In The Eye of The Beholder: Chapter 10
"Kirameku, Hari's here!" Kirameku's mom shouted up to her daughter.
"Be right there!" Kirameku bounded down the stairs, wearing a pair of faded jeans with a black t-shirt that had the word 'Paris' on the front in small white letters. She had black boots on, and her hair was worn up in a bun at the back of her head.
"Oooohhhh, looking fancy!" Hari commented with a little chuckle.
"What do you mean?"
"Fancier than what you normally wear! Your either in your school uniform or sweat pants!"
"Whatever, lets just get to the arena. Today's the Finals!" Kirameku grabbed her cane, and her and Hari started their walk to the arena. 'This is it. This is the whole reason I started Angelic Layer. To show the world that it doesn't matter that I'm blind. And regardless of whether I win or lose, I'm going to tell everyone. The fans, the Deus', the administrators. My secret will be revealed.'
"Kirameku…Kirameku!" Kirameku snapped out of her thoughts, and realized they were already at the arena.
"My goodness, there are a ton of people here…"
"Don't tell me you're getting nervous!"
"No, not at all!" Kirameku protested. But on the inside, she knew Hari was right. She was so scared. Terrified, even. She grasped her Angel tighter as they approached the waiting room.
"Here we are!" Hari opened the door to see Kaede standing there, smiling.
"Good luck Kirameku. You too, Hari."
"Thanks Kaede." Kirameku forced a smile back. Kaede walked out the door. After Kaede left, Kirameku sighed, and turned to Hari. "I can't do this."
"W-what?"
"I'm too nervous. I can't think. I'm gonna let Yugure down if I go in there. And I'm gonna let you down." Hari was speechless. She couldn't understand. Why is Kirameku so nervous? She was never nervous before. Then, Kirameku turned, and headed for the door.
"Don't you move one step closer to that door." Hari commanded, not turning around. Tears began welling up in her eyes. "You fought so hard this far. You've proven yourself a great person. You know you can do anything now. Don't give it up now."
"I'm sorry. I can't do this." Kirameku put her hand on the doorknob. Hari walked up to her friend, grabbed her wrist, spun her around, and smacked her across the face.
" What is wrong with you!? This is not the Kirameku I know! You've got to be kidding me!! You are NOT going to walk away from this. I don't care how nervous you are! I don't care if you have a high fever!!! You're going into that match, and you are gonna play your best!" Hari finally let go of Kirameku's wrist, and turned to walk to the tunnel.
"I-I'm sorry…I don't know what got into me. You're right." Kirameku ran up to her Second. "I'm glad I have you here to set me straight." The two girls walked in as the whole stadium went wild.
"Welcome to the final match of this years Nationals!!! These two Deus' and Angels have fought hard since day one, and are now ready to prove themselves the best Deus in the COUNTRY!!! GET READY FANS!!! THIS IS IT!!! In the East Corner: Deus-Jounouchi Sai! Her Angel-Shirahime, and their Second- Saitou Kaede!!!!!! In the West Corner: Deus-Zouge Kirameku! Her Angel-Yugure, and their Second-Hari!!!!!"
"Gah! Kaede is Sai's Second?" Hari shrieked as she put her headphones on and sat down behind her desk. Kirameku went to her egg-shaped chair, sat down, and put her headphones on. If you didn't see Kirameku and Hari's talk, you would not have known Kirameku was nervous.
"Now it's time to reveal the Layer for this final battle!!" The stadium went dark, and the layer lit up with billions of stars. "Angels to the Layer!"
"Make it rain silver snow! Go forth, Shirahime!" Sai threw Shirahime into the Layer. "Angel, fall-in!" Shirahime fell into the Layer. She floated really close to where she had gone into the Layer.
"Open the world's eyes! Show them what we can do, Yugure!" Kirameku threw Yugure into the Layer, and Yugure opened her eyes. She spread both of her arms out, and crossed her legs. "Angel fall-in!" Yugure began to spin as she descended towards the Layer. She lost all momentum close to where she had gone into the Layer. Both Angels floated freely around the Layer.
"How will the Angels fare in a Layer with no gravity? We'll soon find out! Angelic FIGHT!!!!" Both Angels didn't move. 'How does Shirahime fight? I hope Hari gives me her Angel's build…'
Yugure started to head towards Shirahime. She ended up looking like she was swimming, because that was the only way to move.
"~Shirahime's heavyweight, just like Yugure, except Shirahime is built for power, and Yugure for speed. Speed isn't going to help you, so Shirahime has the best chance…Whoops!! That wasn't the best thing to say was it?~"
Kirameku sighed. 'Why doesn't she just be quiet?' Shirahime began to move towards Yugure, but Kirameku couldn't hear anything because the Layer was imitating a space-like atmosphere. Shirahime met with Yugure, and threw three punches in a row, all hitting their mark. She then kicked Yugure in the jaw, sending the Angel backwards.
"~Kirameku!! What's wrong? Didn't you hear her coming?~" After along pause Hari gasped. "~Crap!! It's space!! You can't hear anything in space can you? I guess I'll have to describe it to you…And I'm not that good at it…~" Hari moaned. "~I guess I just shout directions, huh?~"
Shirahime charged again. She floated just above Yugure.
"~Above you!~"
Yugure propelled herself upwards, foot sticking out. She connected with Shirahime's stomach, scoring a few damage points, but Shirahime just grabbed Yugure's foot, pushed herself up, and slammed into Yugure's face.
"~Incoming! Move left!~"
Shirahime threw a punch, but Yugure dodged left, grabbed Shirahime's arm, and flipped her one her back. While still holding onto her arm, Yugure kicked Shirahime's stomach, sending her towards the bottom of the Layer. Shirahime flipped herself so that she was facing the side of the Layer, and moved up at Yugure.
"~Below you!~"
Yugure looked under her, only to see a fist. It connected and hit Yugure right on the nose. Her head snapped back, opening up her stomach. Shirahime took this opportunity to kick Yugure in the stomach. Yugure grabbed Shirahime's foot, and flung her towards the Layer edge. 'Please do this. Just for me!! Fast as you can go!!' Yugure shot off like a bullet coming out of a gun. She reached Shirahime's position, and with both feet out, she gave a powerful kick, that sent Shirahime out of the Layer. The white Angel plummeted towards the floor, and landed with a small click. The stadium erupted with so many cheers, the announcer could hardly be heard.
"Layer Out!! Yugure WINS!!!!" Kirameku couldn't believe it. She just sat in her seat. Stunned. Her chair was lowered, but she didn't move. Hari was on her way to the seat, leaving a trail of tears behind.
"YOU WON!!!" She screamed as she jumped into Kirameku's lap. Hari wrapped her arms around her friend, and rocked back and forth. Her tears began to wet Kirameku's shirt.
"I…I won…I WON!!!" She threw off her visor, and jumped up out of her seat, Hari still clinging to her. The two walked to the Layer, and Kirameku plucked Yugure out of the Layer. She held the Angel up to her face. "Thank you." She whispered before going to shake Sai's hand.
"Great job." Sai shook Kirameku's hand.
"You did great too." Kirameku smiled. Hari and Kaede just smiled at each other.
"Fans, we give you your new Angelic Layer CHAMPION! DEUS-ZOUGE KIRAMEKU! ANGEL-YUGURE, AND THEIR SECOND-HARI!!!"
An assistant walked up to Kirameku, and gave her and her Angel a cape and crown, and gave Hari a crown. Kirameku leaned over and whispered something to the attendant, then began waving and smiling until the attendant returned with a microphone. Kirameku took it and cleared her throat. Hari just stared at her friend with curious eyes.
"Everyone, I have something I need to tell you." The entire stadium went silent. "I've been planning on revealing this for some time now, but this, I think, is the best time. I have a secret. I'm blind." A huge gasp went through the stadium. "I thought everyone would be able to tell with my eyes and my cane and all, but I guess I was wrong. Too many people were caught up in the game, and I guess not many noticed. I played this game to prove to the world that anyone can succeed in Angelic Layer. I wanted to give hope to those who didn't think they could do that. I think I've given that hope, and I will retire as an Angelic Layer Deus. It has been a wonderful year, and I would like to thank all those who supported me. All the Deus' who I fought, and everyone who made my dream a reality." Kirameku turned to Hari and smiled. She handed the microphone back to the attendant.
Kirameku's story had ended, but she created a hope for all those who wanted their own story.
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VICTORY BELONGS TO MUGEN TONIGHT!!! Hehe, ok I'll make my final comments on the Epilogue page. Expect it to be short. The Epilogue I mean. Not the AN ^.^ I love you all, and I'll see ya in a little bit!