In The Eye of The Beholder: Chapter 8
Notice (9.18.03): Just a notice for everyone, cause some of you might not read my updates.
My uncle passed away last night, so we'll be going out of town for three days, and I won't be able to write or update for those days.
I thought I should just let everyone know. I'll try and get the next chapter up so you can read that. Thanks for understanding.
3Mugen3
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Kirameku stood with the other Deus' of the Nationals. The arena was dark, and each Deus was placed around the Layer. Her palms began to sweat as she inhaled and exhaled deeply. The Deus next to her could tell how nervous she was.
"Don't worry," The girl whispered, "you'll do fine."
Kirameku smiled. "Thanks." She whispered back right before the announcer started the introduction.
"Each Angel starts as an egg…" The TV monitors showed an Angel Egg. "They are formed by their Deus to became a part of the Deus' imagination…" The monitors then showed the Angel inside the Egg standing up, and clothes and hair being put on it. The clothes changed many times until finally it stopped on Athena. "…these Angels have chances at becoming champion…" Athena Spread her wings, and flew toward the Layer. "…All of this happens in a world called Angel Layer!" Spotlights flew around the arena, surveying the crowd. Then, each one landed on a Deus and their Angel.
"Welcome fans and Deus' to the Angelic Layer NATIONAL TOURNAMENT!!!!! Today, the finest Deus' in the country will compete for the Crown! But we can't forget the people who will help them achieve this dream, the Seconds!" All the Seconds walked up to their Deus, and stood next to them.
"Kirameku! Isn't this great? Now you can hear me cheering you on!" Hari smiled, and touched Kirameku's arm, giving the Deus a little more comfort.
"Let us begin the Entry with our reigning Champion, Shuu, and her Angel, Athena!!!"
"Lighten up the future, Athena's wings!!" Shuu threw Athena at the Layer, as all the other Deus' got in their chairs.
All the other Deus' did their Entry, and the announcer continued.
"Will one of out returning favorites win this year, or will it be a total upset? All the fans can do is sit and watch as all these Angel's battle for the coveted crown!!!"
The chairs were lowered, the Deus' grabbed their Angels, and returned to their Seconds. The lights went out, and the Deus' and Seconds went out the East or West Corner Tunnel, and back into the outside of arena.
"Hari! Where'd you go?" Kirameku called. No answer. 'Did she go the other way?' Kirameku sighed. She walked around, completely lost. Finally, she collapsed onto a bench. 'Dang it Hari…why'd you have to get lost?' She heaved a sigh, and held Yugure up to her chest. "Where do you think she went?" Just then, the speakers clicked on and a voice came over the speakers.
"Will Deus Zouge Kirameku please report to the main desk. I repeat, Deus Zouge Kirameku, please report to the main desk." Kirameku sprang up and dashed toward the main desk.
~*~
"Kirameku!!!!" Hari shouted and sprinted towards her friend, acting as if they hadn't seen each other in 5 years. She gave the stunned girl a bear hug, then took a couple steps back, giving Kirameku a chance to react.
"Wow…that was unexpected…" Kirameku managed, still stunned.
"You do know that our match is second, right?" Hari asked timidly.
"NO I DIDN'T!!! AAARRRGGG!!!! You're my Second, you're supposed be responsible!!! Take me to the waiting room!!!" Kirameku stuck her arm out, Hari grabbed it, and the two dashed off.
~*~
"Second match of the day!! This match, two favorites will battle each other. Which will be victorious? The Prince of the Layer, Mihara Ohjirou, or newcomer Shining Shadow, Zouge Kirameku? Only one way to find out!!!" The lights above the Layer turned on, revealing both Angels already in the Layer. Both Angel were submerged under water, and the water rose to halfway up the Layer. There were ledges and such made from coral, and even a few fish swam around.
"Angels Ready? Angelic Fight!!!!!"
Wizard did not take the initiative, so Yugure charged. When she was a few inches away from Wizard, a yellow light flashed, and both Angels registered massive damage. Kirameku could hear an explosion of laughter through the speaker in her ear.
"~What a loser!!!~" Hari shouted into the microphone. "~Did he think he could use and electric attack underwater?!!~" After a long silence, and both Angels had recovered, Hari got back in the game. "~Ok, Wizard can't use his guard. He is still very fast, but the water should slow him down a lot. This is also a weakness for Yugure because she is a heavyweight type Angel. Try and stay on the ocean floor, and you won't sink.~"
Kirameku nodded. Yugure closed her legs together, put her arms over her head, and began to sink feet first toward the Layer floor. Wizard started swimming toward Yugure, trying to reach her before she hit the floor. By the time he reached her, she was on the floor, and was doing a handstand, waiting for Wizard to land next to her, but he didn't. Instead, he did a handstand, using her feet as support, then falling over, slammed his feet into Yugure's back. Yugure hit the floor, stomach up.
Wizard leapt up, and landed on Yugure's stomach. She registered a little damage, and at that moment, Kirameku realized the only way to win was a Layer Out. Neither Angel could move very fast, so the damage would be very light. 'Yugure has the disadvantage, so I might have to make a sacrifice to win.' Hari was stumped. She couldn't think of anything. Wizard and Yugure were exchanging punches and kicks, but neither one could hit the other.
"~I've got it!! Kirameku, you could grab Wizard, then use something to propel yourself above the water, and throw him out!!!~" Hari was being as vague as ever, but that was the spark for Kirameku's fire. She waited for Wizard to attack again. This time it was a kick, which Yugure blocked with arms crossed in front of her face. Wizard attacked low, and knocked Yugure off her feet. She smashed into the sandy floor, trying to block Ohjirou's view of his Angel. It worked, and Yugure soon had Wizard in a fireman's hold. She ran to the side of the Layer where the coral was. She leapt from ledge to ledge, trying to reach the top. 5 seconds. 4 seconds. 3 seconds. 2 seconds. In a desperate attempt, Yugure let out the electricity in her circuits, propelling her clear above. The light shone on the Angels, making the water on them sparkle. 1 second. Yugure hurled Wizard out of the Layer. The buzzer sounded.
"Uh…" The announcer stammered. "L-Layer Out!!! Yugure WINS!!!!!" Hari was on her feet screaming her head off, as if she had just been stabbed. She jumped up and down, and when Kirameku's chair was lowered, Hari leapt at her, knocking her to the ground.
"OH MY GOSH!!!!! YOU JUST BEAT MIHARA!!!!" After she finished her momentary spas, Hari let her friend go get her Angel, and shake hands with Ohjirou. After the two walked back to the waiting room, Hari exploded again. "YOUR FIRST TIME IN THE INTERACTIVE LAYER AND YOU KILLED MIHARA!!!! THAT ROCKS!!!!"
"I didn't kill him Hari. I just barely won." Kirameku tried to escort her friend away from the eyes that had found their way to the two. 'Let's go eat, shall we?" Kirameku smiled as she shoved her friend out the door.
~*~
The girls had bought themselves a sandwich. Hari was watching the TV for announcements, while Kirameku was trying to fall asleep.
"KIRAMEKU!!!" Hari yelled just after the blind girl finally fell asleep.
"What is it!!??" Kirameku asked tiredly but annoyed.
"They're showing your highlights!! You're on TV!!!"
"Hari, go to sleep. You are WAY to awake today." Kirameku blinked, then listened to the TV.
"Yes!! Right there!!! There's where you win!!!"
"Dude, I know. I can hear." After the highlights were shown, Hari fell silent, and Kirameku tried to go back to sleep. Another minute or two, and Kirameku was roused again by Hari's voice.
"S-Seto Rin-" She was suddenly cut off, by the hand of someone Kirameku assumed was Seto herself.
"Sssshhhhh!!!" A new voice whispered. Kirameku immediately recognized it as the voice of pop star Seto Ringo.
"Seto?" Kirameku asked.
"Geez…how could you tell?"
"Well," Hari said once the hand over her mouth was removed, "all you're wearing is a hat, but the rest of you is still the same. And Kirameku…" Kirameku nodded, letting Hari know she could tell Ringo. "…Kirameku's blind, so she recognized your voice." Ringo plopped down on the seat next to Hari, throwing her hat on the ground.
"Wait…" The blonde pop star thought for a second. "Are you Zouge Kirameku, and your Angel is Yugure?"
"Yeah."
"Yippie!!" Ringo leapt into the air as quickly as she sat down. "I fight you next! You beat Ohjirou didn't you?" Kirameku nodded, and Ringo squealed. She stuck out her hand and introduced herself, as though it was needed. "My name's Seto Ringo. You can call me Ringo." She shook hands with Kirameku, then turned to Hari, and shook her hand.
"Seto Ringo!! Get down here right NOW!!!" Ringo's manager yelled. "You have a TV interview in 2 minutes!!"
"So sorry!! Gotta run!!" Ringo smiled, waved, and ran to her manager. 'She said she was blind…' Ringo thought as she was doing her interview. 'Should I go easy on her? Oy…this sucks…' She thought, forcing a smile for the camera.