Episode Vanessa: 0

Under the full moon of a chilly night, Weasel hung his head. His knees dug deep into the beach sand. Blood spatted every time he wheezed for air. This was it though. Having stolen the heart of the stadium, he threw that carcass into Hell to become a vampire, unleashed them unto the stadium, and took out the head vampire.

Perhaps his years playing this game officially made him cocky. At no point was this going to be an achievable task. Especially for an individual. But, he succeeded.

He stumbled near the gentle waves towards a figure sitting near the shore. It was her. The carcass he had thrown. The one he wanted. The fucking tramp that has been haunting his friend this whole time. If only he knew, he would've gotten rid of her a long time ago.

He pressed his hand against the wounds on his stomach and cracked his neck, "Heal"! A pain ripped through his body, knocking him back a few steps. It had been a long day. But this was it. He was ready to end this bitch.

Not for a second did he allow his eyes to wander from her. Giving his previous fights, he couldn't let his guard down. Now she was waiting in a black get-up as usual. A more vampire-like attire, completed with draped sleeves and winged accessories. He thought it was kinda cute.

Her power was at its peak. She too was ready to give it all she had. The showdown was finally here. Weasel had been waiting months for this.

With his hand out, Weasel summoned a keyblade to his hand, "So! You wanna fight or talk"!?

She didn't bother to face him, nor raise her voice, "Is not my choice".

He slammed the end of his keyblade to just an inch away from her throat, "Fuck with me bitch! I will end you! Just because you're dead doesn't mean anything. I have the power of Heaven and Hell on my side," behind his tough demeanor, he knew his magic was almost drained, "So let's start Vanessa! Who are you and what do you want"?

Vanessa was shooken, "I use to play here a long time ago. It was fun. I went on a lot of adventures".

"Cute!" he shouted, "What does that have to do with my friend?" his throat was in pain from yelling all day.

"Nothing," a tear fell from Vanessa's eye as she diddled her fingers out, "I just wish her the best".

Weasel spoke calmer, "So what do you want for yourself?" his lips were still ready to command a power that would end her.

Vanessa exhaled, "I don't know".

He eased himself, "So you're lost..." he sat next to her.

She looked down, "Mmm. I think, you're right".

"Don't worry," he kept a cold demeanor, "Almost everyone is lost. We just keep doing things until we feel we find what we want".

She stared into him deeply, giving him an uncomfortable urge to do the same, "You... Remind me of a boy I used to like," she pointed at him with a smile, "But, you're very nice".

"Well that's a first," Weasel was puzzled to the extent that he hesitated his next words, "...And, you are very cute".

She blushed away with her eyes wide, "Thank you".

He stared in the dirt and whispered to himself, "... This is stupid and embarrassing," he took a deep breath and looked at her, "Anyways, from what I gather, you actually really like this game".

She batted her eyes to the sky, "Yes. Is very fun. And... I like it".

He took note of the change in body language and her tone, "Sooooo, you should come play with us. We can find you a good team. Or teach you how to play solo. And help you get to the pro leagues. In fact, I think I figured out the algorithm for us to become pro. I can't wait to try it out this June".

"Ah!" she rose a finger, "Yes. I like that one. And, maybe, you can come with me".

He smiled crookedly, "Yeah. I think I am going to the pro leagues. This game has really changed my life and I would love to do this for a living. It's just a lot to think about, ya know".

Vanessa waved a finger on each hand with her mouth sealed shut and her body pulling closer to Weasel, "And, maybe, if we both go, you can..." she looked up and blushed, "Take me on a date".

Weasel froze upon hearing that. There were butterflies knotting his stomach. Or maybe it was the urge in his pants screaming how much he would love to lose his virginity to this woman.

"To like, Japan or something?" his face was flushed.

She nodded, "Mhm. If you help me, then I will be happy with you".

He spoke fast, "Yeah, but I mean, I do things like this for people all the time. I like helping people. You really don't have to give me a date".

Vanessa motioned herself towards him, "But, I want".

He had a hard time believing this, "I mean, I guess Japan would be nice".

Her face lit up, "Yes! I love that one"!

"Really"?

She nodded, "Mhm".

"Cool," he scratched his head, "... You can wear like a blue kimono. And maybe dye your hair blue too. I think you'll look beautiful in blue".

She smiled in his face, "I can do that".

"We can sit out in the grass. Or maybe in a tower. And watch fireworks together".

Vanessa pointed at him, "Those ones all sound nice".

Weasel didn't know why, but staring into her eyes and talking about this date made him genuinely smile, "And maybe if you really do like me, you can give me my first kiss".

Vanessa giggled, "I am nervous about that one. But oki".

"Wow," he stared into the dark sea, able to tell sunlight would soon come, "For some reason, this all feels real," he shrugged, "It's whatever. I got the important piece down. You're somebody who has a passion for this game and lost it all because of nonsense that had nothing to do with you. Now you've given up on life and need somebody to save you by restoring your faith and passion as well as train you up".

She pointed at him repetitively with her eyes squinted, "You are very good guesser you".

He couldn't ignore her charisma, "Sounds easy enough. I will have to fight against my team a bit to make it happen. But I'll save you," he stood up with her, "I actually already had a few plans for situations like this. I just need to be a bit more, 'aggressive', with them," he shrugged, "And who knows, maybe, I might actually get my first girlfriend out of this".

Her smile warmed his heart, "Thank you," she rubbed the hair in his face, "You know, I'm very proud of you. I see you do a lot for people. Things that even they don't see," there were tears falling from her eyes, "And I worry. Because I know, sometimes, things can happen. And you will never be here for me to see you again".

In this moment, after hearing that, his whole world stopped. Somebody saw the hard work he never spoke of. And they were proud of him. Down to her tear, he felt it all. There was somebody in this world that would actually love him.

"But," she poked his nose and smiled, "No more bad habits," he grinned, "You watch too much Belle Delphine," he chuckled, "You don't eat healthy..." he obnoxiously laughed, "And stay away from bad girls".

He sobbed, "I'll try".

She gazed his muscular tone and returned to his eyes, "Be safe so that one day, we can be together"!

Neither could break out of their crooked smiles. There was a world in their eyes that had only them. A future waited for them. Its force held them together.

Vanessa held her pinky up, "So it's a promise. One day, you will save me and then take me on the most beautiful date".

Weasel wrapped her pinky into his and led her arm up, "You know, you can't make that promise".

She smiled with her eyes squinted and slightly shook her head, "I make, all, promises".

He chuckled to the point of tears, "That makes no sense," and guided her arm around his neck to pull her body in for a gentle hug, "I will... save you. And try to take you out on a date," her hair smelled nearly as great as the touch of her arms squeezing against his neck.

With her eyes closed, leaned into his neck to give a small kiss and whispered, "Thank you".

He enjoyed this hug but knew it was her time to go and thus whispered a sweet song into her ear, "Talk to me softly, there's, something in your eyes," her grip around him tightened, "Don't hang your head in sorrow. And please Don't cry".

"I like that one," she whispered amidst losing her breath.

He smiled, "I know how you feel inside, I've, I've been there before. Somethin's changin inside you. And don't you know... Don't you cry tonight".

His hands trembled. Not from the song, nor the sway of emotions he was feeling. It was the norm. It was the thing he had always tried to tell his friends, though none listened. Weasel had no idea at what exact age it started. However, for years his body trembled before he started to play the Isekai Game. Sometimes, just like now, his chest would squeeze and his breath would escape.

This was again, very normal. Yet, it was a moment of fear that randomly struck him. Especially when provoked. Here, it was interrupting the lyrics in his head slightly to show flashes of the future. Thoughts and possibilities of the worst to come.

This girl he has promised himself to save, was possibly somebody who would use him just like the others. She may be someone to hurt his precious Dani. Down to his chest trembled with the dead that this girl may commit something spiteful to harm him.

"Fear Flashes" is what he called them. And after calming himself down to sing Vanessa this song, they were still coming. It didn't need to be her. He may very well save this girl and she could hate him. Or in a less extreme case, never even meet him.

Things happened all the time. He may cause this girl to die. Or maybe ruin her life. Could he be the one to destroy her potential happiness? How does this game know she is really hurt? If she hadn't played here in forever, she may not want to come back.

He gripped his own hands tighter to get his head through the flashes. His mind cleared a little, enabling him to continue the song. His breath skipped once. And it was here, that he foresaw a reality. Given his secretive actions, he may very well die. It was just like he was warned before by that blue mage. Even Vanessa has warned him just now.

In a beat, Weasel felt his soul reconnect with his body, "And please remember, that I never lied," he sobbed as his bottom jaw clenched to stop the shiver, "And please remember, how I felt inside," he struggled to ease his body and rather focused more on Vanessa than himself, "You got to make it your own way. But you'll be alright," the sun was beginning to burn against his back and chip away her skin, "You'll feel better tomorrow. Here come the morning light now, baby... And don't you cry tonight".

Vanessa's skin cracked and fell among the sand. It was her end. Weasel felt her break and die in his arms. Likewise, he felt his heart grow stronger to save this new friend of his.

Seeing her body now a pile of ashes enticed him to kick his foot through it. Looking back into the sun felt like a new resolve. He stepped forward, walking down along the coast with each foot striking the sand.

He walked towards the sun with his chin up high and keyblade in hand, "Dani... I'll save you. The others. And now, this girl Vanessa too. But, I can't do that if I'm dead. Don't worry though... I have a plan".