bird above. He removes one of his socks, places a nearby rock in it, and starts twirling it around, taking aim.)
Edward: What are you doing? We're hunting for food, not knocking beer cans off fences.
(Ippo pays him no mind, but with one mighty swing releases the rock-loaded sock upwards. The bird, unfortunately, easily flies out of the way.)
Edward: See?
(On its way down, the sock plummets right into a large nesting bird, knocking it out and down ot the ground at the Skypeians' feet.)
Ippo: Not too bad, huh?
Edward: ...
(The two hunters grab their prey, hauling it off over their shoulders.)
Edward: I guess I'll have to stay around and best you again.
Ippo: Uh... what do you mean?
Edward: Don't vote me out tonight, Ippo. It would be a bad idea.
Ippo: Says who?
Edward: Fine. Vote me out, and we'll see who fixes everything around here, who gets the fire going, who cooks the feud, who saves your ass from this hellhole of an island.
Ippo: I guess you have a point.
Edward:So are we clear?
(Ippo stares down at the ground and doesn't answer. Ed just growls.)
* * *
(It's that time again. The sun has begun to sink, and Skypeia is pulling their things into the boat for a trip to Tribal Council.)
Mitsuki: You know, I am really getting sick of this.
Edward: Aren't we all?
(There's no idle conversation as the tribe morosely rows to Fall Island.)
Saki: I have no idea what's going to happen tonight. I've done all I can, and hopefully I've stirred up enough shit that I'm out of the crosshairs. If not then, well, at least I tried.
Ippo: I have to be honest... I don't know if my house is in order. I don't know if the tribe is planning a coup, or if everyone hates me behind my back, or what have you not. But it's like stepping into the ring you have to take the risk, because if you don't then you really haven't won anything at all.
Edward: I'm still a bit worried. It's just like that idiot Ippo to vote me off because of a grudge... but that's really out of my hands now. I'll just have to hope for the best.
* * *
Tribal Council (Autumn Island)
(The six Skypeia members march in, torches held aloft, faces weary. Light is waiting for them, implacable as always.)
Light: Third time in a row. How can you guys explain that?
Edward (bitter): What's to explain? This tribe sucks.
(Light raises an eyebrow, surprised at the honesty.)
Light: Sena. Do you agree with that assessment?
Sena: Why are you asking me? Uh, I mean, I don't think it's quite that bad, but we do need to turn things around.
Konoka: Everyone's so negative. If we stop focusing on all the bad stuff, we'll be sure to make our comeback. And things could be a lot worse around camp.
Edward: And it's because of people like you that things never get fixed.
Ippo: Hey!
(Light jumps in with another question.)
Light: You've also had some troubles around camp. How much has that affected your challenge performance?
Saki: The weather is still hell, and what food we had stored up got destroyed yesterday. The fact is, we just aren't eating and sleeping as well as Baroque, and you can see that in the challenges.
Mitsuki: Not to mention it's no fun being on a losing streak.
Light: Morale is a factor. Now, for a random change of topic... Ippo, I understand you and Edward have developed something of a rivalry?
Ippo: Rivalry would be a good way to put it.
Edward: I just don't like him, and I can't imagine he likes me.
Light: So, are you trying to get each other out? Is that what this vote is about?
Ippo: Actually, no. Ed is an ass, but this tribe needs him, and I hope he feels the same way about me.
Edward: Well, I certainly think you're an ass.
(The rest of the tribe laughs.)
Light: Gee, do you think maybe teamwork is what you're missing here?
Edward: Light, let me tell you something. Most of this tribe are friendly with each other to the point of nausea. I'm not a part of the club, but I go with the flow in challenges, because I don't want to see your face any more than I have to.
Light: Thanks.
Edward: The point I'm getting at is, unless Baroque is sitting around singing kumbaya and sharing and caring like they're in kindergarden, we're at least as unified as they are.
Light: Well, let's see how unified you really are. It's time to vote. Ippo, you still have that individual immunity idol, do you want to use it now?
Ippo: At the risk of being totally surprised, I'm going to hold onto it.
Light: Fair enough. Edward, you're up first.
(Edward walks up and votes. We don't see his vote, but when he returns he has a wide smirk on his face. Ippo is next. He goes up and writes down SAKI.)
Ippo: Saki, you're a great girl, and you've done well... you're just the only choice I have tonight.
(Konoka is next, followed by Mitsuki. Neither girl seems pleased when they return. Saki goes up with a heavy sigh. She pauses before writing down KONOKA.)
Saki: You're sweet. But sweet isn't what we need right now.
(Sena gets up and votes. He holds his paper up and sighs, but we can't see what's on it.)
Sena: I'd love to keep you around, but I just don't trust you.
(Sena returns, and Light nods.)
Light: I'll go tally the votes.
(After a couple artistic shots of tribal council, Light returns, slamming the urn down onto the podium.)
Light: Once the votes are read, the decision is final, yada yada. Let's find out the newest resident of Loser Lodge.
(He takes out the first vote.)
Light: Konoka.
(Konoka looks shocked at seeing her name.)
Light: Saki.
(Saki is less shocked, simply nodding.)
Light: Konoka.
(Konoka glances around wildly, trying to figure out who it is.)
Light: Saki. Saki. That's three Saki, two Konoka.
(Saki is swating, fingers crossed behind her back.)
Light: Third person voted out of Manga Survivor: Grand Line... Saki.
(All at once, she relaxes, and gets up with her torch.)
Saki: It's been fun, guys.
Light: Saki... the tribe has spoken.
(Light extinguishes Saki's torch, and she leaves quietly.)
Light: Obviously there's something wrong in this tribe. You don't have much time left to figure out what it is.
(With Light's typically curt words, Skypeia heads back to their boat and the bobbing lights of their torches again number one less.)
* * *
Last Words
Saki: I wish I could say I was surprised. I'm not disappointed, though. I hoped I could hack it a bit longer, but for an ordinary college girl, I did the best I could. Go Skypeia!
* * *
Vote Count
Edward Konoka
Ippo Saki
Konoka Saki
Mitsuki Saki
Saki Konoka
Sena - Saki
* * *
Author's Notes:
Some people say that the third chapter of something is alrways the hardest. The novelty of the first chapter and the excitementof the second are gone, and you're realizing that it's going to take some actual work. There's a lot of truth to that -- who knows how many would-be-novels I have lying around stuck on Chapter 3. With that said, I think that no matter how much this episode sucks, the fact that I finished it is a personal victory for me.
Saki is one of those characters I feel was a bit out of character in this story, if only because I haven't read a lot of Genshiken and she ended up being kind of bland for most of it. I was mainly trying to capture the "normal person in a den of weirdness" aspect of her character, but that didn't work so well on Skypeia. I hope she got to show some more spunk in this episode, as well as get some good moments before she suffered defeat.
Enough ragging on my writing. Time to get started on number four...