Fall of a Goddess, Faith Restored

Part 3

An Angelic Layer Fanfic

By D. Cooper

daijin26@hotmail.com

"No! That can't true! She'd never do such a thing! Never!" cried Misaki. Misaki could not believe that Hatoko would just quit Angelic Layer. What could possibly make Hatoko want to give it up? Misaki racked her brain trying to figure out what could have brought Hatoko to such a decision.

Kotarou wished that he did not have to be the bearer of such bad news. "I'm sorry, Suzuhara. But it's true! And I have no idea what could have made her do this. I was hoping you would know. I know how close you and my sister have become. You're Hatoko-chan's only hope!"

Misaki had to think of something but she needed all of the details of what happened. "Kotarou-chan, come over right now! I need you to tell me everything. And on your way here, I'm going to call Tamayo. She's also Hatoko-chan's friend and has a right to know what's going on."

"Okay! I'll be right over," Kotarou said. He hung up the phone and left to go meet Misaki.

Meanwhile, Misaki called up Tamayo. When her phone rang, Tamayo picked up.

"Moshi! Kizaki Tamayo speaking!"

"Tamayo, it's me Misaki."

"Hey, Misakichi! It's great to hear from you! What's up?"

"Tamayo, I need you to come over to my place right away! It's an emergency!"

"Really? What's the situation?" Tamayo flexed her right arm. "Whatever it is you can count on me, Misakichi! You know how tough I am!"

"Unfortunately, the problem at hand isn't something we can just beat up. It's much worse. It's Hatoko-chan."

Tamayo became very concerned. "WHAT? Hatoko-chan? What's wrong with her?"

Misaki braced herself to tell Tamayo the bad news. "She's going to quit Angelic Layer."

On Tamayo's end of the phone, silence.

"Kotarou-chan just told me," Misaki continued. "He's on his way over right now to tell me everything. That's why…" Misaki just noticed that Tamayo was not saying anything. "Tamayo? Tamayo, are you still there? Tamayo?"

At Tamayo's place, the phone receiver was on the floor because Tamayo did not bother to hang it up as she immediately ran over to Misaki's place.

* * *

Tamayo was banging on Misaki's door. "Misakichi! Misakichi!"

Misaki opened the door to see Tamayo standing there breathing heavily. Tamayo finally caught her breath enough to talk. "Sorry to leave you on the phone like that, but after you told me about Hatoko-chan I had to come right over!"

Misaki smiled. "That's okay! I wanted you here anyway. Kotarou-chan is already here. He's going to explain what's going on."

Tamayo just nodded and the two headed into the living room after Tamayo removed her shoes at the door. Kotarou was sitting on the couch waiting for them. When Tamayo saw Kotarou, she ran over to him and put him in an excruciating headlock.

"KOTAROU-CHAN! What did you do to make Hatoko want to quit!"

Kotarou was being choked to death. He tried his best to explain himself.

Kotarou managed to sputter out, "I…I…I did…n't do a…any…th…th…ing!"

Misaki had to break this up. "Tamayo! Let him go! We need him to tell us what happened!"

Tamayo regained her senses. "Oh! Sorry! Lost control of myself there!"

She released Kotarou from the headlock and he fell to the floor gasping for air. Tamayo helped him to his feet.

"Gomen ne, Kotarou-chan! I was so mad at hearing that Hatoko-chan was quitting that I needed to vent!" Tamayo said. She laughed a little before continuing. "And since I always beat you up anyway…"

Kotarou stopped her from going on. "Don't worry about it. I'm used to your abuse by now anyway!" Tamayo blushed a little at that last comment.

Misaki decided it was time to get down to business. "All right, Kotarou-chan. Tell us what happened with Hatoko today. From the beginning."

And so, with a heavy heart, Kotarou told his friends of the events of the dreadful day.

* * *

Misaki was quiet. And for the first time ever, Tamayo was quiet too. They could not believe what Kotarou just told them.

"And that's what happened," Kotarou said. He looked at Misaki with sad eyes. "Be glad you weren't there, Suzuhara. I looked at Suzuka after Hatoko-chan put her back in her Angel Egg. If you'd seen Suzuka's face, you would have cried."

Misaki could only imagine. Just hearing about it almost made her break down into tears. Misaki loved Hikaru more than anything and she knew that Hatoko felt the same way about Suzuka. Hatoko was the one who taught her to believe in Hikaru. And to believe in herself. Misaki knew that without Hatoko's guidance that she never would have made it as far as she did in Angelic Layer.

But it seems that Hatoko had forgotten her own lessons. She had lost faith in herself.

What could be hurting Hatoko-chan so much that she would leave Angelic Layer? Misaki wondered. Could it possibly be so bad that it would compel her to abandon Suzuka?

Then it came to her in a flash. A realization of truth. Misaki now knew exactly what it was that broke Hatoko's spirit. Misaki stood up, hands clenched at her sides and with a look of intensity on her face that one would only see when she was in an Angelic Layer battle.

"I know," Misaki said. "I know the cause of all this."

Tamayo and Kotarou both stared at her in surprise.

"You know?" Kotarou said.

"Please tell us! Don't hold out on us, Misakichi!" Tamayo said.

"I am!" Misaki said. "This is all because of me!"

Kotarou and Tamayo were dumbfounded. How could Misaki be the reason? That just made no sense to them.

Tamayo became frantic. "NAN DE!?"

Kotarou had to calm Tamayo down. "Hold on, Tamayo! I'm sure she has a reasonable explanation for what she just said." He looked towards Misaki. "Right, Suzuhara?"

Misaki nodded in response to the question. She sat back down and began to tell her side of things. "I'm sure you guys remember when Hatoko-chan and I first battled against each other. And as you recall, I lost to her."

Tamayo and Kotarou both nodded their heads in unison.

"Well," Misaki went on, "after the fight, Hatoko came over to me. And we made a promise to each other. And it's because of this promise that Hatoko-chan suffers now."

* * *

Misaki told them of the promise made between herself and Hatoko. Now both Tamayo and Kotarou understood completely. It was not the loss to Sai and Shirahime that caused Hatoko's suffering. It was the broken promise.

Tamayo was in tears. "OHHHH!!! Poor Hatoko-chan! No wonder she's like this now! AAHHH!!!"

Kotarou held Tamayo close to himself and let her cry on his shoulder. As he comforted Tamayo, he conversed with Misaki.

"So that's it. But when I got home that day, she was fine."

"You underestimate your sister's strength of spirit, Kotarou-chan." Misaki closed her eyes and bent her head down. "As I have."

Misaki lifted her head back up and opened her eyes again. "She tried to hide the real depths of her pain from us. You know how proud Hatoko-chan can be."

Kotarou nodded in agreement. "That's true."

Tamayo was able to compose herself to join in on the discussion.

"But what are we gonna do? We have to help her!"

Kotarou sighed. "But you know Hatoko-chan. She will not want to talk about this. She is dead set on leaving Angelic Layer. She'll just avoid us about it."

After several minutes of silence, Misaki's face took on a look of determination. "Then we won't confront her directly about this. We'll make her see her mistake."

Kotarou and Tamayo were confused.

"What do you mean, Misakichi?" asked Tamayo.

"We have six months before Hatoko quits officially. Enough time to pull off what I want to try."

"You have a plan, Suzuhara?" asked Kotarou.

"I don't know if it'll work," said Misaki, "but it's all I can think of. It's all I have."

"Why don't you tell us what you have up your sleeve?" asked Tamayo.

Misaki smiled. "I'll tell you both everything once the plan is underway. You just have to trust me."

Misaki stretched her limbs while yawning. She looked at her watch and saw that it was getting late. She did not realize how long the three of them had been talking about Hatoko. However, the long hours were worth it since Misaki had an idea now, but now she needed to get some sleep. She looked at Tamayo and Kotarou. They were tired too.

"Okay, guys. We all need some sleep now. So head on home and I'll see you tomorrow," Misaki said.

Misaki escorted her friends to the door. As they were on their way out, Kotarou and Tamayo turned towards Misaki.

Kotarou spoke first. "Suzuhara, just want to thank you for what you're going to do for my sister. Whatever it is. But, I just want to say that I trust you. I know that if anyone can help Hatoko-chan, it's you."

Then Tamayo spoke. "Yeah, that's right! For as long as we've known you, you always seem to find a way to do the impossible! This will be no different! We believe in you, Misakichi!"

Misaki just smiled and blushed. "Arigato!"

"Well, we'd better get home now," said Kotarou.

"Yeah," said Tamayo. "Oyasumi, Misakichi!"

Kotarou bowed slightly towards Misaki. "Oyasumi, Suzuhara."

Misaki bowed to the both of them. "Oyasumi nasai!"

After Tamayo and Kotarou departed, Misaki went to her bedroom.

* * *

Misaki lay in her bed for some time as her thoughts dwelled on her dear friend Hatoko. As Misaki moved her head to lay on its side, her eyes fell on Hikaru sitting on her pillow, looking at her Deus with her doll eyes. Misaki looked more carefully at Hikaru and noticed that she seemed sad.

"You're worried about Hatoko and Suzuka too, aren't you Hikaru?" said Misaki.

She knew that Hikaru could not respond but knew what her Angel was feeling. Misaki picked up Hikaru and held her lovingly.

"Don't worry, Hikaru. I'll help Hatoko-chan. If not for her, we'd have never have become so good at Angelic Layer! I never would have known how wonderful Angelic Layer could be!

"Hatoko-chan taught me that age and height mean nothing in Angelic Layer. She showed me that someone like myself could even do it. Look at me! I'm so short! And I'm no good at sports! But in Angelic Layer, as long as I have the will, anything is possible! Hatoko-chan showed me that!"

Misaki became overwhelmed with the emotions of how much Hatoko meant to her. Tears began to swell up in her eyes.

"Hatoko-chan believed in us when no one else did, Hikaru! She always believed that we'd become a great team! She taught me to believe in you, Hikaru! If not for her…"

Tears now ran down Misaki's face.

"No! I won't let it end like this! She means too much to Angelic Layer! And too much to me!"

Misaki wiped the tears from her face and looked at Hikaru whom she still held.

"I promise, Hikaru. I promise that I will restore her faith in herself. Like she taught me to believe in you, I'll teach her to believe in herself once more. As I know Suzuka still does."

Misaki let out a deep breath. She needed that release of emotion. Now she could carry out her plan with a clear mind tomorrow. Misaki turned out the light and kissed Hikaru.

"Oyasumi, Hikaru."

Misaki closed her eyes and let sleep encompass her in its sweet embrace. But before sleep completely took over, Misaki had one last thought:

Wings of an angel! Please guide Hatoko to Suzuka!

Finally, Misaki drifted off in the land of dreams.

To be concluded…