Thanks to everyone for your reviews! As I said, I think my writing is getting better with every fan fic that I write. I hope you enjoy this chapter. :-)

Tampered Mind – The Hospital

Disclaimer: Uh-heheheheheeeeeeeeeeeeeeemm......this paper clearly states that Angelic Layer and all its characters belong to Mr. Clamp. Miss Sky Rider (as she is called on here), does not get any money from it. So you see, there isn't a reason to sue her. Thank you for your time, now please enjoy reading.

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"A coma!?" Shuuko exclaimed in dismay. She was about ready to cry when Ichirou put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her.

"Only a temporary one." The doctor explained to her. Ichirou and Oujirou were standing close at hand looking at the still Misaki as she lay on a hospital bed.

"That means she'll be awake in a few days. What I don't understand is how she got this way. We couldn't find anything physically wrong that might tell us how she got this way, but there was some increased brain activity before we put her on oxygen. But don't worry, she should be awake and out of here in five days maximum."

Oujirou nodded silently. "I wonder......" he said finally, making everyone look at him, "if it had anything to do with the Precision Shield she was wearing. After all, it did happen when Hikaru was on the Layer, and nothing like this has every happened before. Right?"

Ichirou studied Oujirou for a moment then frowned, "I was extra careful when I made and checked the Precision Shields. Nothing that came directly from the company could inflict harm on anyone. Therefore it couldn't be the Preci--"

"Not necessarily." Oujirou interrupted, "What if someone tampered with her Precision Shield before she even touched it?"

"You're saying that the staff is involved?" Ichirou looked appalled.

"Not at all." Oujirou said shaking his head ever so slightly, "It's possible that somehow one of the other Deus got her Precision Shield first and simply tampered with it and asked for a different one. When under stress staff have been known to give in to strange requests."

"So what you're saying is that someone intentionally wanted to harm Misaki?" Shuuko asked still looking shocked and dismayed.

Oujirou hesitated, "Maybe......but more than likely they just wanted get an easy win. They probably had no idea who would get it, or if it would even be used."

Ichirou put his hand wearily down to his side. It was probably one of the very few times he was actually being very serious, "I see. Well, in any case, we need to find you a new partner, Oujirou. I heard that Sai's partner backed out on her at the last minute......"

Oujirou shook his head, "No. I don't want a replacement for the rest of the tournament. If Misaki isn't fighting, then neither am I. Angelic Layer is wonderful and I love it, but I can always enter the next tournament."

Shuuko and Ichirou looked him over.

"Well, I do believe that you're becoming not only a gentlemen, but also a good man," Shuuko stated as if it were now obvious to see.

There was silence for a moment before Ichirou finally took one last look at Misaki and waved his goodbyes, "I should get started on analyzing the Precision Shield Misaki used. I'll see both of you later on."

Shuuko nodded, only seconds after, stating that she was becoming too tired to stay any longer, and that she would have to leave Misaki for the night. Oujirou smiled understandingly, telling Shuuko that he would stay with Misaki. Shuuko thanked Oujirou, kissed Misaki on the forehead, and left. This meant that Oujirou was left alone to watch over one of the very few people he truly cared for.

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Three days later, very early in the morning while Oujirou was sitting in a chair by Misaki's bedside (A/N: he was still very much asleep I might add), Misaki opened her blue eyes to the tile ceiling of the hospital. The curtains on the windows were open, but it was still dark outside.

'Where am I?' She wondered silently as her eyes drifted around the room. The room looked rather sterile, clean, and bare.

'Wait......' she thought as her mind finally recognized how air was forcefully being pumped into her lungs by something, and how there were tubes in her arm. 'I must be in a hospital. But why? What happened? All I remember is- --wait, now I remember. I was at the tournament with Oujirou, then some horrible pain blinded me and I woke up here. I hope they got Hikaru off the Layer when I passed out.' She turned her head on her pillow and caught sight of a sleeping Oujirou. His hands were folded together in his lap and his head was resting peacefully against the wall behind the chair he was sitting in. Misaki pulled off the oxygen mask that was around her face. She didn't seem to need it anymore.

"Oujirou?" Misaki called weakly to him.

There was no response. He looked very tired indeed, and for a moment Misaki almost thought of letting him rest. However, she decided that just this once she was going to be selfish and wake him. That way she wouldn't have to wait until morning to get answers.

"Oujirou?" Misaki called a little louder.

This time Oujirou sharply took in a breath. His eyes slowly began to flutter open. After a moment his surroundings came into focus and he looked down at the girl who was calling his name. He leaned forward to grasp one of her hands. Misaki blushed several shades of pink.

"Misaki!" He smiled fondly at her. "You're awake!"

Misaki smiled weakly, "I guess so. Um......what happened with the tournament? And why am I here, Oujirou?"

Oujirou's smile flickered, "I'm not exactly sure what happened in the tournament, Misaki. At the end of the match I looked back at you and you weren't moving. So, I had no choice but to carry you out of the arena and get you to the hospital."

Misaki blushed a mild shade of maroon at the thought of being carried by Oujirou in front of millions of people (A/N: Some were Oujirou's fans and some were Misaki's mind you. All of who became very jealous of one or the other champion).

Oujirou merely smiled at Misaki's ever reddening face.

"How long have I been asleep?" Misaki asked, unsure if she really wanted to know.

Oujirou glanced at his watch, "You were a sleep for exactly three days, four hours and twenty minutes as of now. And if you want to know what time it is, it's four twenty in the morning."

"How long have you been here?" Misaki asked, wondering if it was exactly appropriate for her to do so.

Oujirou just smiled, "I've been here for a while. I'm not exactly sure how long, but at least since yesterday afternoon. Shuuko and Ichan came to visit you too, but they both had work to do, so they couldn't stay."

"What about you? Don't you have work to do, Oujirou? Even if you don't......you really don't need to stay here with me. I'm all right." Misaki said. She didn't want him to be spending all his free time keeping her company. It didn't seem right to her somehow.

"No. I don't have anywhere I need to be. My time is better spent making sure you're okay. Ichan said that he found the source of what made you black out. Apparently someone tampered with your Precision Shield." Oujirou purposely "forgot" to tell Misaki that it was him that suggested the idea.

"I see." Misaki said, looking rather far off. Eventually, she reluctantly put the oxygen mask back on and fell back to sleep, allowing Oujirou to watch her lovingly in silence.

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Okay, that's chapter 2. So, how was it? Again, please review, I'd love to hear from everyone who read this. I already have an idea for the third chapter, so if you like it please stick around to read more soon. I hope you liked reading it as much as I liked writing it (Yes, I really do enjoy writing these stories. I'm not just being sarcastic.)! Thank you for reading!