Battle Phase 1-10: Preliminaries Begin! Hinata VS the Bondage Maniac!

The next days were uneventful preparations for the tournament preliminaries, which under the E-Rules, are only to be held on Saturdays and Sundays- to favor all people, Deuses and fans alike. Already in the prefectures, the tourney for those areas have already begun, with the prefectural winners going on to the regionals, then the finals. Class 1-A was particularly jittery, because two of their classmates were going to the tournament, part of a contingent of 7 students from the academy. Besides, Misaki / Hikaru and Miharu / Hinata of 1-A, the others were: Miharu's cousin Miyuki Kinomoto of 1-B and her angel Spectra, June Sanders-Kuma and Akira of 2-C, June's classmate Sunichiro Akatsuki and his angel Raiken, Temari Kurosawa and her angel Kimiko of 2-D, and Yuuki Kurama and her angel Sera of class 3-A. the journalism club had promised earlier to have an interview of the champion and they were doing it in the middle of recess.

"Too much attention will make you faint..." Miharu said as Misaki settled in her seat in front.

"I'll cope... maybe..." Misaki puffed as she ate her sweet roll- a sign that it was Friday.

"Hey Misaki..." Tamayo came in "Mind if I trade my orange for your apple juice?" she gestured, pointing to her and Misaki's unopened juice packs.

"Sure, why not..." Misaki urged, swapping her apple for Tamayo's orange.

In her seat, Miharu was eating her lunch when Tamayo showed up, picking up an octopus shaped wiener from Miharu's plate.

"Hey! I was saving that for last!" Miharu yelled as her friend ate the wiener.

"Sorry about that... hehehe..." Tamayo answered.

"Ah! My mom made that especially for me... by the way you act, it seems that you're hiding something..."

"Hiding?" Tamayo suddenly snapped "No... I'm not hiding anything... it's just that I'm nervous about the tournament..."

"Ah, I see... well, if you're still interested in my offer, come see me..."

Tamayo leaves Miharu and goes to Kotaro.

"Kotaro!" she called, strangling him in the process.

"Aww! What is it now?"

"Eh! Is that your way of treating your..."

Kotaro's hand suddenly blocked Tamayo's mouth. She kept mumbling as Kotaro answered.

"If you're going to ask where I'll be tomorrow, my answer is: I don't know..."

"Eh... do you have any plans on cheering Misaki tomorrow?"

"Suzuhara? Hmm... I can't... I need to settle some things..."

"For the last time, it's Misaki, not her last name..."

"But, but..."

"No buts!"

Kotaro puffed as Tamayo went back to Misaki's place.

"Having a hard time?" Misaki asked.

"As usual... maybe he's getting back for using him as a test subject all these years... say Misaki, got any plans for the tournament?"

"I don't know but... maybe Miharu has some..."

Tamayo went to Miharu.

"Got any plans?" she asked.

"Yes... I'm just going to blow my enemy up..."

"Eh?"

The next day- Saturday. It was still 5:00 AM and yet the Tokyo International Stadium (Tokyo Dome) was already a hive of activity- with Yayoi Hoshikawa and the Backstage Team at its core.

"Imanov, how many times have you installed a layer field in your career?" Yayoi asked the technician thru a megaphone.

"About three since last week, 'mam!" the techie answered back, apparently new to the job.

"Have you again forgotten how to properly install section B-B? It seems that way..."

"No 'mam, it's just Section B-C is still in the way..." the techie again answered.

"Keep tabs on it..." Yayoi called back, this time to the crew working "Remember, the competition will start at ten, so be quick and sharp!"

Yayoi went to a bench where Ringo was sitting and sat there.

"This is really hard work..." she puffed, drinking an energy drink.

"I'm tired..." Ringo complained, feeling sleepy "Looking thru all those files really made me sleepy... even Naoko and Sayaka gave up on me..."

"Go take a rest, Ringo..." Yayoi urged. "You still have a battle to do later..."

"Thanks 'mam, I really need my beauty sleep..." Ringo thanked her part-time employer and left.

A few hours later, 7:00 AM to be exact.

"Begin layer test..." Yayoi called.

As the layer field generator began its test run, Yayoi was approached.

"Nice work Mrs. Hoshikawa..."

Yayoi turned around and saw the CAL director standing there, along with Misaki's principal.

"This year will be the first of its kind in the world... the world championships..."

"So was it finally approved?" another voice came in.

"Ichiro..." Yayoi muttered, seeing the wiggly man, with his assistant Ogata tailing him.

"I believe so..." this time Misaki's principal spoke "This year, we might just see something amazing..."

"Like- a miracle?" Icchan asked.

"Yes, there will be..."

9:30 AM, and already the dome was beginning to fill. The Deuses' parents, friends, fans and even fan clubs were there to support their loved Deuses. In the waiting room # 4, Misaki, Miharu and their seniors Temari and Yuuki were there, waiting along with other Deuses. In Room # 3, one Deus was being talked to.

"Do not forget what I have said... since you wanted him back so badly..."

"Yes I will... now leave me before anyone sees me, Ohjiro..."

"Okay okay... good luck on your return to the layer... Kotaro..."

Ohjiro Mihara then went to room # 4 and saw Misaki there. Then he walked away.

"Good luck to all of you..." he uttered as he went to the control room to meet with his brother and sister.

Back in room 4, Miharu spotted the hooded Deus that made a quick victory when they were at backstage. Misaki also spotted the Deus and shied away... but upon looking again, the Deus was smiling at her. Misaki then bowed down embarrassed.

"Don't worry... happens every time..." Miharu said, trying to keep Misaki off the paranoia.

"Easy for you to say... how about you?"

"Same here... but much more..."

"Why?"

"Our moms will be watching, and so our classmates..."

"You're right... I do feel... huh?"

Misaki was interrupted by the sound of a cell phone- Miharu's. It was a video call from Akita, from her friend, Rachel.

"Miharu long time no see..." Rachel spoke "Anyway... hey, isn't that Misaki Suzuhara?" she asked, as Misaki looked.

Misaki waved a bit and Rachel screamed.

"Ah! That is Misaki Suzuhara!"

"I forgot... Misaki, this is Rachel, and Rachel, this is Misaki..." Miharu introduced.

"Nice to meet you... but actually I was not the one calling... it's Yukinari..."

"Yukinari?" Miharu asked, getting Misaki's attention. "What happened to your phone?"

"My phone? It got wrecked during practice..." the boy answered.

"Practice? But I thought you didn't have any sports clubs... unless..."

"It's not like that... I helped the team and it was an accident... can you forgive me?"

"Okay..." Miharu cheerfully answered, further attracting attention on Misaki's part.

Then a faint voice from Yukinari's end came in.

"Will Deus # 25 and 51, please proceed to the layer at once!"

"Well, I have to go cheer... Rachel here forced me to... I wish I was there at your preliminaries..."

"Me too..." Miharu answered now with cheeks red, not attracting the attention of not only their seniors but also the hooded Deus, who was smiling further. "I'll miss you..."

"Same here..." the boy said, in a weak voice "I'll miss you too... good luck!"

The boy signed off, ending the call. Then Miharu noted the eyes.

"What! He was there to cheer me up... so what!" she screamed, putting all eyes away from her.

"Yuki, you fool... what a wrong time to call..." Miharu puffed. Misaki just smiled there, knowing that something had happened between them.

10:00, time for the opening of the preliminaries. All eyes were focused at the layer, where a holographic image of the announcer / referee appeared.

"Good Morning! Fellow Deuses, fans and others alike, welcome! I'm Asuka, and I'm going to be your sweet, sweet referee for this year's tournament! This year has been promising, with some notables and new faces having the potential to win!" she announced as the screens showed some of the admission battles "What will this year yield? Will we have another legendary battle, like last year? We will find out... as I now introduce our honored guest, the chairwoman of the Piffle Corporation, Yayoi Hoshikawa!"

The crowd looked on as the lights were focused on Yayoi, who was seated beside Shuuko in row 3, block 4, seat 7. She stood up and got a mike.

"Thank you Asuka, and welcome, Deuses, fans and all of you... welcome to the tournament... five years, five long years have passed since the layer was introduced, and it has grown into an activity that we all shared and admired. I congratulate not only those who are going to compete here, but to all the others that have tried- for their will have made them strong. 'Sanctus Battuere' – a sacred battle... that has always been the basic rule of Angelic Layer. Now fight on, chosen ones, a battle that can be respected and be regarded as sacred... I now formally open the Tokyo area preliminaries!"

The crowd cheered as the screens show the formal arrangement of the preliminaries. This stage was easy, because a Deus only needs 2 wins to move into the regionals, but also 2 losses for elimination

"Now let's begin our first match!"

In the waiting rooms, the atmosphere was tense. Then the PA called.

"Will # 1 and # 20, please proceed to the layer at once!"

"Well, it's my turn first..." Miharu said to Misaki.

"Will the contenders please proceed to the designated waiting areas..." the PA called again.

Back in the arena...

"Introducing our first Deus, He had won his very first admission with a clean sweep... introducing first, Junichiro Kaito and his angel, Kaiser!"

Out of one end of the arena, the Deus appeared. And I swear, he was a good looking guy, with a tinge of perversion, as he winked back to the ladies that looked and screamed at him.

"Hi ladies!" he called as he waved back, on approach to his chair.

"Now introducing his opponent, Her admission was a great one- battling the former champion Athena in the process. She is also this country's # 10 in the circuit. Introducing the queen of reversals: Miharu Rina Hoshikawa and her angel, Hinata!"

"You can do it honey..." Yayoi cheered silently. "we're counting on you..."

Miharu was silent as she approached the layer, from the other side. They sat on their respective chairs, wearing their visors.

"You're a cute one..." Junichiro called to Miharu. "But remember this, you'll be bound to me by the end of the match..."

Miharu was silent.

"Angel Entry!" Asuka called.

"Go go go... my bondage worker, Kaiser! Go get the girl for me!" Junichiro called, releasing Kaiser into the ring. Kaiser was impressive, with blue hair and a black suit, chains wrapped around his body.

"Hinata... be my strength, be the light that guides me to victory... spread your wings and touch the sky!" Miharu called as she released Hinata.

The two angels settled on to the floor.

"You are going to be bound to me, cute Miharu... Heh hehehe..." Junichiro mocked, his voice and mouth movements translated to his angel- a new feature, to enable people to talk to their foe anything- trash, swearing or anything across the layer.

"You got to be kidding..." Miharu puffed.

"Deuses ready..."

The two inserted their cards and cases, and their chairs went to the correct altitude above the stadium floor.

"Angelic... Fight!"

The fifteen minute (new rule) battle was on. Hinata took up the charge.

"That's it come to me!" Junichiro called on.

Hinata began the attack, but Kaiser dodged each strike.

"I really love girls that come to me... now be bound to me, cute one!"

Kaiser now used his chains and speed to wrap Hinata around. Miharu felt it, of course...

"What is this!" she screamed "I can't move!"

"True, and now you're mine!"

Kaiser went to Hinata and did the most disgusting thing Miharu experienced- being maliciously touched (And yes, Miharu feels each touch he makes). The crowd was silent, with the female members silently envisioning Junichiro's neck in their hands.

"What are you doing? Stop!" Miharu screamed, powerless or actually, losing life at the rate of 2 per second.

"I can't watch!" Shuuko covered her face.

"That guy's a maniac..." Yayoi called "He will suffer for that, either in my or Miharu's hands... better me than her, actually..."

The touching continued for another minute, as Kaiser and his Deus were laughing. The crowd was shocked at the sight. Under the pressure Miharu was still thinking of a way... she found it. She deployed her concealed knife just as Kaiser went for Hinata's chest and slashed his leg- sending pain to his Deus.

"Awww... why you!" he said as he boosted away.

Hinata then used her knife to cut thru the chains, to no avail as Kaiser shot her knife off her hand.

"Now... you shall be... Ack!"

Kaiser had went too close without looking, for Hinata had kicked him on the groin area, sending twice the pain he experienced a while earlier. Then Hinata broke free form her bounds, her face showing anger... real and pure anger- one that has not shown in over 3 years.

"How dare you mess with my body!" Miharu angrily said "now you'll eat this! Go launcher!"

The angelic support system worked properly, surrounding Hinata in a pillar of light and emerging with the green launcher armor in place. She pointed the huge impulse cannon at Kaiser and started shooting.

"Oh my... this one's too tough! I'm sorry!" Junichiro called out.

"Sorry! You'll be sorry for messing around a Hoshikawa woman's body!" Miharu shouted, now snapped.

Kaiser did not last long on his feet as he tripped. Ha was not able to recover as Hinata approached him, and pointed the impulse cannon at his face.

"Pervert..." Miharu said as Hinata pulled the trigger, sending a wave of energy on the foe, literally blasting / blowing him up- as she had said the day earlier.

"Angel Fainted... the winner is: Hinata!" Asuka called, ending the match...

As soon as the chairs touched the floor, Miharu stood up and went to Junichiro's place.

"Miharu!" her mother called and tossed something "Here!"

Miharu caught what her mother had thrown- a pair of glasses. She wore them and went to his chair. He was still sitting there, tired from what Hinata had dealt to him.

"YOU... ARE... A... PERVERT!" Miharu screamed, holding the poor Deus and throwing him to the medic area, not before Miharu slammed him a couple of times. Unfortunately, the medics were not able to catch the pervert Deus, as he landed into a trash bin, head first.

Hinata panted hard as she retuned to her designated waiting area.

"Are you alright?" Misaki asked.

"Never felt better... after being violated..." Miharu answered, managing a smile, as the other female Deuses congratulated her on removing at least one pervert from this world.

"Of all people, Why a pervert!" Miharu suddenly screamed "What will Yukinari say about this? He's the one that's supposed to be holding me, not that pervert!"

Now everyone was looking at her.

"Oh my... am I too loud?"

Everyone nodded. Later, the board passed a decision about the incident. Junichiro Kaito was barred for the rest of the tournament, while letting Miharu pass, on the grounds of a unanimous decision of all members (actually, the board was delighted about what happened and decided to let Miharu off the hook).

"Now that is over... next battle!"

(Now the Tourney Begins! this fic will now be updated only once or twice a week and the battles shown are those of team Suzuhara)