Cross Effects 3.0 - October 21, 2015—June 23, 2016

[Kat]

"I'm not a ghost," Forest said, "And I'm not a body he's kept here.  This isn't the plot line to some bad horror movie where he's kidnapping young virgins, killing them, and stashing their bodies you know."

Rikuyo

"What's a movie?" Rikuyo tilted her head in confusion at the ghost girl's words. Strange words matched her foreign looks, but how that guy lured a Dutchwoman's ghost to possess a Dutchwoman's body? Odd coincidence. "Oh, I know, ya just died and got back to yer body and don't remember a thing? Don't worry 'bout that, just relax. Better to hang out here than go to some place with winged naked dudes or red oni boiling ya in a pot." And if her body started to rot, they could get her a new one. "Oh yeah, that's cool. Just take me and the blondie to hot-springs, we'll wait for ya." She replied to spiky hair one. Then, she grabbed the blond girl's arm, urging her to come with her: "C'mon, I bet you'll enjoy hot-springs."

[SINIB]

Sakura

As soon as Sakura got home, she hurried into the living room with a deliberate manner. She found Shirou sitting on the couch reading a book which he put down on the table as soon as she came in. "Hi Sakura." He said with a warm smile. "Did you have fun hanging out with Rin?"
 
Sakura walked up to him and leaned in extremely close to him, about an inch from his face. She blushed slightly, but Shirou noticed she seemed to have a fire in her eyes. "Um, Sakura? What are you—?" Shirou began to ask her before she interrupted.

"Senpai, marry me." Sakura asked flatly, the look in her eyes becoming magnitudes more intense. She didn't waver for even a fraction of a second. The intensity of her demeanor caused Shirou to take a step back in shock.

Emiya Shirou

"Wha-" He didn't know how to respond to this. Was she serious? Maybe she was teasing him? "Sakura are you serious? You shouldn't make jokes about stuff like this." He cursed himself as she hesitantly stepped back, confused. So she had been serious. Totally and completely serious. And he'd just accidentally made fun of her for that.

Sakura

Sakura lurched back confusedly.
He hadn't said yes.
He had not said yes.
Not saying yes means no.
No means he'd moved on.
Him moving on meant her happiness was a lie.
Didn't it?
"Sh-Sh-Sh-Shirou?" She began to say, tears welling up in her eyes before he grabbed her in a firm hug.

"Stop. I didn't mean it like that." He told her firmly. "Of course I'll marry you. We'd been talking about it before you disappeared, right? Why wouldn't I want to?"

"So you will?" She asked him hopefully.

"Of course." He nodded. "It's what we always wanted, right?"

Sakura nodded back. "Right." She said before giving him a peck on the cheek.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Sakagami Kenzo

A frigid shiver ran down Kenzo's spine as he grimaced at their words. He hated this, he hated it all. Why? Why didn't she understand? Why didn't she just shut up? Why did they say that!? Why would they say that? He hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it, he hated it!

Kenzo smiled timidly before adressing the two, doing his best to hide his unease. Unease? Why was he uneasy!? It was perfect, there was no way they'd know. They couldn't. So whatever happened, they wouldn't hate him, they wouldn't abandon him, they wouldn't break down. He would never be alone again, as long as he didn't let him out.

"Hehe, glad to see an eager one. C'mon, follow me!" He said with a joyous demeanor.


Whistling a jolly tune, he led the two trough the inn and presented them to a neat, large sliding door. Then he opened the door, get on the floor, everybody walk the dinosaur.

And opening it, he revealed a magnificent steaming hot spring, large enough for ten, no, twenty of them and more! It was nice, beautiful and quiet, the only noise being the one of a bamboo shoot going up and down, up and down...

A few trees surrounded the springs, and while normally the winter would have taken its tool on them, their leaves still stood strong. No, oddly enough the leaves were blue, pulsating with a pleasant glowing light. A slight smell of cherry could be sensed from those trees. Or was it peach?

Next the springs themselves, there was a wooden sign with Blood Pond Hell written in, you guessed it, bloody messy bold letters.

Kenzo grinned proudly before waving his hands to the springs, presenting them in the most dramatic fashion he could muster. "Tadaaaaa!" He cheered, immediately regretting the fact he didn't have any fireworks for the occasion.

[Kat]

Gintoki

"If bottlecaps were the money, all hobos of the world would stop being cardboard box deities. So that's not a thing here." he replied to the only other seemingly reasonable adult around. Admittedly it was weird to ask if bottlecaps were a currency, but maybe he came from a bleak future of guys with mohawks riding bikes around. Like in that Mad Marx movie.

Once the vampire started speaking like in delirium, Gintoki couldn't help but try to smack her in the head. "Oi, people are watching, you donutsucker."

[Kotomine_Rin]

Hyoudo Tenma

A bloodhungry smile grew on the mad scientist's lips as a fire lit in her eyes. Dashing forward, she pushed the vampire's face outtathe way to outspeed her. There was no way she'd lose, not to the likes of her!

"No! It's MINE! Muhahahahaha~!" She roared, going for the glass that shielded the poor innocent donuts from her and-

"NOT ONE STEP FURTHER!" A manly voice from behind the counter commanded. Immediately, the two fools were blown back to the wall, a powerful authoritarian force knocking them away.

Glaring at the two was a tall, imposing man of old age but fair build. Wearing an apron. A black eyepatch hid his left eye while he cured his masculine gray mustache, only to wave back his short, wavy gray hair. He bore seven swords, one of them partially unsheathed to interrupt this uncouth display, only to be inserted back into its scabbard.

Then, the fire in his eyes finally eased down, he spoke up with a clear, powerful voice befitting of a great ruler or a commander. "Now then, please behave yourselves. Today is a special sales day, there is enough for everyone, as long as you share...."


Tohuw Balagan

The fearsome threesome marched towards the theater once more, the demon leading the charge in an imposing tiptoe, trying his best to remain discreet despite the huge parasol covering him. Not exactly what one would call subtle. Then, when they were finally near enough, he urged both to come closer by pulling them to him, the three now standing against the wall before the entrance. For now, the demon was being furtive, subtle....

This subtle thing sucks.

Listening in at the two, he stood silent and paid clooose attention. So close his ears grew a bit larger, and by a bit I mean holy shit it's an elephant. Slowly, his expression changed into an annoyed frown.

Glancing at Medaka, he tapped her shoulder and whispered. "Shit. Um, don't go in now."

[Elf]

Forest

"What's a movie?" The girl tilted her head as she studied Forest, but before Forest could explain, she continued.

"Oh, I know, ya just died and got back to yer body and don't remember a thing? Don't worry 'bout that, just relax. Better to hang out here than go to some place with winged naked dudes or red oni boiling ya in a pot. Oh yeah, that's cool. Just take me and the blondie to hot-springs, we'll wait for ya," She said to Kenzo before grabbing Forest's arm.  She pulled her along and said, "C'mon, I bet you'll enjoy hot-springs."

"Hehe, glad to see an eager one. C'mon, follow me!" Kenzo said as the girl pulled Forest along.  He whistled as he lead them and Forest looked at the girl and said, "You don't know what a movie is?  Well, they're really neat.  They tell really good stories with moving pictures and sound.  Maybe I can show you one later; I adore movies."

Forest fell silent at the sight before her before she saw the wooden sign and the letters that look like they were smeared with blood: Blood Pond Hell.  Then a burst of laughter bubbled up from within her as she shook with mirth.  "That name," she said between giggles, "Kenzo that's . . . fantastic."

[Kat]

Forest

"What's a movie?" The girl tilted her head as she studied Forest, but before Forest could explain, she continued.

"Oh, I know, ya just died and got back to yer body and don't remember a thing? Don't worry 'bout that, just relax. Better to hang out here than go to some place with winged naked dudes or red oni boiling ya in a pot. Oh yeah, that's cool. Just take me and the blondie to hot-springs, we'll wait for ya," She said to Kenzo before grabbing Forest's arm.  She pulled her along and said, "C'mon, I bet you'll enjoy hot-springs."

"Hehe, glad to see an eager one. C'mon, follow me!" Kenzo said as the girl pulled Forest along.  He whistled as he lead them and Forest looked at the girl and said, "You don't know what a movie is?  Well, they're really neat.  They tell really good stories with moving pictures and sound.  Maybe I can show you one later; I adore movies."

Forest fell silent at the sight before her before she saw the wooden sign and the letters that look like they were smeared with blood: Blood Pond Hell.  Then a burst of laughter bubbled up from within her as she shook with mirth.  "That name," she said between giggles, "Kenzo that's . . . fantastic."

Rikuyo

The girl couldn't read, so she didn't have a clue what amused the dead woman. "As long they are not boring, why not. I dislike boring things, so better they not be." After all, something boring had no value. Even human lives, if they had nothing interesting in them, had no value. Not that she would intentionally mess with someone boring, there was no entertainment in that. Just that she wouldn't care for accidents.

Fortunately for those two, they didn't seem boring for now. She hadn't seen a foreigner's body possessed by a foreigner's ghost, and she couldn't exactly figure out yet what kind of guy this spiky haired guy was. The way he smelled clashed with his friendly demeanor after all.

"All, right, here I go." She began stripping in front of the dead woman, as not going naked into a bath wasn't in her dictionary, no matter circumstances.

Noriko

The girl was pretty unconvinced by Vanguard's speeches and bet that this newcomer also seen through that. They were just 'tools' for this armored man. But she had no other choice for now than be used by more powerful people and use weaker as her tools. For one day, climbing on those manipulated by her, she would reach 'Heaven'. The true victory would not lie in having invincible body, great riches, ruling over the humanity, but in Ascension. 

[Thedoctor]

Shinobu

"Once the vampire started speaking like in delirium, Gintoki couldn't help but try to smack her in the head. "Oi, people are watching, you donutsucker."

Shinobu caught the man's arm in an iron grip just as he was about to pull it back. Then she spoke slowly "I would advice you to not lay hand on me again lest you find yourself armless." She looked into his eyes as she contined "I am only refraining from such because it is what my master would have told me to do were it not for his abscense. Cherish this rare chance you have gained mortal, cherish it and grow like a tree expanding from it's roots."

[yinsukin]

Medaka Kurokami

Medaka stayed alert as the group approached the building.  Toe's behavior was odd....  He was tiptoeing, holding a parasol and shaping his ear into an elephant.  All of these actions were contradicting, almost juxtaposed into some sort of joke.  Perhaps he was trying to be sneaky? 

In any case, she couldn't worry too much about it, she had to stay focused in case something random or dangerous happened, like before.  She was most likely the person who could take the most punishment, so she had to be the first to spot a threat.

Toe put his strange giant ear on the wall.  Then, he glanced over at her and tapped her shoulder and whispered to her.

"Shit, don't go in now."

Medaka tilted her head in confusion.

"Hmm?  Whats going on Toe?"

Then, she placed her hand gently on the wall, feeling for vibrations.

Relius Clover

Relius turned to face the armour.  He paused, both pondering his next move and examining the nature of the armors soul, making no attempt to hide his actions.

This creature is obviously speaking from experience.  This is probably the oldest soul I have ever seen!  No thats not all there is to it.  The soul has properties that have yet to be tapped, secrets yet to be uncovered….

Now satisfied, he attempted to make eye contact with the head of the armor.

“Crass?  The art of deciet is just that, an art.  It must be appreciated even when it is not always obvious.”  He said, letting passion color his voice.  Then, he pointed to his leg.  “Besides, I really am injured.  Obviously, not so much that a worm would compare but injured nonetheless.”

The cocky grin he was saving now crept onto his facial expression.

“Furthermore my ancient friend, you are a practitioner yourself.”  He continued, his voice starting to become more radiant.  “But, alas, I must digress.  You are very wise to pick up on my natural curiosity.  What is this small favor?”

[Kotomine_Rin]

Sakagami Kenzo

The demon's face suddenly lit up, the brightest happiest smile ever growing on his face. It was as if a light was lit in his eyes, a happy little light of happy. So he grabbed Fore's hands and cheered.

"Really!? You think so? Really!?"

He didn't seem to care enough to notice the cute lady getting naked. How sad. Either that or he really didn't care. That's a little less sad.


Vanguard

Oho, what gave it away?

Vanguard allowed himself a wry chuckle before speaking calmly, softly, gently. Chillingly

"Let me ask you, Clover, what is a researcher without a laboratory? A general without a base?"


Tohuw Balagan

Tohuw looked around in frustration, as if he was searching for something in particular. Then, he spoke with a low voice, whispering as quietly as he could.

"They are playing a game of I spy. Interrupting a game is the worst thing you can do to someone, there's no way we can do something to awful. If I ever do something like that, I will commit suicide on the spot!"

Grumbling, he looked around desperately, searching for something, anything.

"Meddy, do you see anything red?"

At the same time, almost by reflex, the demon tapped on his ruby cane, thinking nervously.

[yinsukin]

Medaka

Still a bit perplexed, Medaka pointed at the ruby cane Toe was nervously tapping with his fingers.

"Does that cane count as red?"

[Kotomine_Rin]

Tohuw Balagan

Tohuw raised an eyebrow and looked at the girl as if she was foolish. She clearly was, so he had to clear his throat and correct her.

"Um, no. That's Buddy. You can't count someone in I spy, or else everyone would pick whoever was next to them. It's not nice to treat people as things you know?"

[yinsukin]

Medaka

People?  Was that cane some sort of magical familiar?  Medaka had played RPG's back in her old world, so she was familar with that basic concept at the very least.  Perhaps real world familiars were objects as well?  She walked over to the cane and examined it, trying to discern its level of intelligence.

"Wait, so that cane is sentient?  Is it your familiar or a pet?"  She asked, her voice resembling  an oblivious child.

[Kotomine_Rin]

Tohuw Balagan

Tohuw frowned at the foolish girl’s words and shook his head in firm disapproval. “No, no, no! You got it all wrong…!”

Sighing, he sat on the ground Indian style and urged Medaka to do so as well.

"Well, I suppose this calls for a flashback expositional arc! So pay attention because this will be in the quiz later."

And with a snap of his fingers, a blackboard appeared behind him, illustrating his tale along with cute stick figures.

“Okay, so, a long long time ago, in a land far far away, there lived a lone little girl. She was always quite sickly, and her parents were always busy with work. She didn’t have anyone to play with, and was quite sad because of it. So one day, she snuck into her father’s basement and stole a grimoire. And using the grimoire, the girl summoned her first demon! The two made a contract of friendship, and from then on she became his little Buddy.”

For a moment, the demon paused. He closed his eyes and smiled gently, his words clearly showed affection towards this Buddy. It didn’t take a genius to figure out he was quite fond of this Buddy and her story, and enjoyed telling it.

Suddenly, his tone became much more uneasy, disdainful even. One could almost sense the anger from his words.

“But one day, the villagers found out her secret and, fearing the demon’s powers, they shunned her. They began to poison her food and hide thorns in her clothes. The girl was quite sad, but she didn’t mind. After all, she still had her one true friend. So she would feed him the bad people every day, and when there were no more people left, they ran away and lived in a castle far from the bad people, far from everyone. And eventually, they fell in love.”

Smiling again, the demon rubbed his chin and looked up. He was getting to the good part!

“She had a charming personality and a charming heart. Even a demon like me could become a normal person when around her. She was my first first love, and for a long time I was very happy. There was just…  There was one problem. I don’t mean to brag, but I feared that my face was too cute. What if in the end she just loved me solely on my looks? I couldn’t live with that, that fake love. It would be like loving just some idol!”

The demon sounded worried, distressed by that fact. He let a small pause to let it all sink in, and then resumed cheerfully, a big big smile crawling up his lips. This was the happy ending cheerful part, so he sounded even more cheerful and happy go lucky than usual.

“So I did a little test. I ripped her eyes out and made a gem with that! In the end, her feelings for me didn’t change one bit. Her love was real! And from that day on, I never had to worry about her leaving me again. Tadaa~! Any questions?”

[yinsukin]

Medaka Kurokami

In the beginning, Medaka found herself fairly entertained.  A sweet story about love and passion.  It was romantic.  It was fantasy like.  It was cute.  Well, until the last line.
When he told the part about ripping his lovers eyes out, her own dilated in shock.  Without warning, she stood up and stared at him, glaring ferociously.  Then, she took a deep breath.  She would have gien him a good slap, if she had not seen something simalar before.

"I see, thats your backstory.  I knew I was on to something."

Then, she sat back down and took on her normal determined look when reforming a fellow sentient life form.

"I know your a demon but you can't do something like that.  Its not the proper way to prove someone loves you.  IF you want a woman to understand you, you cannot betray a woman's trust like that.  Its astonishing that you found someone who would love you after doing something like that."  She said calmly.  "Do you still love her?"