Chapter 10: A Return to the Layer? Aerial is About to Verse Lara!
"Wow!" Adrienne exclaimed.
"Here she is! All fixed and ready to fight again!" Misaki exclaimed as she handed Lara over.
"How'd…?" Adrienne started.
"Well, getting the new art early wasn't easy but I managed to get it fixed." She told Adrienne.
"Takehiro will be so happy!" Adrienne exclaimed.
:How is Takehiro-kun bty the way?" Misaki asked.
"Well…I haven't talked to him since he returned to class today, I hope he won't quit especially with our match up." She answered.
"I see, good luck with that! I better get back because Tomoyo needs some practice." Misaki said.
"Well, have fun with that and Misaki, thanks again for getting Lara fixed."
"Oh, it's nothing really! See you around!" Misaki exclaimed and left.
Adrienne went her way and was walking and looked down at Lara and said, "Well Lara, you are finally returning to Takehiro."
Adrienne arrived at Takehiro's as he was getting home. He noticed her and said, "Adrienne?"
"Hey there, I got something for you." She said.
"Hmm?"
Adrienne brought out Lara and said, "I got her fixed as promised!"
"She looks like new!" he said as he took her.
"You're welcome! So, are you going to come back?" she asked.
"I don't know, I just came back from a job interview." He answered.
"What?" she asked.
"I don't know if I will be able to return to the layer especially in time for our match this weekend. I'm sorry Adrienne."
"You can't do this Takehiro!" she yelled as she saw him go inside. "Grr, you bastard!"
Takehiro shut the door and said, "Oh, I can…" He looked down at Lara and thought, Welcome back Lara.
At the tournament center, Adrienne was practicing with the targets when she missed one due to her concentration being lost. "Damn it!" she yelled and took her visor off. She picked up Aerial and left the training room.
"Angry much?" she heard Sai ask.
"Oh, hey Sai." She said.
"I saw you lose it in there, something wrong?" Sai asked.
"Well…" she started and explained what happened when she returned Lara to Takehiro.
"That's odd of him, I never knew Takehiro Sano would be such a quitter." Sai told her.
"No kidding." Adrienne said.
"Ever since hee shown up here with Lara, he never stopped playing and after one match he just up and quits! He won't be quitting on my watch!" Sai exclaimed.
"How?" she asked.
"Tell me something Adrienne, do you love Takehiro?" Sai asked.
"Well…I think so…" Adrienne answered with a blush.
"Ha! I knew it!" Sai exclaimed. "Not only that Kaede as well."
"What does this have to do with Takehiro getting back into Angelic Layer in time for our match?" Adrienne asked.
"I have a plan and make sure that he will show up on the layer." Sai said with a smile.
I don't know what's she thinking but I like it. Adrienne thought.
That weekend, Adrienne was waiting for her match and tried to see if Takehiro is in the same building but noticed Jing come from the layer carrying Knight. He noticed her and smirked and walked over.
"So, the loser didn't show up, I think I know why, the layer is only for champions and not him." Jing said.
"Shut up! You maybe a pro with your angel but your thoughts will change when Aerial pushes Knight off the layer!" Adrienne yelled.
"Aw, don't be angry and by the way, after your next few matches do you want to go out on a date with me?" Jing asked.
Adrienne smacked him and yelled, "No way! I have a heart for someone else!" He watched her storm off. She thought after getting away from Jing. Come on Sai! I am counting on you.
Meanwhile, Takehiro was about to head to his job and noticed the stadium and sighed.
"So, the great Takehiro Sano decides to run off to work while someone who cares for him is waiting for you and your fight." He heard.
He turned to see Sai and asked, "Sai?"
She nodded.
"Look, I am not cut out to keep on going, after losing in the sem-finals last year was one thing but losing against a great deuce in my class is different." He told her.
"But it doesn't mean mean you can't quit right away! One question though, do you care about what others think about you expecially when they think that you're a loser?" Sai asked.
"What?" he asked.
"You seem to think so on the loser part." Sai said.
"No, I don't!"
"See, you don't care about what others think and you took the loser part pretty heavy. Listen Takehiro, push all that crap aside and battle! You belong on that layer whether or not you win or lose! Get back there
"You're right, time for me to get back there and win my dignity back!" Takehiro exclaimed and was about to run back home. "Sai, thanks."
Sai smiled and said, "No proble, now go get Lara and get back on the layer!" She watched him run off and she walked back to the stadium.
A few minutes later, Adrienne walked onto the layer West platform and sighed, "Where are you Takehiro? It's time for our battle."
"Shall we start?" the announcer asked.
Adrienne nodded.
"Ladies and gentelemen, it's time for our next battle on the layer and it's an interesting one too!"
Takehiro ran into the stadium and headed towards the layer and saw Jing and yelled, "Hey Samamura! You were wrong! I am not a loser!"
"Huh?" Jing asked.
"Because me and Lara do belong on the layer!" Takehiro yelled and he towards the layer again.
"In the West corner is the rose that bloomed on the layer Adrienne Stone and her angel Aerial!"
The crowd cheered.
Takehiro arrived at the door leading to the East platform.
"And in the East corner making his return after a brutal joust is Takehiro Sano and his angel Lara!"
They saw the platform dark and Adrienne sighed.
"It looks like he's not here and if he doest…"
"I'm here!" Takehiro exclaimed and they all saw him walk onto the platform.
"Takehiro…" Adrienne said.
"Adrienne, thanks for getting Lara fixed." He said.
She smiled and said, "Let's have a great fight no matter who wins or loses!"
Takehiro nodded and said, "Right."
"All right you two! Enter the angels!"
"Spread your silver wings and fly Aerial!" Adrienne exclaimed as she threw Aerial. He landed right on his feet. "The angel descends!"
"Grace the layer with lavender petals Lara!" Takehiro exclaimed. "Lara landed on her feet as well. "The angel descends!"
"Let's have an angelic fight!"
Lara charged at Aerial and he dodged her kicks and punches and then started throwing punches. Lara blocked and kicked him.
"It's a heated battle right now! It looks like both deuces aren't going to back down!" the announcer exclaimed.
Aerial went down and the buzzer sounded. He got back and was in his fighting stance.
"So, you've been practicing!" Takehiro exclaimed.
"Yep! Even though you haven't battled in a while you are still an ace at this!" Adrienne answered.
"There is one thing you haven't practiced against is knowing how to dodge Lara's special attack! Now Lara! RAZOR LAVENDAR!"
Adrienne watched Lara glowed with a lavender light and shot a razor petal shaped laser at Aerial. He hit the layer and the buzzer sounded again. Aerial got back up.
"It looks like Aerial is not giving up this fight! It looks like this is one tough battle between these two!" the announcer exclaimed.
Adrienne noticed that the "Silver Wing Mode" icon was blinking. She smiled and said, "Hey Takehiro, there is one thing you haven't practiced dodging!"
"Which is?" Takehiro asked.
"Look at Aerial!" she answered.
He did and said, "No way!"
"Yes way! Now Aerial go into silver wing mode!" she exclaimed and Aerial's wings came out of his back. "SILVER AURORA!"
Takehiro watched Lara get blasted by a ray and was at the edge of the the layer and had her get up.
"No way! Lara just survived Aerial's "Silver Aurora" let's see what's going to happen next!"
"So, do you give up now?" Adrienne asked.
"No! Now Lara! Another razor lavender and on full blast!" Takehiro yelled and Lara glowed her lavender hue again.
"Hurry Aerial use your wings as a barrier!" Adrienne yelled. She watched the wings curve into a shield as the attack hit.
"What!?" Takehiro asked.
"My turn! Now Aerial! Silver hemisphere!" Adrienne yelled and they saw a silver semicircle appeare from above the wings and blast Lara. She ended up flying off the layer.
"Aerial wins!" After a heated battle Adrienne Stone has overcome the challenge of going against a talented deuce!"
Takehiro picked up Lara and he heard, "That was a great battle!"
He smiled and said, "Thanks Adrienne, I am so glad that you and Sai were able to help me snap out of my emptional mood. Even though I lost two battles and won't be moving on, it's all up to you!"
"Thanks." She said and blushed.
"And Adrienne…"
"Eh?" she asked and suddenly Takehiro kissed her. She blushed and kissed back.