Aishuu Offers:
Prince of the Layer
~ An Angelic Layer Prelude Fanfiction ~
mbsilvana@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: CLAMP is Queen. ^_~ I just want to play, really.
Part of the "Obscurely CLAMP" challenge!
Dedication: For Lyra, who loves Oujirou just as much as I do.... And unfortunately claimed dibs, darn it.
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Chapter 2: Mentor
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Applying for the Angelic Layer card was chancy business, especially since he didn't want his brother to know that he was getting into the competitive aspect of the Layer. So he simply did what his brother would have in his place: he threatened Ogata. It was amazingly easy to do, and Oujirou was amazed to discover the wicked streak he had buried underneath his customary shyness.
Two weeks after a carefully applied threat, his card arrived, along with a note from Ogata that yes, he WOULD try to keep Mihara-kachou out of loop, but if Oujirou slipped up, it wasn't his fault, so would he PLEASE destroy those negatives?
Oujirou laughed so hard from that note that he had tears in his eyes. He stored it in his desk drawer, deciding the note was precious in its own right. He had six weeks until the Kobe tournament, and he used it to practice with Wizard, perfecting the basic Layer moves and working on designing some moves that Shuuko wouldn't know. He and Shuuko had played together for so long that their styles had meshed, and it was time to start finding his own. His first match against Tigra had been lucky, since he really hadn't had to use any of his own attacks aside from the Trance Breaker, but if he tried to use more, people would inevitably compare him and Wizard to Shuu and Athena.
He didn't want that. He wanted to surpass her.
The next time he went to Tokyo, he was in a thoughtful mood. He watched Shuuko practice with Athena, amazed, as always, by the connection between woman and angel. He wanted to have that with Wizard. He wanted Wizard to be his other self.
Athena danced as Shuuko listened to the music, and Oujirou watched. They had offered him a prototype, but he had declined, saying that he didn't think his concentration was up to it. Shuuko had raised her eyebrows, but his brother had lamented the fact that Oujirou was starting to get the "Angelic Layer is a girl's game" syndrome that was so prevalent. Oujirou had held his hands up defensively, and promised to play the next time he came.
It would be weird to play with another angel but Wizard. It had only been two weeks, but Wizard was already starting to grow on him. He found himself adjusting himself automatically, and as he watching Athena move, he realized that her style was all wrong for Wizard. Athena was pure speed, but Wizard's key was his balance. Both of them were about beauty and entrancing the opponent through their superiority, but the philosophies on their creation were different.
Shuuko finally ended her practice session with a satisfied sigh. Yuuko hurried to bring her a drink, which she gratefully accepted. "Ou-chan?" she asked.
He looked over at her from where he was leaning against the wall. "Hmmm?"
She wheeled her chair forward, careful to avoid all the wires that ran throughout the lab. "Is something bothering you?"
He blinked a bit. "Not that I know of. I've just been really busy at school." A partial truth. He wanted to keep his coming entrance into the competitive Layer a secret, at least for a while. The expression on his brother's face would be worth it, and he couldn't bring himself to tell Shuuko, in case his idea failed.
Shuuko lowered her eyes, and he saw a hint of indecision there before resolve came across her face. "You know, it's okay if you have a life outside the company. You're growing up, and we don't have a right to keep you here. You're not an employee, and we..." she trailed off.
Oujirou laughed a bit as he saw her hesitance. He knew that she enjoyed his company, for she saw few people. Offering to let him go was a great sacrifice, and he appreciated her concern for him. "Shuuko-san... I love coming here. I really wish I lived closer, though, because the commute is tiring but I wouldn't stop coming if my life depended on it.." Her relieved expression filled him with warmth, and he had to push down his childhood crush firmly. "I'm just working on a project that takes a lot of my time, and I really don't have the concentration to do well on the Layer against you... and I would never give you a substandard match."
Shuuko nodded. "Are you sure? Because I can talk to Icchan and..."
He smiled reassuringly and took her hands, squeezing the finely-boned fingers gently to offer comfort. "I'm positive."
Her answering grin was beautiful. "Okay! What's this project that has you so busy? It's not like you to get tired out by anything!"
He tapped her nose playfully. "That's a secret. You'll find out in a couple of months."
She pouted out him, though her eyes were shining. "I have to wait that long?"
"Course! Though I might just decide to run away from home and abandon everything...." he said, rolling his eyes.
Shuuko patted his arm. "Have the girls finally noticed you, Ou-chan?"
Oujirou groaned, but refused to say anything.
His school life had been changed by his defeat of Himeya. Oujirou had always been popular, but now he found himself one of the most sought-after boys in school, something that made him distinctly uncomfortable. He preferred solitude, but he was besieged by girls who brought him lunch, love notes in his shoebox, guys who wanted help with homework and endless questions from everyone on Angelic Layer. Everything he did was watched closely, and people were amazed that he was talented at sports, academics and unfailingly polite.
Secretly, he was also annoyed. Oujirou hadn't changed a thing about himself; he had merely made the mistake of getting on stage. He wished for the previous relatively anonymity he used to enjoy, but he found that like Pandora's Box, once you opened the lid, there was no way of getting everything back inside.
'I'd better get used to it,' he thought. 'I'm going to make myself into an Angelic Layer idol role model, and I know how much fan mail Shuuko gets...'
"Well, I always knew that it'd happen. You're too nice not to get plenty of attention, and when you add those eyes into it..."
He blushed. Shuuko was studying him intently, and he wanted a hole to open up and swallow him. "Um..."
Ichirou chose that moment to return. "Why is Oujirou blushing?" he asked Shuuko.
She gave him a sweet smile. "I have absolutely no idea."
*
The Kansai qualifying match was more crowded than it had been the previous year. He had chosen to enter the Kobe tournament, and he was positive he'd win it. By the time he'd finished, word about him would be out. He patted his duffle-bag gently, knowing that Wizard was inside.
Many of the people there had their own friends cheering for them, but he was alone. Some of his classmates would show, as would some of the people who watched Tigra's match, but he had no real close friends who understood his motivations. Still, he walked to the entry table and smiled at the girl who was there with confidence.
"Mihara Oujirou," he said. "I'm registered."
"Hello, Mihara-san," she said. "Do you have your Angelic Layer card?"
He handed it over, and she slid it through the machine, which immediately brought up his player data and Wizard's. "You need to go through the doors to the right, then door three corridors. The player's waiting lounge is marked quite clearly. You're ranked quite low, so I'm afraid you're going to be up against one of the top angels..." she blinked. "Though you beat Tigra?"
He gave her a serene smile. "First official match. When am I up?"
"Second. You fight Stormrider." She shuddered.
His eyes narrowed. Stormrider had come in fourth in the Kobe tournament last time. "That's the way it is, then. Thank you," he said, bowing, before heading off.
The stress level in the waiting room was almost tangible. He could feel the players' tension levels, and he saw the entrant's eyes turn towards him. Most of them were girls, but there were a scattering of boys, some of which he recognized as coming from his school. 'I did it,' he thought. 'This will work.'
He took a seat and popped open a laptop, pulling up the data he had on Stormrider. Stormrider was a heavy model, probably stronger than Wizard, but definitely less agile. She had a special attack, though, called Lightning Lash, which used some kind of static shock to throw opponents from the ring. Her hits dealt a lot of damage, and throwing her out of the ring would be near impossible.
'Still, she's not as good as Tigra... Tigra is higher-ranked.' He turned to it thoughtfully, trying to figure out how Wizard would fare. If Stormrider got her hands on Wizard, he'd be in trouble. So the key was to stay out of range. And if throwing her out of the ring was impossible, then it would have to be defeat through points.
"Attack and run," he murmured.
"Hello, Mihara-san."
He looked up and saw Himeya and Suzuki standing there. Both were wearing matching dresses and he blinked a bit, wondering if he was seeing double. "Um... hi."
"We wanted to wish you luck..." Himeya said. "You have a hard opponent. I haven't actually faced her - she may be better than I am."
He nodded. "Well, we'll see what happens on the Layer, won't we? But thanks for your wishes. Who's your first opponent?"
Himeya's eyes flashed. "A rookie, Saitou Maiya. I have no clue about her."
He typed in the name. "She's a heavy weight. Your old tactics should work against her, unless she's changed her thinking drastically in the last week," He turned the screen around so Himeya could see the specs.
"You're... helping me?" she whispered.
"Why not? I wouldn't mind another match, see if you've learned anything now that you're going to take me seriously." He sighed. "I have the feeling that it'll take me two or three matches to be taken seriously."
Suzuki placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just remember, on the Layer, all that matter is the fight."
He gave them a smile, then flinched as he heard his name called. "Um, Suzuki? Can you keep my laptop? My mother wasn't able to make it, and there's no one else here I trust not to sabotage my data."
The blonde smiled prettily. "Sure. Can we browse?"
"Sure. But all of Wizard's spec's are password encoded and you'll never break that."
"Wouldn't want to." The two girls gather around his laptop and started to flip through different player stats as Oujirou hurried to the door, where an attendant was waiting.
"Mihara Oujirou," he said, bowing.
"Great. Can you grab Wizard and follow me?"
"He's here," he said holding up the angel in his hand.
"That's good. You'd be amazed how many first-time players forget their angels," the man said with amusement.
"Jitters. Makes us act a bit weird."
The man led him down the way to the arena, refreshing him on rules. Oujirou made the appropriate noises, even though he knew it backwards and forwards. "I must say it's a bit odd to have a guy of your age playing, though," he added.
"Why I'm playing. Break the stereotype."
The attendant grinned. "Here we are. Don't be daunted by the crowd. It'll seem fierce, and it's going to be on Stormrider's side, but you're something new and different. If you give them a good show, they'll love you for your second match. Remember, two-round elimination."
"The crowd doesn't matter. It's only the Layer."
"Good attitude. Now get going!" the man ordered, pushing Oujirou a bit.
Oujirou walked through the arena, hearing the hushed murmurs of the audience. Stormrider's Deus hadn't appeared yet, so he had their complete attention, something he did not like. Still, he forced himself to remain serene and walk gracefully, heading to the chair. These chairs were a bit different than the ones at the Piffle Princess; they would elevate the play above the Layer, affording them a better view. He nodded to the announcer, a gaudy blond man in purple, and got ready.
As the noise from the crowd rose, he assumed his opponent had arrived. He looked over at the other chair, and noticed a pretty girl wearing red. Her hair was fiercely curly, and she was too thin. He nodded to her, and she blinked at him in surprised as their seats rose. "You're really handsome!" she said in shock.
He felt a fierce blush creep up his cheeks. "Thank you," he said softly. "You have lovely hair." Be suave, be suave...
She grinned at him. "How about I take you out to dinner after I beat you?" she offered.
"Um, I don't intend on losing," he said, evading the offer. He looked over at the announcer, hoping to get out of the situation.
"In the East Corner, Deus Mihara Oujirou, Angel Wizard!" The MC said, waving a hand to him.
The light hits Oujirou, and he tried not to squint as he held Wizard by his wait. "Work your magic, Wizard. Angel, fall in!" he called, performing his entry without the dramatics he found so overwhelming. His very lack of melodrama was statement enough, he thought as Wizard touched down. Wizard stared across the ring, waiting for Stormrider.
"In the West Corner, Deus Tachi Riira, Angel Stormrider!"
The girl's eyes fell away from his face, and he suddenly knew she had become serious. "Stormrider, bring lightning and fury!" she called, and tossed her angel. "Angel, fall in!" Her angel flew, and when it enter, it did a somersault before coming down quickly, poised for battle. Oujirou studied the angel. The female was as tall as Wizard, and built on curvaceous lines, but covered entirely in a sheer gray gossamer bodysuit. Over it was strategically placed red swatches, covering what would be essential, were Stormrider a real human female. Her black hair fell to her knees, but it was her red eyes which were frightening, giving the impression of a barely contained storm.
"Ten minute time limit... Angelic FIGHT!" the announcer called.
The last time he had remained still, but giving Stormrider the chance to get her hands on him would be asking for trouble. Wizard starting to circle the other angel, looking for an opening. She watched carefully, and he knew that his first few strikes would probably be mere tests. Still.. time was ticking.
He launched a kick at her side, which she sidestepped. Stormrider made a grab for him, but he rolled aside, knowing that wasn't going to work. He came to his feet, and waited, knowing she would make a move for him.
"Wizard attacks, but Stormrider dodges! Now they both seem to - Wait! Stormrider is gearing up for one of her special attacks... is it? She's starting off with the Lightning Lash, this early! She must want to finish him off quick!"
"Sorry," Riira called. "You're just too fast. It's best if I deal with speed types quickly," she told him.
She had brains, he gave her credit, but he had misidentified Wizard. And it would cost her. Wizard watched as Stormrider geared up for her lightning lash, seeing the electricity build in her fingertips. "Lightning Lash!" Riira exclaimed as Stormrider unleashed a static blow.
Wizard anticipated it, using his powerful legs to jump straight up, one that took him to near the top of the Layer; a pure speed type wouldn't have been able to manage the jump, but Wizard could. Oujirou smiled as the untamed blast reflected back at Stormrider. The reflection wasn't as powerful as the original attack, but it still took over half of her hit points.
"And Wizard avoids the Lightning Lash through an amazing jump! Stormrider is hit by her own blast!" the announcer exclaimed. The audience started to call out, but Oujirou blocked them out.
"It's never a good idea to use an attack that can reflect back at you," he told her softly.
Riira just blinked. "Well, this will just have to be done the old-fashioned way, won't it?" She gave him a cute smile. "And when I win, you're taking me out to dinner."
"Um..." Was he doomed to be hit on every time he played? First Suzuki, now Tachi Riira? He glanced at the clock. Six minutes. He could draw this out, but since Stormrider was a heavy angel, it wouldn't be wise. She might manage, through some fluke, to knock Wizard out of the Layer. "I think that won't happen."
He smiled at Wizard. "I think it's time to end this, don't you?"
Wizard looked at him. Stormrider lunged for him, clearly trying to land a hit, but the slender angel avoided it easily. "Walk the Magic Circle, Wizard," he ordered, and he smiled as Wizard began to circle Stormrider again.
"Didn't you try this before?" Riira asked.
He merely smiled at her. He intended on having Wizard moving faster this time, and there was one spot where Riira was blind, most likely. Most Deuses had a blind spot, the spot right behind where there angel was standing. If he timed it right, it would seem as though Wizard came from nowhere; a simple optical illusion, but his mother had said it...'When Oujirou does something, Oujirou does it by thinking.'
He intended to outwit his opponent. The Magic Circle wouldn't work against Shuuko, but most players would fall for it. Wizard had other tricks up his sleeve, should it fail.
Stormrider watched carefully, but there was one spot...
THERE.
Wizard took the moment, and a strong kick to the jaw, one of the spots where an angel was most vulnerable, sent Stormrider tumbling back. She hadn't raised any kind of defense, and to spectators, it would seem as though he had simply appeared in front of her. Even the cameras would have a hard time catching it, Oujirou thought in satisfaction.
The announcer stared in surprise for a moment as Stormrider's points went below zero before turning to Oujirou, who merely smiled. "Wizard wins!"
*
Oujirou sat in the waiting room, flipping through his computer files. The stats he had gathered updated automatically through a wireless web link with a program he had designed; after every match, players' abilities were automatically recalculated, and new information was input. He glanced at the live feeds of matches as well, watching the other Deuses battle. This was thrilling, more thrilling than he had believed. Pitting himself against the others wasn't that challenging yet, because none of the Deuses had been on his level, but analyzing, tactics... That had been wonderful. He could see the flaws of the other angels as clearly as he could see his own hands if he held them in front of his face. .
The ranks were starting to thin, with the two-loss elimination rule, and the players he would be facing would be better soon. He looked up towards the screen just in time to see an angel be thrown from the ring, and winced, knowing that it was the second loss for that angel. She was out of the running, and her Deus had to be upset.
"For someone to win, someone has to lose," he murmured. It was a sad thought.
He glanced at the schedule posted on the wall. Two more matches before he came up for a fifth time. His opponent's name was finally listed and... Oujirou smiled slightly to himself. This would be interesting. Last year's fifth-place finisher in the Kansai tournament, and probably better than Tigra.
Ginga Kaoru and Angel Yumemi, the Matriarch of Angelic Layer. Kaoru was seventy if she was a day, and Oujirou knew his brother was thrilled that the retiree had gotten into the game. Her data had been avidly studied by all of the researchers.
Oujirou was relieved for another reason.
All the other Deuses seemed to think he was fair game for dating, and a few of the propositions he'd received had actually made him want to hide. Kaoru had a sharp mind and a great personality, but he knew that she wouldn't hit on him, at least. Well- he hoped not.
He was just about to go through Yumemi's data again when he heard a soft sniffle beside him. Looking over, he noticed a young Deus, no more than ten. Oujirou wasn't that good with children, and seeing one cry made him feel distinctly uncomfortable. The girl was holding onto an angel, the one that had just been thrown from the ring in the last match. He recoiled inside, but knew he couldn't leave her like this.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She wasn't so young that she wasn't entranced by his looks; having a handsome boy pay attention to her startled her out of her crying. She blushed a bit as he gave her a concerned look. "I... I'm fine," she said, trying to brush away her tears hurriedly.
He studied her for a moment, trying to decide if that would let him off, but the same conscience that had led him to intervene when Himeya and Hiroshi had started to fight. "Really? People who are fine don't cry..." He set the laptop aside after shutting it with a 'click.'
The girl seemed torn about how to answer. "I shouldn't cry... It's just a game," she murmured as she cradled her doll.
Oujirou considered her words. "Losing hurts..." he murmured. "I hate to lose."
"You lose?" the girl asked in amazement. "I watched you fight... It's hard to believe you lose." she admitted.
"Everyone has someone who is better than they are. But losing is what makes us stronger." Oujirou rose out of the chair to walk over to the girl, looking at her. "Your opponent was better than you were today, but that doesn't mean you won't be better than she is, the next time you meet." He helped her into a seat, kneeling down in front of her so he could look her directly in her eyes.
"What? How?" She wondered.
"You remember this... and you let it make you strong. Take this memory into the next fight, and it will guide you and your angel," he told her. His brother had told him the same thing, the first time he and Shuuko had fought seriously, and he had lost. Losing to Shuuko repeatedly was enough to make him want to scream sometimes. He had never defeated her, no matter what he tried. Still, he kept getting closer, and he knew that he was the only one who came close to giving Athena a challenge.
With Wizard at his side, he would finally bring the Goddess down.
Still, the girl before him was his concern right now. She held her angel lovingly and smiled at him. "Thank you, Oujirou-sama..." she said, blushing even more deeply. "I'm Kai Satami..." she said, bowing as she introduced herself. "You're wonderful. I hope I'm half as good as you are someday."
It was only through sheer force of will that he kept from blushing himself at her words. "I've barely done anything yet," he returned. "I'm merely a Deus, like you."
The girl shook her head. "No... You're more. You're going to win this..." she predicted. "And you took time to comfort me... You're wonderful."
He did color at her words that time.
*
Another match.
He sat in the chair, feeling it rise to face his opponent, Ginga Kaoru. He looked across at her, smiling as she stared back it him with cool eyes that gave away nothing of what she thought. He respected that; she would be hard to anticipate because of that. With her, it would be about her angel and skills, not about psyching out the opponent. It would be worth the fight.
Oujirou nodded a bit to Kaoru, maintaining a sweet expression as she studied him. Seeing an old face behind the Angelic Layer headset was odd, but he liked it. Her face was full of character and a life well lived. He respected her for entering the arena, in a game where the average age of players was sixteen. She kept abreast of technology, and had been quoted as saying, "the day I stop being interested in the latest advances is the day I'm six feet under."
Kaoru was what most people would call "a character."
"Your pretty face isn't going to help you this time, boy," she said to him after a while, breaking the smile. Then she winked playfully. "I'm about half a century beyond being distracted by good looks."
He laughed a bit, not at all offended by her teasing. "And your sharp tongue isn't going to distract me. So let's agree that our angels will decide?"
She returned to studying him before bursting out laughing as well. "You, I like. But Yumemi won't lose to your Wizard. I've watched you fight, and I've figured out your style," she warned.
"Oh?" he asked in idle curiosity. He hadn't really unleashed any of his secret moves yet, and he'd be seriously surprised if she knew them, except for the Magic Circle. He wasn't sure if he was going to use that one on her; she was known for being perceptive, and his optical illusion trick would probably fail.
"You fight with your head. You're a thinker," she said. "But so am I, and I've been thinking for a lot longer than you have. So smart as you are, boy, you're still just a boy."
He merely smiled in return, but inside he braced himself for a fierce fight. Kaoru was going to be one of the toughest fights he'd see on his way to Athena, he realized. Age brought wisdom, and that was something Kaoru apparently had in abundance. Along with the lack of tact her age let her get away with.
"In the East corner, Deus Mihara Oujirou, Angel Wizard!" The announcer voice proclaimed, cutting through their conversation. Oujirou activated his headset and had Wizard perform his entry, even though his eyes never left Kaoru's face.
"In the West corner, Deus Ginga Kaoru, Angel Yumemi!"
"Weave the dreams of yesterday and today, Yumemi!" Kaoru called. She dropped her angel in nonchalantly, not bothering to strain herself by throwing it halfway across the Layer.
Oujirou watched Kaoru smile as Yumemi came alive. Yumemi was a medium angel, built on equal portions of speed, agility and strength. She wore a traditional kimono complete with obi, and Oujirou knew that Kaoru habitually changed Yumemi's clothing. Her strength was from Kaoru's expert control, creativity and ability to undermine whatever the other Deus threw at her. She was adaptable; this would be a battle of the Deuses, which one was able to think the further step ahead.
"What kind of battle will these two angels show us? Both angels are undefeated so far in this tournament!" the announcer said.
The Deuses ignored his hype, waiting for him to give the signal. "Angelic FIGHT!" he yelled after adding a few of their statistics to get the crowd going.
The angels remained still, neither moving as they searched the other for weakness. Oujirou knew he was faster and stronger, but she would be able to keep even with him through her endurance and agility.
"We probably should begin this, Oujirou-kun," she said.
"Ladies first," he replied politely.
She cocked an eyebrow beneath the pink plastic. "Kind of you. Well... Shall we dance?"
"Let's."
On that word, both angels sprang forward into what appeared to be a carefully choreographed dance. Wizard closed the distance quickly, as Oujirou decided to test Yumemi's short-range abilities. If he could wear her down, he might be able to win on points, rather than tossing her from the Layer.
Yumemi's black eyes watched carefully, and she took a guard stance, waiting to parry the blow. Wizard launched a triple series of kicks, one rising to the stomach head and falling to the chest. It was a difficult combination to avoid; parry the first, dodge the second, get hit by the third was the usual sequence most experienced Dueses decided to deal with; if they could avoid it at all. He'd taken out his fourth opponent with it.
Yumemi, though, calmly accepted the first blow... which left Wizard open as he raised his leg higher to land the second.
Oujirou winced as the average angel punched him. The blow only grazed Wizard, doing minimal damage, but it was enough to send him back. It was the first time he'd been hit this tournament. It was the first time Wizard had ever been hit, for that matter.
"Wizard attacks, wounding Yumemi, but Yumemi's counterattack forces Wizard back! She is the first angel in the tournament to score a hit on Wizard!"
Wizard did a series of flips back, trying to give Oujirou a moment to think. "I've gotten cocky," he murmured.
"You have," Kaoru said. "Time to wake up!"
Yumemi moved forward this time spinning around in circles with her arms out beside her. The kimono rose around her pale tanned legs, and Oujirou realized that this was some new special attack Kaoru was going to unleash on him. He followed her carefully, Wizard following into a defensive crouch. The blue angel was on guard; Yumemi was a threat. Yumemi seemed to blur before Oujirou's amazed sight as her spin gained more and more speed.
'She's not a speed type...' he thought, but then realized that was exactly the point. She was spinning to gain momentum, and any of the strikes she hit would deal extra damage and even deflecting them might injure Wizard.
"Yumemi launches into a twirl... I've never seen this tactic before - watch is she going to do? Will Wizard be able to stop her?" the announcer yelled into his microphone.
Oujirou remained impassive, but inside he was applauding. 'This is a good fight,' he thought. If I can't deflect, that leaves fight or flight... But flight might let her get me. That leaves fighting...'
Wizard tensed in preparation, waiting for the right moment to react. Yumemi was getting closer and closer, and her new attack was negating his speed and strength advantage. She had more hit points and could afford to make more damage... Yumemi finally arrived in striking range, and one of her feet lashed out with twice her normal speed.
Wizard countered by leaping over her, trying to get on her other side, but Yumeni's kick was there on the follow through. It was only because he landed just outside of her reach that he didn't end up tossed from the Layer.
"Wizard narrowly avoids Yumemi's powered-up attack! Will he be able to avoid the next one?" the announcer cried.
'She's anticipating me...' he realized. A smile formed on his lips as he realized that Kaoru must have researched him as thoroughly as he had done him. It was time to play to the next level.
The spiraling angel continued to build speed, her Deus watching with a blank face. Oujirou tapped his fingers against his chair, sending Wizard around in what appeared to be the beginning of the Magic Circle. "Cast your Illusions, Wizard," he murmured.
"That won't work on Yumemi," Kaoru said. "I know the trick of that, and I'm waiting for it."
It took an instant, a blink of the eye. Yumemi's spin was too quick for her to stop, and Oujirou had anticipated that. Wizard raced around, faster and faster until he matched her pace... and then raced forward, grabbing her arm and helping her spin faster. Kaoru had been preparing for a strike from her blind side, but Oujirou had come from the front. She had known that was possible as well, but it wasn't a blow. There had been no force behind it, and he hadn't taken any of Yumemi's hit points... rather he had unbalanced her.
"Wizard uses Yumemi's own momentum against her! Oujirou-san seems fond of this tactic!"
Yumeni's whirl wobbled a bit, and Kaoru's eyes narrowed in concentration as she focused on gaining her control back... but that instant was enough to let him get the edge he needed. Wizard pressed his attack, again using the three kick strike he had initially tried... but this time it connected.
Oujirou heard the sound of Yumemi's hit points going down, and smiled as he realized it had been a mortal blow. The Asian angel went flying, landing in a crumbled heap across from him. Wizard stood over her like a grim angel of death, his expressionless face foreboding.
"Now Wizard lands his three-kick combo, taking Yumemi into negative hitpoints! WIZARD WINS!" The announcer proclaimed.
After he had been lowered to the ground and removed his headgear, he walked over to where Kaoru was still sitting in her seat. It was customary to exchange thanks for a match, and Kaoru had been a good opponent. He hoped she hadn't been offended at her defeat; according to her records, Wizard was the fourth angel to defeat Yumemi.
Kaoru, though, looked up at him as he approached, a beautiful smile on her face. It made him catch his breath, and he reflected that she must have been a beautiful woman in her youth; traces of her beauty still remained in the lines of her face, and something about how she held herself. Only beautiful women ever gained that kind of confidence.
"Good match, Oujirou-kun... Too bad it didn't last longer."
He bowed to her in sincere admiration. "I had to take you out early, because you're too good."
She laughed a bit. "You may be right. Well, would you be so kind as to help an old women out of her chair? I'm afraid these bones don't move as easily as they used to..."
Oujirou offered her his arm, which she clung to as she maneuvered herself out of the chair. The assistants raced over to hand her Yumemi. The old woman stared down at her angel thoughtfully. "Well, I'll see you in Kansai, won't I?"
He blinked. "I..."
"Come now, no false modesty. Four of us will advance... You and I will be there, and I fully intend on facing you there. I've fought you now, and I know what I need to defeat you." Her dark eyes glimmered as she looked at him. "I'll even tell you, because I want you to fix it, so we can have a real match."
He went cold inside, fearing that Kaoru's perceptive eyes had seen something he hadn't, recognized some flaw in him that was the reason Shuu won time and time again. "What's my problem?" he asked in a hushed voice.
"You're not fighting me or my angel. You're fighting something else, some cosmic battle. Still, there's stories about people like you, Oujirou-kun. Some people walk with their eyes so focused on the heavens that they don't see the earth around them." Her hand gripped him tightly. "And those people always stumble, because they never see the roadblocks right before them."
*
The last three matches were easy. No one else came even close to challenging him or Wizard, and Oujirou knew that what Kaoru had warned him of was true. He wasn't playing the other players; he was playing for Shuuko. Would he encounter someone who would challenge him? Would it be Kaoru, in her wisdom, who would challenge him at Kansai? Or would someone else rise up? The thought preyed on his mind.
The Kobe tournament was large enough that he didn't have to meet all the players; it was a pity, because he would have liked to fight Tigra again. Tigra was fighting more strongly, varying her attacks, and his eyes shone as he caught the end of her eighth fight. She hadn't lost any of them. He was willing to wager that she would be one of the ones advancing. Along with Kaoru, a fourth contestant, a small girl who fought with a speed-type angel named Lucifer, were his bets. He hadn't fought Lucifer, and privately thought Stormrider was the better angel, but Stormrider had encountered Tigra as her fourth match, and would place fifth. It was the luck of the draw.
He lingered in the background as he watched the last of the matches, Yumemi versus a rookie. Yumemi fought brilliantly, and he realized that beating her was a triumph. Yumemi was a Championship-level angel, and defeating her on the Kobe level was a true victory. He was ready to face the battles on the next level.
"Layer Out! Yumemi Wins!" The announcer declared. "And now its time to declare the ones who will represent Kobe in the Kansai Tournament!"
Oujirou waited, not at all concerned. Wizard and Tigra were the only undefeated angels, so it was a foregone conclusion. He felt someone join him though, a warm presence that was at once expected and challenging.
"I was wondering when you'd get here, niisan," Oujirou said idly to his older brother.
Ichirou's face was uncharacteristically blank, the way it was when he was either going to be serious or was truly angry. Oujirou still hadn't learned to read his brother's moods well enough to tell which would be forthcoming.
"Well?" The single word bespoke volumes. If Oujirou didn't answer carefully, Ichirou was going to figure some way to yank him out of the competition.
"I'm going to win," Oujirou said.
"You've already swept the Kobe match," Ichirou said softly. "I think you've demoralized a few of the players."
"Really? Most of my competitors seemed inspired after playing me. Riira's even managed to get my e-mail address and has invited me out for a celebratory dinner," he replied. He smiled, staring up at the board, waiting for the results to be posted, even though he knew he'd be going to Kansai.
"Why? Why have you suddenly decided that Angelic Layer is so important?" his brother demanded.
"A part of it is to establish a male Deus as a success. Last year at the championship, there was only one male Deus, and he was ten. You need someone who can be a role model, who the girls will desire and the boys want to be." Oujirou looked over at the contestants who were milling around. "I didn't want it to be me originally, but there's no one better. I'm the only one who can fight Athena on her own terms. After this year, you'll see a drastic rise in male players..."
"...and we'll get the data we need that much quicker," Ichirou continued softly. "But there's more. You don't do anything for just one reason."
"Of course not," Oujirou said. "But my reasons are my own."
"You won't beat Athena," Ichirou said softly. "Shuuko is unstoppable on the Layer."
"I'll defeat her," Oujirou answered. "Wizard and I understand each other."
"Do you? You understand Wizard better than any other angel you've fought with, but I don't think you're there yet. Athena is Shuu's other self... You won't beat her."
Oujirou's eyes narrowed dangerously. He was usually quite laid back, but being told 'no' inflamed him like nothing else - with the exception of being underestimated. "I will."
"Of course, you have to make it to her first... There's still the Kansai Tournament and the rest of the Championship to go. The players this year are better than they were last year, and some might have some interesting things to show you."
"By the time those are done, I will be the best known player on the Layer, aside from Shuu," Oujirou vowed.
"Egotistical, aren't you? Don't you know that they say 'pride comes before the fall?'" his brother murmured, stepping back into the shadow.
Oujirou turned back to the ring, just in time to hear them announce him as the winner of the Kobe match. He smiled brightly at the cheers, but inside he was thinking much more serious thoughts. I'll get there, niisan... I'll defeat Shuuko... And show you how much you mean to me, he vowed to himself.
All that stood between him and his goal were eight matches.
Author's Notes:
I made my second deadline! *pleased*
Credits: Okay, thanks have to go to the incomparable Lyra for all the help she's been in the last few months... it won't be much longer. Also thanks to Gabi-hime, who I enjoyed speaking to on Oujirou's motivations very much, and AlanP who suggested the concept of an older player, which eventually evolved into Kaoru - I blame him for hijacking my plot. ^_~ Also thanks to Kamitra, for supplying me with the music I needed to keep moving. I'll be mailing you soon!
The advancement of four players I decided arbitrarily... it looked like they took several from the Tokyo match to Kantou, so I did the same for this. Four seemed like a good number, since sixteen players will be at Kansai. Four from four local matches.
Feedback would be very much appreciated. This is &*#&* piece to write. And I have two more parts to write...
Prince of the Layer
~ An Angelic Layer Prelude Fanfiction ~
mbsilvana@yahoo.com
Disclaimer: CLAMP is Queen. ^_~ I just want to play, really.
Part of the "Obscurely CLAMP" challenge!
Dedication: For Lyra, who loves Oujirou just as much as I do.... And unfortunately claimed dibs, darn it.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Chapter 2: Mentor
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Applying for the Angelic Layer card was chancy business, especially since he didn't want his brother to know that he was getting into the competitive aspect of the Layer. So he simply did what his brother would have in his place: he threatened Ogata. It was amazingly easy to do, and Oujirou was amazed to discover the wicked streak he had buried underneath his customary shyness.
Two weeks after a carefully applied threat, his card arrived, along with a note from Ogata that yes, he WOULD try to keep Mihara-kachou out of loop, but if Oujirou slipped up, it wasn't his fault, so would he PLEASE destroy those negatives?
Oujirou laughed so hard from that note that he had tears in his eyes. He stored it in his desk drawer, deciding the note was precious in its own right. He had six weeks until the Kobe tournament, and he used it to practice with Wizard, perfecting the basic Layer moves and working on designing some moves that Shuuko wouldn't know. He and Shuuko had played together for so long that their styles had meshed, and it was time to start finding his own. His first match against Tigra had been lucky, since he really hadn't had to use any of his own attacks aside from the Trance Breaker, but if he tried to use more, people would inevitably compare him and Wizard to Shuu and Athena.
He didn't want that. He wanted to surpass her.
The next time he went to Tokyo, he was in a thoughtful mood. He watched Shuuko practice with Athena, amazed, as always, by the connection between woman and angel. He wanted to have that with Wizard. He wanted Wizard to be his other self.
Athena danced as Shuuko listened to the music, and Oujirou watched. They had offered him a prototype, but he had declined, saying that he didn't think his concentration was up to it. Shuuko had raised her eyebrows, but his brother had lamented the fact that Oujirou was starting to get the "Angelic Layer is a girl's game" syndrome that was so prevalent. Oujirou had held his hands up defensively, and promised to play the next time he came.
It would be weird to play with another angel but Wizard. It had only been two weeks, but Wizard was already starting to grow on him. He found himself adjusting himself automatically, and as he watching Athena move, he realized that her style was all wrong for Wizard. Athena was pure speed, but Wizard's key was his balance. Both of them were about beauty and entrancing the opponent through their superiority, but the philosophies on their creation were different.
Shuuko finally ended her practice session with a satisfied sigh. Yuuko hurried to bring her a drink, which she gratefully accepted. "Ou-chan?" she asked.
He looked over at her from where he was leaning against the wall. "Hmmm?"
She wheeled her chair forward, careful to avoid all the wires that ran throughout the lab. "Is something bothering you?"
He blinked a bit. "Not that I know of. I've just been really busy at school." A partial truth. He wanted to keep his coming entrance into the competitive Layer a secret, at least for a while. The expression on his brother's face would be worth it, and he couldn't bring himself to tell Shuuko, in case his idea failed.
Shuuko lowered her eyes, and he saw a hint of indecision there before resolve came across her face. "You know, it's okay if you have a life outside the company. You're growing up, and we don't have a right to keep you here. You're not an employee, and we..." she trailed off.
Oujirou laughed a bit as he saw her hesitance. He knew that she enjoyed his company, for she saw few people. Offering to let him go was a great sacrifice, and he appreciated her concern for him. "Shuuko-san... I love coming here. I really wish I lived closer, though, because the commute is tiring but I wouldn't stop coming if my life depended on it.." Her relieved expression filled him with warmth, and he had to push down his childhood crush firmly. "I'm just working on a project that takes a lot of my time, and I really don't have the concentration to do well on the Layer against you... and I would never give you a substandard match."
Shuuko nodded. "Are you sure? Because I can talk to Icchan and..."
He smiled reassuringly and took her hands, squeezing the finely-boned fingers gently to offer comfort. "I'm positive."
Her answering grin was beautiful. "Okay! What's this project that has you so busy? It's not like you to get tired out by anything!"
He tapped her nose playfully. "That's a secret. You'll find out in a couple of months."
She pouted out him, though her eyes were shining. "I have to wait that long?"
"Course! Though I might just decide to run away from home and abandon everything...." he said, rolling his eyes.
Shuuko patted his arm. "Have the girls finally noticed you, Ou-chan?"
Oujirou groaned, but refused to say anything.
His school life had been changed by his defeat of Himeya. Oujirou had always been popular, but now he found himself one of the most sought-after boys in school, something that made him distinctly uncomfortable. He preferred solitude, but he was besieged by girls who brought him lunch, love notes in his shoebox, guys who wanted help with homework and endless questions from everyone on Angelic Layer. Everything he did was watched closely, and people were amazed that he was talented at sports, academics and unfailingly polite.
Secretly, he was also annoyed. Oujirou hadn't changed a thing about himself; he had merely made the mistake of getting on stage. He wished for the previous relatively anonymity he used to enjoy, but he found that like Pandora's Box, once you opened the lid, there was no way of getting everything back inside.
'I'd better get used to it,' he thought. 'I'm going to make myself into an Angelic Layer idol role model, and I know how much fan mail Shuuko gets...'
"Well, I always knew that it'd happen. You're too nice not to get plenty of attention, and when you add those eyes into it..."
He blushed. Shuuko was studying him intently, and he wanted a hole to open up and swallow him. "Um..."
Ichirou chose that moment to return. "Why is Oujirou blushing?" he asked Shuuko.
She gave him a sweet smile. "I have absolutely no idea."
*
The Kansai qualifying match was more crowded than it had been the previous year. He had chosen to enter the Kobe tournament, and he was positive he'd win it. By the time he'd finished, word about him would be out. He patted his duffle-bag gently, knowing that Wizard was inside.
Many of the people there had their own friends cheering for them, but he was alone. Some of his classmates would show, as would some of the people who watched Tigra's match, but he had no real close friends who understood his motivations. Still, he walked to the entry table and smiled at the girl who was there with confidence.
"Mihara Oujirou," he said. "I'm registered."
"Hello, Mihara-san," she said. "Do you have your Angelic Layer card?"
He handed it over, and she slid it through the machine, which immediately brought up his player data and Wizard's. "You need to go through the doors to the right, then door three corridors. The player's waiting lounge is marked quite clearly. You're ranked quite low, so I'm afraid you're going to be up against one of the top angels..." she blinked. "Though you beat Tigra?"
He gave her a serene smile. "First official match. When am I up?"
"Second. You fight Stormrider." She shuddered.
His eyes narrowed. Stormrider had come in fourth in the Kobe tournament last time. "That's the way it is, then. Thank you," he said, bowing, before heading off.
The stress level in the waiting room was almost tangible. He could feel the players' tension levels, and he saw the entrant's eyes turn towards him. Most of them were girls, but there were a scattering of boys, some of which he recognized as coming from his school. 'I did it,' he thought. 'This will work.'
He took a seat and popped open a laptop, pulling up the data he had on Stormrider. Stormrider was a heavy model, probably stronger than Wizard, but definitely less agile. She had a special attack, though, called Lightning Lash, which used some kind of static shock to throw opponents from the ring. Her hits dealt a lot of damage, and throwing her out of the ring would be near impossible.
'Still, she's not as good as Tigra... Tigra is higher-ranked.' He turned to it thoughtfully, trying to figure out how Wizard would fare. If Stormrider got her hands on Wizard, he'd be in trouble. So the key was to stay out of range. And if throwing her out of the ring was impossible, then it would have to be defeat through points.
"Attack and run," he murmured.
"Hello, Mihara-san."
He looked up and saw Himeya and Suzuki standing there. Both were wearing matching dresses and he blinked a bit, wondering if he was seeing double. "Um... hi."
"We wanted to wish you luck..." Himeya said. "You have a hard opponent. I haven't actually faced her - she may be better than I am."
He nodded. "Well, we'll see what happens on the Layer, won't we? But thanks for your wishes. Who's your first opponent?"
Himeya's eyes flashed. "A rookie, Saitou Maiya. I have no clue about her."
He typed in the name. "She's a heavy weight. Your old tactics should work against her, unless she's changed her thinking drastically in the last week," He turned the screen around so Himeya could see the specs.
"You're... helping me?" she whispered.
"Why not? I wouldn't mind another match, see if you've learned anything now that you're going to take me seriously." He sighed. "I have the feeling that it'll take me two or three matches to be taken seriously."
Suzuki placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just remember, on the Layer, all that matter is the fight."
He gave them a smile, then flinched as he heard his name called. "Um, Suzuki? Can you keep my laptop? My mother wasn't able to make it, and there's no one else here I trust not to sabotage my data."
The blonde smiled prettily. "Sure. Can we browse?"
"Sure. But all of Wizard's spec's are password encoded and you'll never break that."
"Wouldn't want to." The two girls gather around his laptop and started to flip through different player stats as Oujirou hurried to the door, where an attendant was waiting.
"Mihara Oujirou," he said, bowing.
"Great. Can you grab Wizard and follow me?"
"He's here," he said holding up the angel in his hand.
"That's good. You'd be amazed how many first-time players forget their angels," the man said with amusement.
"Jitters. Makes us act a bit weird."
The man led him down the way to the arena, refreshing him on rules. Oujirou made the appropriate noises, even though he knew it backwards and forwards. "I must say it's a bit odd to have a guy of your age playing, though," he added.
"Why I'm playing. Break the stereotype."
The attendant grinned. "Here we are. Don't be daunted by the crowd. It'll seem fierce, and it's going to be on Stormrider's side, but you're something new and different. If you give them a good show, they'll love you for your second match. Remember, two-round elimination."
"The crowd doesn't matter. It's only the Layer."
"Good attitude. Now get going!" the man ordered, pushing Oujirou a bit.
Oujirou walked through the arena, hearing the hushed murmurs of the audience. Stormrider's Deus hadn't appeared yet, so he had their complete attention, something he did not like. Still, he forced himself to remain serene and walk gracefully, heading to the chair. These chairs were a bit different than the ones at the Piffle Princess; they would elevate the play above the Layer, affording them a better view. He nodded to the announcer, a gaudy blond man in purple, and got ready.
As the noise from the crowd rose, he assumed his opponent had arrived. He looked over at the other chair, and noticed a pretty girl wearing red. Her hair was fiercely curly, and she was too thin. He nodded to her, and she blinked at him in surprised as their seats rose. "You're really handsome!" she said in shock.
He felt a fierce blush creep up his cheeks. "Thank you," he said softly. "You have lovely hair." Be suave, be suave...
She grinned at him. "How about I take you out to dinner after I beat you?" she offered.
"Um, I don't intend on losing," he said, evading the offer. He looked over at the announcer, hoping to get out of the situation.
"In the East Corner, Deus Mihara Oujirou, Angel Wizard!" The MC said, waving a hand to him.
The light hits Oujirou, and he tried not to squint as he held Wizard by his wait. "Work your magic, Wizard. Angel, fall in!" he called, performing his entry without the dramatics he found so overwhelming. His very lack of melodrama was statement enough, he thought as Wizard touched down. Wizard stared across the ring, waiting for Stormrider.
"In the West Corner, Deus Tachi Riira, Angel Stormrider!"
The girl's eyes fell away from his face, and he suddenly knew she had become serious. "Stormrider, bring lightning and fury!" she called, and tossed her angel. "Angel, fall in!" Her angel flew, and when it enter, it did a somersault before coming down quickly, poised for battle. Oujirou studied the angel. The female was as tall as Wizard, and built on curvaceous lines, but covered entirely in a sheer gray gossamer bodysuit. Over it was strategically placed red swatches, covering what would be essential, were Stormrider a real human female. Her black hair fell to her knees, but it was her red eyes which were frightening, giving the impression of a barely contained storm.
"Ten minute time limit... Angelic FIGHT!" the announcer called.
The last time he had remained still, but giving Stormrider the chance to get her hands on him would be asking for trouble. Wizard starting to circle the other angel, looking for an opening. She watched carefully, and he knew that his first few strikes would probably be mere tests. Still.. time was ticking.
He launched a kick at her side, which she sidestepped. Stormrider made a grab for him, but he rolled aside, knowing that wasn't going to work. He came to his feet, and waited, knowing she would make a move for him.
"Wizard attacks, but Stormrider dodges! Now they both seem to - Wait! Stormrider is gearing up for one of her special attacks... is it? She's starting off with the Lightning Lash, this early! She must want to finish him off quick!"
"Sorry," Riira called. "You're just too fast. It's best if I deal with speed types quickly," she told him.
She had brains, he gave her credit, but he had misidentified Wizard. And it would cost her. Wizard watched as Stormrider geared up for her lightning lash, seeing the electricity build in her fingertips. "Lightning Lash!" Riira exclaimed as Stormrider unleashed a static blow.
Wizard anticipated it, using his powerful legs to jump straight up, one that took him to near the top of the Layer; a pure speed type wouldn't have been able to manage the jump, but Wizard could. Oujirou smiled as the untamed blast reflected back at Stormrider. The reflection wasn't as powerful as the original attack, but it still took over half of her hit points.
"And Wizard avoids the Lightning Lash through an amazing jump! Stormrider is hit by her own blast!" the announcer exclaimed. The audience started to call out, but Oujirou blocked them out.
"It's never a good idea to use an attack that can reflect back at you," he told her softly.
Riira just blinked. "Well, this will just have to be done the old-fashioned way, won't it?" She gave him a cute smile. "And when I win, you're taking me out to dinner."
"Um..." Was he doomed to be hit on every time he played? First Suzuki, now Tachi Riira? He glanced at the clock. Six minutes. He could draw this out, but since Stormrider was a heavy angel, it wouldn't be wise. She might manage, through some fluke, to knock Wizard out of the Layer. "I think that won't happen."
He smiled at Wizard. "I think it's time to end this, don't you?"
Wizard looked at him. Stormrider lunged for him, clearly trying to land a hit, but the slender angel avoided it easily. "Walk the Magic Circle, Wizard," he ordered, and he smiled as Wizard began to circle Stormrider again.
"Didn't you try this before?" Riira asked.
He merely smiled at her. He intended on having Wizard moving faster this time, and there was one spot where Riira was blind, most likely. Most Deuses had a blind spot, the spot right behind where there angel was standing. If he timed it right, it would seem as though Wizard came from nowhere; a simple optical illusion, but his mother had said it...'When Oujirou does something, Oujirou does it by thinking.'
He intended to outwit his opponent. The Magic Circle wouldn't work against Shuuko, but most players would fall for it. Wizard had other tricks up his sleeve, should it fail.
Stormrider watched carefully, but there was one spot...
THERE.
Wizard took the moment, and a strong kick to the jaw, one of the spots where an angel was most vulnerable, sent Stormrider tumbling back. She hadn't raised any kind of defense, and to spectators, it would seem as though he had simply appeared in front of her. Even the cameras would have a hard time catching it, Oujirou thought in satisfaction.
The announcer stared in surprise for a moment as Stormrider's points went below zero before turning to Oujirou, who merely smiled. "Wizard wins!"
*
Oujirou sat in the waiting room, flipping through his computer files. The stats he had gathered updated automatically through a wireless web link with a program he had designed; after every match, players' abilities were automatically recalculated, and new information was input. He glanced at the live feeds of matches as well, watching the other Deuses battle. This was thrilling, more thrilling than he had believed. Pitting himself against the others wasn't that challenging yet, because none of the Deuses had been on his level, but analyzing, tactics... That had been wonderful. He could see the flaws of the other angels as clearly as he could see his own hands if he held them in front of his face. .
The ranks were starting to thin, with the two-loss elimination rule, and the players he would be facing would be better soon. He looked up towards the screen just in time to see an angel be thrown from the ring, and winced, knowing that it was the second loss for that angel. She was out of the running, and her Deus had to be upset.
"For someone to win, someone has to lose," he murmured. It was a sad thought.
He glanced at the schedule posted on the wall. Two more matches before he came up for a fifth time. His opponent's name was finally listed and... Oujirou smiled slightly to himself. This would be interesting. Last year's fifth-place finisher in the Kansai tournament, and probably better than Tigra.
Ginga Kaoru and Angel Yumemi, the Matriarch of Angelic Layer. Kaoru was seventy if she was a day, and Oujirou knew his brother was thrilled that the retiree had gotten into the game. Her data had been avidly studied by all of the researchers.
Oujirou was relieved for another reason.
All the other Deuses seemed to think he was fair game for dating, and a few of the propositions he'd received had actually made him want to hide. Kaoru had a sharp mind and a great personality, but he knew that she wouldn't hit on him, at least. Well- he hoped not.
He was just about to go through Yumemi's data again when he heard a soft sniffle beside him. Looking over, he noticed a young Deus, no more than ten. Oujirou wasn't that good with children, and seeing one cry made him feel distinctly uncomfortable. The girl was holding onto an angel, the one that had just been thrown from the ring in the last match. He recoiled inside, but knew he couldn't leave her like this.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
She wasn't so young that she wasn't entranced by his looks; having a handsome boy pay attention to her startled her out of her crying. She blushed a bit as he gave her a concerned look. "I... I'm fine," she said, trying to brush away her tears hurriedly.
He studied her for a moment, trying to decide if that would let him off, but the same conscience that had led him to intervene when Himeya and Hiroshi had started to fight. "Really? People who are fine don't cry..." He set the laptop aside after shutting it with a 'click.'
The girl seemed torn about how to answer. "I shouldn't cry... It's just a game," she murmured as she cradled her doll.
Oujirou considered her words. "Losing hurts..." he murmured. "I hate to lose."
"You lose?" the girl asked in amazement. "I watched you fight... It's hard to believe you lose." she admitted.
"Everyone has someone who is better than they are. But losing is what makes us stronger." Oujirou rose out of the chair to walk over to the girl, looking at her. "Your opponent was better than you were today, but that doesn't mean you won't be better than she is, the next time you meet." He helped her into a seat, kneeling down in front of her so he could look her directly in her eyes.
"What? How?" She wondered.
"You remember this... and you let it make you strong. Take this memory into the next fight, and it will guide you and your angel," he told her. His brother had told him the same thing, the first time he and Shuuko had fought seriously, and he had lost. Losing to Shuuko repeatedly was enough to make him want to scream sometimes. He had never defeated her, no matter what he tried. Still, he kept getting closer, and he knew that he was the only one who came close to giving Athena a challenge.
With Wizard at his side, he would finally bring the Goddess down.
Still, the girl before him was his concern right now. She held her angel lovingly and smiled at him. "Thank you, Oujirou-sama..." she said, blushing even more deeply. "I'm Kai Satami..." she said, bowing as she introduced herself. "You're wonderful. I hope I'm half as good as you are someday."
It was only through sheer force of will that he kept from blushing himself at her words. "I've barely done anything yet," he returned. "I'm merely a Deus, like you."
The girl shook her head. "No... You're more. You're going to win this..." she predicted. "And you took time to comfort me... You're wonderful."
He did color at her words that time.
*
Another match.
He sat in the chair, feeling it rise to face his opponent, Ginga Kaoru. He looked across at her, smiling as she stared back it him with cool eyes that gave away nothing of what she thought. He respected that; she would be hard to anticipate because of that. With her, it would be about her angel and skills, not about psyching out the opponent. It would be worth the fight.
Oujirou nodded a bit to Kaoru, maintaining a sweet expression as she studied him. Seeing an old face behind the Angelic Layer headset was odd, but he liked it. Her face was full of character and a life well lived. He respected her for entering the arena, in a game where the average age of players was sixteen. She kept abreast of technology, and had been quoted as saying, "the day I stop being interested in the latest advances is the day I'm six feet under."
Kaoru was what most people would call "a character."
"Your pretty face isn't going to help you this time, boy," she said to him after a while, breaking the smile. Then she winked playfully. "I'm about half a century beyond being distracted by good looks."
He laughed a bit, not at all offended by her teasing. "And your sharp tongue isn't going to distract me. So let's agree that our angels will decide?"
She returned to studying him before bursting out laughing as well. "You, I like. But Yumemi won't lose to your Wizard. I've watched you fight, and I've figured out your style," she warned.
"Oh?" he asked in idle curiosity. He hadn't really unleashed any of his secret moves yet, and he'd be seriously surprised if she knew them, except for the Magic Circle. He wasn't sure if he was going to use that one on her; she was known for being perceptive, and his optical illusion trick would probably fail.
"You fight with your head. You're a thinker," she said. "But so am I, and I've been thinking for a lot longer than you have. So smart as you are, boy, you're still just a boy."
He merely smiled in return, but inside he braced himself for a fierce fight. Kaoru was going to be one of the toughest fights he'd see on his way to Athena, he realized. Age brought wisdom, and that was something Kaoru apparently had in abundance. Along with the lack of tact her age let her get away with.
"In the East corner, Deus Mihara Oujirou, Angel Wizard!" The announcer voice proclaimed, cutting through their conversation. Oujirou activated his headset and had Wizard perform his entry, even though his eyes never left Kaoru's face.
"In the West corner, Deus Ginga Kaoru, Angel Yumemi!"
"Weave the dreams of yesterday and today, Yumemi!" Kaoru called. She dropped her angel in nonchalantly, not bothering to strain herself by throwing it halfway across the Layer.
Oujirou watched Kaoru smile as Yumemi came alive. Yumemi was a medium angel, built on equal portions of speed, agility and strength. She wore a traditional kimono complete with obi, and Oujirou knew that Kaoru habitually changed Yumemi's clothing. Her strength was from Kaoru's expert control, creativity and ability to undermine whatever the other Deus threw at her. She was adaptable; this would be a battle of the Deuses, which one was able to think the further step ahead.
"What kind of battle will these two angels show us? Both angels are undefeated so far in this tournament!" the announcer said.
The Deuses ignored his hype, waiting for him to give the signal. "Angelic FIGHT!" he yelled after adding a few of their statistics to get the crowd going.
The angels remained still, neither moving as they searched the other for weakness. Oujirou knew he was faster and stronger, but she would be able to keep even with him through her endurance and agility.
"We probably should begin this, Oujirou-kun," she said.
"Ladies first," he replied politely.
She cocked an eyebrow beneath the pink plastic. "Kind of you. Well... Shall we dance?"
"Let's."
On that word, both angels sprang forward into what appeared to be a carefully choreographed dance. Wizard closed the distance quickly, as Oujirou decided to test Yumemi's short-range abilities. If he could wear her down, he might be able to win on points, rather than tossing her from the Layer.
Yumemi's black eyes watched carefully, and she took a guard stance, waiting to parry the blow. Wizard launched a triple series of kicks, one rising to the stomach head and falling to the chest. It was a difficult combination to avoid; parry the first, dodge the second, get hit by the third was the usual sequence most experienced Dueses decided to deal with; if they could avoid it at all. He'd taken out his fourth opponent with it.
Yumemi, though, calmly accepted the first blow... which left Wizard open as he raised his leg higher to land the second.
Oujirou winced as the average angel punched him. The blow only grazed Wizard, doing minimal damage, but it was enough to send him back. It was the first time he'd been hit this tournament. It was the first time Wizard had ever been hit, for that matter.
"Wizard attacks, wounding Yumemi, but Yumemi's counterattack forces Wizard back! She is the first angel in the tournament to score a hit on Wizard!"
Wizard did a series of flips back, trying to give Oujirou a moment to think. "I've gotten cocky," he murmured.
"You have," Kaoru said. "Time to wake up!"
Yumemi moved forward this time spinning around in circles with her arms out beside her. The kimono rose around her pale tanned legs, and Oujirou realized that this was some new special attack Kaoru was going to unleash on him. He followed her carefully, Wizard following into a defensive crouch. The blue angel was on guard; Yumemi was a threat. Yumemi seemed to blur before Oujirou's amazed sight as her spin gained more and more speed.
'She's not a speed type...' he thought, but then realized that was exactly the point. She was spinning to gain momentum, and any of the strikes she hit would deal extra damage and even deflecting them might injure Wizard.
"Yumemi launches into a twirl... I've never seen this tactic before - watch is she going to do? Will Wizard be able to stop her?" the announcer yelled into his microphone.
Oujirou remained impassive, but inside he was applauding. 'This is a good fight,' he thought. If I can't deflect, that leaves fight or flight... But flight might let her get me. That leaves fighting...'
Wizard tensed in preparation, waiting for the right moment to react. Yumemi was getting closer and closer, and her new attack was negating his speed and strength advantage. She had more hit points and could afford to make more damage... Yumemi finally arrived in striking range, and one of her feet lashed out with twice her normal speed.
Wizard countered by leaping over her, trying to get on her other side, but Yumeni's kick was there on the follow through. It was only because he landed just outside of her reach that he didn't end up tossed from the Layer.
"Wizard narrowly avoids Yumemi's powered-up attack! Will he be able to avoid the next one?" the announcer cried.
'She's anticipating me...' he realized. A smile formed on his lips as he realized that Kaoru must have researched him as thoroughly as he had done him. It was time to play to the next level.
The spiraling angel continued to build speed, her Deus watching with a blank face. Oujirou tapped his fingers against his chair, sending Wizard around in what appeared to be the beginning of the Magic Circle. "Cast your Illusions, Wizard," he murmured.
"That won't work on Yumemi," Kaoru said. "I know the trick of that, and I'm waiting for it."
It took an instant, a blink of the eye. Yumemi's spin was too quick for her to stop, and Oujirou had anticipated that. Wizard raced around, faster and faster until he matched her pace... and then raced forward, grabbing her arm and helping her spin faster. Kaoru had been preparing for a strike from her blind side, but Oujirou had come from the front. She had known that was possible as well, but it wasn't a blow. There had been no force behind it, and he hadn't taken any of Yumemi's hit points... rather he had unbalanced her.
"Wizard uses Yumemi's own momentum against her! Oujirou-san seems fond of this tactic!"
Yumeni's whirl wobbled a bit, and Kaoru's eyes narrowed in concentration as she focused on gaining her control back... but that instant was enough to let him get the edge he needed. Wizard pressed his attack, again using the three kick strike he had initially tried... but this time it connected.
Oujirou heard the sound of Yumemi's hit points going down, and smiled as he realized it had been a mortal blow. The Asian angel went flying, landing in a crumbled heap across from him. Wizard stood over her like a grim angel of death, his expressionless face foreboding.
"Now Wizard lands his three-kick combo, taking Yumemi into negative hitpoints! WIZARD WINS!" The announcer proclaimed.
After he had been lowered to the ground and removed his headgear, he walked over to where Kaoru was still sitting in her seat. It was customary to exchange thanks for a match, and Kaoru had been a good opponent. He hoped she hadn't been offended at her defeat; according to her records, Wizard was the fourth angel to defeat Yumemi.
Kaoru, though, looked up at him as he approached, a beautiful smile on her face. It made him catch his breath, and he reflected that she must have been a beautiful woman in her youth; traces of her beauty still remained in the lines of her face, and something about how she held herself. Only beautiful women ever gained that kind of confidence.
"Good match, Oujirou-kun... Too bad it didn't last longer."
He bowed to her in sincere admiration. "I had to take you out early, because you're too good."
She laughed a bit. "You may be right. Well, would you be so kind as to help an old women out of her chair? I'm afraid these bones don't move as easily as they used to..."
Oujirou offered her his arm, which she clung to as she maneuvered herself out of the chair. The assistants raced over to hand her Yumemi. The old woman stared down at her angel thoughtfully. "Well, I'll see you in Kansai, won't I?"
He blinked. "I..."
"Come now, no false modesty. Four of us will advance... You and I will be there, and I fully intend on facing you there. I've fought you now, and I know what I need to defeat you." Her dark eyes glimmered as she looked at him. "I'll even tell you, because I want you to fix it, so we can have a real match."
He went cold inside, fearing that Kaoru's perceptive eyes had seen something he hadn't, recognized some flaw in him that was the reason Shuu won time and time again. "What's my problem?" he asked in a hushed voice.
"You're not fighting me or my angel. You're fighting something else, some cosmic battle. Still, there's stories about people like you, Oujirou-kun. Some people walk with their eyes so focused on the heavens that they don't see the earth around them." Her hand gripped him tightly. "And those people always stumble, because they never see the roadblocks right before them."
*
The last three matches were easy. No one else came even close to challenging him or Wizard, and Oujirou knew that what Kaoru had warned him of was true. He wasn't playing the other players; he was playing for Shuuko. Would he encounter someone who would challenge him? Would it be Kaoru, in her wisdom, who would challenge him at Kansai? Or would someone else rise up? The thought preyed on his mind.
The Kobe tournament was large enough that he didn't have to meet all the players; it was a pity, because he would have liked to fight Tigra again. Tigra was fighting more strongly, varying her attacks, and his eyes shone as he caught the end of her eighth fight. She hadn't lost any of them. He was willing to wager that she would be one of the ones advancing. Along with Kaoru, a fourth contestant, a small girl who fought with a speed-type angel named Lucifer, were his bets. He hadn't fought Lucifer, and privately thought Stormrider was the better angel, but Stormrider had encountered Tigra as her fourth match, and would place fifth. It was the luck of the draw.
He lingered in the background as he watched the last of the matches, Yumemi versus a rookie. Yumemi fought brilliantly, and he realized that beating her was a triumph. Yumemi was a Championship-level angel, and defeating her on the Kobe level was a true victory. He was ready to face the battles on the next level.
"Layer Out! Yumemi Wins!" The announcer declared. "And now its time to declare the ones who will represent Kobe in the Kansai Tournament!"
Oujirou waited, not at all concerned. Wizard and Tigra were the only undefeated angels, so it was a foregone conclusion. He felt someone join him though, a warm presence that was at once expected and challenging.
"I was wondering when you'd get here, niisan," Oujirou said idly to his older brother.
Ichirou's face was uncharacteristically blank, the way it was when he was either going to be serious or was truly angry. Oujirou still hadn't learned to read his brother's moods well enough to tell which would be forthcoming.
"Well?" The single word bespoke volumes. If Oujirou didn't answer carefully, Ichirou was going to figure some way to yank him out of the competition.
"I'm going to win," Oujirou said.
"You've already swept the Kobe match," Ichirou said softly. "I think you've demoralized a few of the players."
"Really? Most of my competitors seemed inspired after playing me. Riira's even managed to get my e-mail address and has invited me out for a celebratory dinner," he replied. He smiled, staring up at the board, waiting for the results to be posted, even though he knew he'd be going to Kansai.
"Why? Why have you suddenly decided that Angelic Layer is so important?" his brother demanded.
"A part of it is to establish a male Deus as a success. Last year at the championship, there was only one male Deus, and he was ten. You need someone who can be a role model, who the girls will desire and the boys want to be." Oujirou looked over at the contestants who were milling around. "I didn't want it to be me originally, but there's no one better. I'm the only one who can fight Athena on her own terms. After this year, you'll see a drastic rise in male players..."
"...and we'll get the data we need that much quicker," Ichirou continued softly. "But there's more. You don't do anything for just one reason."
"Of course not," Oujirou said. "But my reasons are my own."
"You won't beat Athena," Ichirou said softly. "Shuuko is unstoppable on the Layer."
"I'll defeat her," Oujirou answered. "Wizard and I understand each other."
"Do you? You understand Wizard better than any other angel you've fought with, but I don't think you're there yet. Athena is Shuu's other self... You won't beat her."
Oujirou's eyes narrowed dangerously. He was usually quite laid back, but being told 'no' inflamed him like nothing else - with the exception of being underestimated. "I will."
"Of course, you have to make it to her first... There's still the Kansai Tournament and the rest of the Championship to go. The players this year are better than they were last year, and some might have some interesting things to show you."
"By the time those are done, I will be the best known player on the Layer, aside from Shuu," Oujirou vowed.
"Egotistical, aren't you? Don't you know that they say 'pride comes before the fall?'" his brother murmured, stepping back into the shadow.
Oujirou turned back to the ring, just in time to hear them announce him as the winner of the Kobe match. He smiled brightly at the cheers, but inside he was thinking much more serious thoughts. I'll get there, niisan... I'll defeat Shuuko... And show you how much you mean to me, he vowed to himself.
All that stood between him and his goal were eight matches.
Author's Notes:
I made my second deadline! *pleased*
Credits: Okay, thanks have to go to the incomparable Lyra for all the help she's been in the last few months... it won't be much longer. Also thanks to Gabi-hime, who I enjoyed speaking to on Oujirou's motivations very much, and AlanP who suggested the concept of an older player, which eventually evolved into Kaoru - I blame him for hijacking my plot. ^_~ Also thanks to Kamitra, for supplying me with the music I needed to keep moving. I'll be mailing you soon!
The advancement of four players I decided arbitrarily... it looked like they took several from the Tokyo match to Kantou, so I did the same for this. Four seemed like a good number, since sixteen players will be at Kansai. Four from four local matches.
Feedback would be very much appreciated. This is &*#&* piece to write. And I have two more parts to write...