"Oh no!! My next match is starting soon! I'm going to be late!!!" Kajuu rushed around the house grabbing all her stuff. She ran downstairs, almost tripped getting her shoes on, and ran out the door with toast in her mouth. "Excuse me! Pardon me! So sorry!" She bumped into countless people as she ran to the stadium. She found her way to the waiting room, and threw herself down on the couch.
"Um…excuse me, miss." Kajuu heard a voice coming from behind her. She turned around to see a girl with brown hair and glasses smiling at her.
"Yes?" Kajuu said without getting up.
"I believe you are lying on my Angel." The girl said with a soft chuckle. She pointed to the seat where Kajuu had put her legs. Kajuu immediately sprung up from the seat.
"Ack! I'm sooooooo sorry!!!" Kajuu exclaimed. All the other girl did was smile at Kajuu and extend her hand.
"My name is Saitou Kaede, and this is my Angel, Buranshe."
"Pleased to meet you! My name is Kiriyou Kajuu, and this is my Angel, Sakuraryu. You can just call me Kajuu."
"And you can call me Kaede."
"E-5, Kiriyou Kajuu?" A lady called as she stepped into the room.
"I believe that's you." Kaede smiled.
"I guess you're right!" Kajuu jumped up and followed the lady out the door.
+-+-+
"In the East Corner: Angel-Sakuraryu, Deus-Kiriyou Kajuu!" Kajuu walked out as the crowed roared with cheers. Kajuu waved as she took her seat.
"In the West Corner: Angel-Taki, Deus-Haiiro Kazan!" Kazan walked out, and took her seat.
"We've been neglecting to use the new Layer, so here it is! Our Angels today will be fighting on: The Burning Tundra! Angels to the Layer!!!" The announcer called as the Layer transformed into what the announcer had said. It was mostly dirt, but the brush was burning.
"Raging water! Guide Taki to victory!" She threw her angel into the Layer. "Angel fall-in!!" Taki's short blue hair billowed behind her as she rose in the air. She did three summersaults, and then thrust her hands downward to the Layer, and did a head dive straight towards the ground. Just before the Angel smashed into the ground, she shot her feet down below her, and landed softly on her feet.
"Sakuraryu! Use the force of the Layer to topple this foe!" Kajuu tossed Sakuraryu into the Layer. "Angel, fall-in!" With her eyes closed, Sakura did a split and thrust her left had downwards. She seemed to stay suspended for a second or two. Then, she moved the same hand upward, and she plummeted towards the Layer at an amazing speed. She landed with one knee out, kneeling, and the other leg tucked under her body. Her left hand was in front, and her right had at her side, making a fist. As soon as she hit the ground, her purple eyes shot open. She gracefully stood up, and fixed her eyes on her opponent.
"Angelic FIGHT!" The crowed roared, but both the Angels stood where they were, the wind blowing their hair and clothes.
"Nice to meet you again!" Kajuu called to her opponent.
"You won't win this time. I refuse to loose to a baka like you!" Kazan shouted as her Angel charged. Taki jumped just before hitting Sakuraryu. 'What is she doing?' Kajuu thought as Taki landed behind Sakura. 'Left, right, left, jump, spin, kick! Follow through, and punch!' Taki was thrown across the Layer as Sakura finished her attack. Taki landed just inside the Layer, but Kazan didn't seem worried at all. 'What's her plan?'
Taki got up slowly, and jumped into the air. Sakura did the same, and stuck out her foot, and scored a massive hit to Taki's face. Taki went shooting back down towards the Layer, and landed hard next to a burning bush. Suddenly, Taki's Deus began to look worried. Taki charged and threw at punch at Sakura's face. Sakura grabbed Taki's fist and swung her foot out, and tripped Taki.
Taki got up, and both of them threw punches at each other, but none made contact until Taki and Sakuraryu hit each other's face. Both Angels flew backwards. They two lay there for a while, as the time ticked down. Eventually, Both of them stood up at the same time. Neither could attack, so they waited for a few seconds as the time went down to zero. Kazan had her teeth gritted because she knew she couldn't do anything. It was all up to who got the least damage.
"ANGELS TIME!" The announcer shouted.
'This is for the final four! Please don't let me down, Sakuraryu!'
"As neither Angel has been knocked out of the Layer, and both are able to stand, it is up to which Angel has received the least damage. And the winner is…" The announcer paused, waiting for the damage to be measured, since both Angels got very close to the same damage.
"SAKURARYU!!!" The announcer yelled as the damage count appeared on the screen. Kajuu got up, and quickly pulled her visor off as she smiled at the crowd. The seats of both Deus' were lowered to the Layer, and they both picked up their own Angel. Kajuu ran over to Kazan's seat as fast as she could.
"That was a great match. I hope to meet you in the Layer again!" Kajuu smiled. Kazan gave her and odd stare as she got out of her seat.
"Kiriyou…" Kazan stared at Kajuu for a second. "Umm…I…uhh…I...Can we be…friends?" She managed to say. "I know I was really rude to you when we first met…and well…I figured you're not that bad of a person…so…will you be my friend?" She managed a smile.
"Sure! But you have to call me Kajuu!" Kajuu smiled and shook Kazan's hand.
"And you call me Kazan!" They both smiled at each other before exiting the stadium in opposite directions.
+-+-+
"Angelic Layer fans!!! Are you ready to meet the four contenders!!??" The crowd roared as the stadium went dark. "These four have dominated the Layer, just to have a chance at the Final Four! Our first contender is the Goddess of Victory: Kobayashi Hatoko! Number two is the Layer Veteran and newbie no more: Suzuhara Misaki! Third is the girl who proves speed isn't everything: Kiriyou Kajuu! And the fourth is the Girl With the Healing Smile: Saitou Kaede!"
"This is what we've wanted, Sakuraryu. We want everyone back home to see us in the Nationals." Kajuu smiled at her Angel.
"Kajuu?" The same voice from the waiting room came from next to her.
"Kaede!" Kajuu turned to face her.
"I saw your last match. You were great!"
"Thanks! I've missed all your matches…sorry!"
"It's ok." Kaede smiled. "I just came to wish you good luck."
"Good luck to you too!" Kajuu said just before the announcer continued.
"Angels! Prepare for battle because our first match up is Angel Sakuraryu against Angel Hikaru!" Misaki smiled at Kajuu.
"Good luck!" She called across the Layer.
"SMASH HER, MISAKICHI!!!!" A single voice could be heard over all the others. It was Tamayo's voice. Misaki gave a nervous smile in the direction the voice came from.
"Let's go, Sakuraryu."