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This is a happy day.
No. No. This is wrong.
Why is it wrong?
You hurt her.
She hurt us first. She deserved it.
Misaki sat on the couch, crying uncontrollably. Shouko sat beside her and handed her tissue after tissue.
"Calm down," She commanded her niece, "Now, what's this all about?"
"You know," Misaki accused, taking the proffered tissues and blowing her nose, "You were there."
"Okay, so I was. But don't you think you're over rea-"
"NO!" Misaki yelled, jumping up, "You don't understand. That angel, that deus, whatever they were, they almost destroyed Hikaru."
"Sit down. Hikaru is fixed. You don't have to face them again."
"But I got knocked out of the competition. Other people will still have to face them."
"Calm down, Misaki-chan," her mother's voice drifted in through the doorway, "Everyone loses. Everyone faces an exceptionally difficult challenge in life. This is just one of those."
"But-"
"Don't 'but' me, young lady. Mother knows best. Now go to bed, sleep off the anger and wake up refreshed in the morning."
"But-"
"Go."
"Okay."
Misaki slowly made her way to her room. She flopped down onto her bed, and was asleep within minutes.
Downstairs, her mother and aunt were talking.
"Shuuko, how did that angel beat Hikaru?"
"I don't know, but I know the reason why it acted that way."
"What is it?"
"Well..."
Misaki woke up refreshed in the morning. She glanced at the clock. It was only 10:00. She still had an hour before Koutarou's battle.
Will Kotaro-chan make it in the finals? He's facing that angel... He'll do fine, she told herself firmly.
"Misaki-chan!" Shouko called down the hallway, "I'm waiting for my breakfast!"
Misaki laughed and joined her aunt in the kitchen right away.
"What's on the menu today, Misaki-chan?"
"Well, there's rice... rice... more rice... I really need to go shopping."
"I'll pick up something on my way to work then."
Shouko pulled her hand mirror out of her purse.
"I'm beginning to look thirty years old," she sighed.
"Don't say that, Shouko-san," Misaki laughed, "Just think of yourself as thirty years young."
"That doesn't help."
"Then don't look at your reflection."
"You think I look old too."
"No - That's not it at all."
"Don't try to cover for yourself, Misaki-chan, it doesn't work."
"You're right."
"Of course I am. Just agree with me, and you'll be fine."
"Okay, you look old."
"Don't agree with me about that!"
"But you said-"
"Misaki-chan?"
"Yes?"
"Don't you have to leave now?"
Misaki glanced at the clock. 10:30.
"EEKS!!!"
Misaki grabbed her coat and ran out the door.
"That girl," Shouko shook her head.
Misaki met Tamayo and Koutarou outside the stadium.
"Tamayo-chan! What are you wearing?"
Tamayo was dressed in what looked like her junior high school uniform, only with a black undershirt, black tights and black combat boots.
"I decided to resurrect memories of the good old days."
"But why the black?"
"I wanted to jazz it up a little."
"Misakichi," Koutarou stepped in, "Don't argue with her, it never works."
"True."
Tamayo flashed a grin and began to pull Misaki away.
"We've got to get to our seats now, Kotaro-chan. Good luck in the finals!"
"Tamayo-chan," Misaki said suddenly.
"What is it?"
"Do you- do you think that Kotaro-chan is in any danger?"
"Why would I think that? Seriously, Misakichi, I think you need a bit more sleep or somethin', 'cause you aren't making any sense at all. It's only an Angelic Fight."
"Tamayo, don't you remember what happened when I fought that angel?"
"Yeah, but I think that it'll be disqualified if it does that again."
"Maybe. But- Ohjiro-kun seemed really evasive when I brought that up in our last conversation, and Icchan-san won't answer me if I ask him about it. And that deus. She didn't seem to be focussing on her angel at all, it was like she wasn't controlling it and-"
"Misakichi! Snap out of it. Nothing is wrong, and nothing bad is going to happen," Tamayo interrupted, pushing Misaki into a seat.
"That's what you think," Misaki muttered.
"What?"
"Nothing. I didn't say anything."
"Sure. Whatever," knowing her friend never lied unless she had a good reason, Tamayo decided to let it be.
"Shh, it's starting," an annoyed voice came from somewhere behind them.
Misaki faced the layer, staring at it, a fear growing in her mind. She clutched Hikaru with shaking hands. Kotaro-chan, don't get hurt.
Tamayo glanced at Misaki. She looks really worried. Maybe there is something to fear. I've known Misakichi for six years and she isn't afraid of anything in Angelic Layer. I hope Kotaro-chan will be alright...
The crowd roared as Koutarou walked out into the spotlight. Misaki and Tamayo cheered along with all the rest, but when a young woman brought out the girl in the wheelchair, Misaki went pale and stopped cheering. There were some hisses and boos from the audience as the girl was wheeled into the stadium.
Suddenly Tamayo noticed something. The girl looked sad and afraid. She seemed paler than before and looked like she could break at any moment. The real wave of sadness, however, came when Tamayo looked at the angel. She could have sworn that in the angel's eyes was imprinted a look of pure anguish and grief. Nobody else noticed any of this; they were all too busy being angry at the pair for devastating their champion. It'll be okay. Tamayo silently told the angel, and she nearly saw a flicker of hope in the angel's eyes.
Down in the arena, Koutarou smiled at the crowd. This was the biggest battle of his career so far. If he could beat the angel that Misaki failed to beat... He shook his head. I can't think like that. Misakichi is one of my best friends. He kept smiling as he slid into the chair and put on his headset. He smiled as he watched the girl get put into the seat. He even smiled as they did their entries. In fact, he continued to smile right up until the point that he got a look into Hiroko's eyes.
Misaki saw his face go white as he saw his opponent in full for the first time. He's afraid now, she thought. She knew that fear was your worst enemy in the layer, even more so than the angel itself was. He's doomed.
Tamayo saw Misaki's face and knew that her friend saw something that she didn't. Kotaro-chan, you can do it, I know you can.
"ANGELIC FIGHT!" The announcer's voice rang through the stadium. Down on the layer, the angels tensed, ready to start.
"GO MASAO!!!" Koutarou yelled, shoving aside his fear. I will defeat you. He said silently to his opponent. You hurt my friend.
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longer, no? I hope it was enjoyable. Please review. and do not, i repeat, DO NOT be afraid to tell me to improve (on something other than my chapter length) I need to get better at this. thank you!!!!!!
