Chapter 24
Power in the Sum
Hello!
This chapter might be alittle long since this is where the Decade Queen contest ends.
The showdownbetween Misaki and Asuka will happen here, but in addition we also have our thrid wheel Kaon interfering in their match.
I can not irresponsibly declare that Misaki will win.
See for yourself what I mean.
Also thank you to everyone who reveiwed. Tha last chapter left you all in shock.
My vacation will begin on July 5th and will end on September 10th. Fogive me for my two month break. I will return on the weekend that follows September 10th. Bear with me until then. For now enjoy~
Misaki was in the verge of tears as she saw her friend lying on the bed. No matter how many times Erika had smiled at her in the past fifteen minutes, she couldn't help but beat herself up for what had happened to her.
Misaki and Asuka had known each other since they were children and they never looked eye to eye during that time. Now Erika was paying the price for the rivalry between her best friend and a girl that always set out to win everything.
"Would you stop sulking," Erika scolded walky with her hands intertwined together.
Misaki looked up at her friend but dared not to meet her eyes.
She felt a hand on her shoulder and knew it was Sakura's.
"Don't do it," Misaki snapped her head up and looked towards the direction of the voice.
Master Jest had his arms behind his hand and was looking out the window. "Exuce me," Misaki tried to yell but it came out as a whisper.
"You heard me," he gave her a stern look, but Misaki didn't comprehend.
"What are you saying gramps?" Kuga growled. "She can't just back down now."
"As much as I ha te to admit it he's right," Aoi agreed. "If she forefeets it would iluustrate her as a coward. Not to mention Asuka would win. Kaon could never beat her."
"I'm right here you know," Kaon shrieked. Misaki had forogtten that some people from Miyabigaoka had shown up to see Erika. She was surprised to see Kaon considering Erika was her rival in this contest. She should have been happy but instead she too felt concerned.
Takumi was here too. Misaki had been aware he had stared at her the whole time but she didn't throw him a glance. Despite how much he annoyed her, she knew he would get worried if he saw her face.
"Masters right," Erika spoke weakly. Misaki's eyes widened. When she tried to resond Erika cut her off. "Asuka's not the way she used to be."
"What do you mean?" Misaki arched an eyebrow.
"I can tell you," Master Hiall jumped in. "When you were younger Asuka merely disliked you beause you won the Decade Princess contest. She just wanted to get stringer than you. But now for some reasons he's been devoured by the obsession of beating you to win back her mother's pride. However instead of merely seeing you as a rival she now sees you and everyone you're acquainted with as an enemy. It's like she feels threatend by your mere exostence."
Misaki took ine evrything he said. Misaki had noticed the attitude change in Asuka but she just assumed it was the heat of the moment. Could Asuka really go as far as to kill Misaki.
Misaki looked up at Erika again. Her head and face completely bruised. Her arms and legs completely wounded and now covered in bandages.
"You better not back down," Kaon's growl once again brought Misaki out of her thoughts. "It's like that blue haired idiot said, you'll seem like a coward to Asuka if you back down. Not to mention to me as well." The next thing she did surprised Misaki. She smiled. Not in an arrogant manner but more of in a friendly manner. "I'm going to do my best to win," she pointed a finger at Misaki. "So you better do the same." She turned on her heel then left. Misaki watched her go and heard a chuckle.
"What?" She asked Erika.
"She reminds me of you," Erika shrugged a response. "Stubborn and full of pride."
Misaki looked at her questioingly. "If it's you Reina," she used Misaki's middle name to show her affections towards her friend. "Then you'll figure soemthing out. You won't let me down I promise. So don't worry." With that Erika's eyes closed and Misaki pursed her lips. She stod up quietly and headed towards the door.
"Where are you going," Kuga asked grabbing her arm. She didn;t look at him. Because then he'd see the tears about to leak out. "Out."
"I'll come with you in case you run into those phantoms," Aoi offered. Misaki eaved her hand indicating a no. "No. Leave me to myself for a bit," with that she left the room. Wondering if she'll fight or not.
Later
Sakura's legs kept on bouncing up and down as she anxiously waited in ehr seat. Shizuko hept on rubbing her back to calm her down. Yukimura was biting his nails.
The last round was about to start but none of the girls had appeared yet. The pressure was higher than she expected.
"Will Misaki come?" She asked at last.
"Obviously," a voice made Sakura gasp. She turned around to see Misaki still in her outfit from before. Except this time it was torn. "M-misaki," Sakura stuttured to speak as she saw the fire in Misaki's eyes.
Misaki turned to Master Jest who stood on to of the stairs. She kneeled down on one knee and bowed her head. "I'm afraid I can not simply back down sire. That would be the cowardly thing to do."
"And if you lose," the old man asked with the arch of an eyebrow.
"I won't lose," Misaki replied swiftly.
"Why because you're strong," Jesr was starting to sound irritated.
"No," she looked up and beamed. "I had you train me all these years. I couldn't possibly lose."
Master Jest seemes taken aback by the statemnet. He furrowed his eyebrows. "Sweet-talking with me won't-" his voice began t drift and he looked away. But when he looked at Misaki again he burst into ntears, It was like his eyes had turned into some sort of waterfall. "My little girl's all grown up," he sobbed as he brought his hand to his face. Misaki clapped her hands in excitement. "Thanks gradnpa," she began to exit untl a vpice stopped her.
"Reina," Misaki turned around to see Erika being held by Yuuji and Shou. Kuga and Aoi stood next to them with a worried expression. Erika inhaled sharply. "I won't say anything," she said genty. "You already know it."
Misaki nodded in understanding. "Yeah I know," she said before she began to walk again. She ahdb't missed the worried look on Kuga;s face.
"Everyone," Misaki held up her fist as a mark soon appeared on it. It was the school emblem. It was magic and appeared whenver the student wished. "It'll be ok. I'm a demon after all."
She felt her friends smile as they too held up their fists with their emblems.
They trusted her. And she wouldn't let them down.
Later
As she headed towards the battlefield she was surprised to see someone leaning against the wall.
"What are you doing here?" She asked Takumi.
"I just came to wish my lover good luck," he smriked as he walked towards her.
"No one loves you," she remarked embarrassed.
"Hmm," Takumi said as he picked up her hand and kissed the back of it. He then kissed her palm. She tried to back away but he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
"H-hey Usui," she stuttered to speak as she fisted the front of his shirt.
"That's Takumi to you," he replied as he kissed her neck. She moaned as he bit a soft spot.
"T-takumi?" She felt him smile against her skin. "Why are you doing this?"
"Doing what?" He looked up at her before kissing her forehead.
"This. Why are you being so affectionate?"
"I just feel the need to treausre my last moments with you in case something happens." He was teasing but Misaki was unawre so she pushed him off harshly.
"Wh-" he was surprised but she cut him off before he could finish.
"You think I'm weak," she screeched.
"No of course not," he held his hands up defensively. "I'm just saying that there's no gurantee you would win. Wait...that's not-"
"Ugh!" Misaki groaned. "You're such a jerk," she threw her hands in the air and stormed away from him.
"Misaki wait."
"That's Ayuzawa to you," she retrted beofre heading towards the arena. Her determination stronger than ever.
Loud cheers erupted as Misaki came to the centre of the field. For the final stage Misaki had chosen to wear a kimono that went down to her knees. It was a mixture of dark and light blue. Her only weapons were her two swords.
Misaki stood at the centre patiently as she waited for her first opponent. She expected it to be Asuka but she wasn't surprised when Kaon attacked her out of the blue with an iron staff.
Misaki crossed her swords together to block Kaon's staff. For a moment that's how it went. The two grils attacked and dodged each other for a whole ten minutes. Asuka's wherebaout where being questioned. "Where could she be?"
"Right here," a voice distracted Kaon and Misaki and the next thing they knew was that the ground below them was shaking and both girls flew back towards the wall.
Asuka stood her ground and Misaki looked at her jaw dropped. Asuka had a strange dark aura around her. Stronger than the one she susually had. It was highly disturbing.
"What's wrong girls? Cat got your tongue?" Asuka asked with a adevious smirk.
Misaki and Kaon exchanged glances before they to had their own auras. The ground shook as the three girls glared at each other hardly.
The rocks on the ground began to fall. The signal was given when the last rock fell.
All three girls clashed together at the same time. The force was so hard that an explosion soon followed.
When the dust cleared up the audience gasped. Asuka's sword, Koan's staff, and Misaki's swords were all bonded together and none of the girls wanted to back down. Eventually Misaki kicked Kaon out of the way with her knee, leaving her and Asuka dodging and defending with their swords. Misaki should have had an advantage since she had two swords but Asuka's speed made them equals. Kaon returned soo and this time Misaki was kicked out of the way.
Misaki quickly regained her balance before she could come in contact with the wall behind her. Her feet dug through the ground as she was pushed back. Misaki's body lit up as she summoned an armor.
Misaki was soon wearing a white dress with two slits on the side. The short skirt underneath went down to her mid thighs. Her sandals laced up to her knee and there were chains on either of her arms. Misaki changed her swords into a staff that consisted of earth magic. She planted the staff on the ground causing the floor underneath Asuka and Kaon to rise up. Both girls screamed as they flew up. Misaki took the staff off the ground and the floor beneath Asuka and Kaon came down at a high speed and both girls collided with the ground.
Asuka screeched as she got up. She had a venomous smirk as she glared at Misaki.
"That's it," she hissed. She raised her hands up and stepped back. Misaki couldn't tell what she was doing until her eyes turned a strange black.
Misaki felt a strange energy surround her. She turned out to see a sphere surrounding her and Kano.
"I have no reason to fight two pathetic girls," Asuka screeched. "Therefore whoever loses here will be the one I fight."
"What?" Misaki and Kaon screamed at the same time. They exchanged glances but regardless glared at Asuka.
"However," Asuka continued with an arrogant smirk, Her eyes returning to normal. "If one of you doesn't win in the next three minutes, you'll both lose painfully. Therefore claiming me as the don't even think about destroying the spher. It will attack you with a force so powerful, you'd be lucky if you could even lift a finger."
"That's against the rules," Kuga growled from the stadium.
"No it's not," a girl from Kokusen growled back. She showed Kuga a book that Misaki couldn't see. Kuga sat back down with horror written all over her face.
Asuka chuckled to herself. "The rules don't say anything about me letting my competitors take down themselves."
Misaki pursed her lips. Was she really going to hurt Kaon to the death just so she could beat Asuka? Where was the dignity in that?
When Misaki noticed Kaon run towards her, she expected her to attack, but instead Kaon jumped over Misaki's head and flew towards the top of the sphere.
Asuka groaned. "I told you that;s useless. The only way to escape from this sphere is through your fallen opponent."
"Hell with your sphere," Kaon called back. She summoned her lion sprit and had it claw the sphere.
"What are you doing?" Misaki was now panicking. "You'll die."
"I would never hurt someone like this even if I don't like them." Kaon's words made Misaki gasp. "If one of us has to fall than I'll be the one."
"Kaon," Misaki screamed. Someone was getting hurt because of her again. The sphere around Misaki's disappeared. Kaon was actually smiling at her. She looked up again only to be zapped by a force of dark energy. Kaons creamed and Misaki bit back a sob. She eventually fell down to the ground. Her friend couldn't even come down to help her since that was against the rules.
Misaki rushed over to Kate's side and knelt down. "Why did you do that?"
Kaon smiled weakly. "I bet you thought I didn't have any pride." She inhaled sharply. "You're free now. You can beat her and win."
"I don't want to win by letting someone get hurt because of me," Misaki's tears gushed out.
"You're so stubborn," Kaon scolded gently. "If you don't want to feel guilty then win," Kaon touched Misaki's hand. "Win this from mine and Erika-chan's sake."
Misaki sobbed as Kain's eyes closed and her head laid back all the way. She saw people coming towards her. Why did Misaki have to be so weak? Why couldn't she be strong when it was important?
Misaki got up when she heard Asuka chuckle. "How pathetic?" She mocked.
Misaki brushed the tears away and replaced her staff with her sword. She turned around and glared at Asuka hard. "ASUKA," she yelled. Said girl flinched before Misaki could attack her. "I'm going to destroy you."
Asuka dodged Misaki's sword and attacked with her own. They clashed and dodged until Misaki hopped over head and kicked Asuka's side. Asuka fell back but regained her balance quickly,
She lunged at Misaki in the blink of an eye and Misaki crashed against the wall. She changed her dress again and now she wore her water dress. Misaki summoned her water staff and used it to create a tsunami around Asuka who was finding it hard to breathe. Misaki smirked until Asuka raised her hands and dried the water with an energy sphere of her own.
Misaki summoned her earth dress again but before she could use it, the chains extended on their own.
Misaki looked around confused at what was going on. The earth around her rose on their own. The chains wrapped around two rocks and it hit Misaki. Asuka was using Misaki's own magic against her.
The sphere from before appeared and Misaki suddenly felt her body getting feeble.
"W-what's happening?" Misaki asked weakly.
She could hear Asuka laughing as everything around her was turning white. "Night night princess." She heard a snap and felt her eyes close.
So this was what death felt like.
Was this really the end of her?
Was she really going to go down like this?
"You can't lose," a voice similar to Takumi's whispered. Misaki opened her eyes again.
'Takumi," she murmured. His face appeared in front her. Followed by Master Jest's, then Rika's and even Kaons.
Yuuji, Shou, Kuga, Aoi, Sakura, Shizuko, Yukimura, Shintani, Ruri, the three idiots. Their faces were all there.
Misaki opened her eyes wide. She was never protecting anyone to begin with. They were all protecting her. The power in their school came from their sum not from each individual. As long as she had them, Misaki had nothing to worry about.
Misaki broken the chains with a yank as the ground around her crumbled. The sphere around her broke as Misaki summoned her sword.
She wouldn't let anyone down anymore.
Kuga had thought it was over for Misaki when Asuka started to dance around. But when the sphere broke and the emblem of their school floated behind Misaki he realized he had been wrong. A smiled broke out on his face.
"That's our girl," he cheered loudly as he stood up. Misaki lunged towards Asuka with her sword. Asuka stepped back and raised her arms to defend herself. Whether it worked or not, Kuga didn't know since an explosion broke out again.
It was so strong that Kuga had to cover his eyes to prevent it from getting into his eyes. When The dust cleared he found Misaki kneeling on the ground with her dress completely torn.
Asuka was laying on the ground. Her eyes without any pupils. Almost as if she were dead.
"Misa," Sakura trembled. Misaki raised her head slightly. But her face couldn't be seen.
"I'm alive," Misaki said lowly before she turned to look at them with a smile. "So I'm alright."
Erika screamed as she limped towards Misaki. Kuga and the others soon followed.
"Ladies and gentleman," Tadashi called out. "The Decade Queen is none other than Misaki Ayuzawa."
Misaki laughed weakly as she looked around for Kaon. She hoped she had made her happy.
Erika grabbed Misaki into a hug and kissed her cheek. Her friends all cheered her name and Misaki giggled as a tear escaped.
Her eyes met a pair of emerald ones.
Takumi smiled at her. Before turning away and leaving the arena.
Just what was he thinking about now?
Remember I'm a huge emotional anime fan
So you can expect a lot of sadness in this fanfic. But rest assure Takumi and Misaki will end up together, but I can't say much about their ending.
Bear with me for a while.
Read. Review. Fave. Follow.