One Second Counts: Year Two – Kajuu's Turn To Shine
School ended without much activity. Kajuu had been practicing every day she could. She wanted to win, not necessarily the tournament, but she wanted to win against Kazan and Taki.
"Misaki!" Kajuu waved and ran after Misaki. When she arrived Tamayo stopped her from going too close to Misaki.
"Do I have to keep telling you? It's MisakiCHI!" Tamayo gave a thumbs up as she emphasized the 'chi' in Misakichi.
"Sorry!" Kajuu scratched the back of her head and smiled.
"So what is it?" Tamayo got excited as she bent down, tightening her hands into fists.
"Misakichi!" Kajuu said enthusiastically as Tamayo leapt into the air, throwing her fist in the air too. Meanwhile, Kotarou and Misaki were giving the two odds stares.
"So, what did you have to say, Kajuu?" Misaki interrupted.
"Oh, Fujisaki Madoka, and her sister, Arisu, came to talk to me during my practice time. Madoka said she heard from someone that I tape all her matches. Did you tell her?"
Misaki blushed, and Tamayo came up from behind her, and threw her arm over Misaki's shoulder.
"Tamayo told her, really…I was just kind of…there." Misaki said as Tamayo smiled.
"The Official Tournament starts tomorrow," Kotarou cut in, "are you guys both ready?"
"I sure am!" Kajuu smiled, and gave a thumbs up.
"And our modest little Misaki won't say it, but she's gonna kick some serious butt this year!" Tamayo's eyes began to shine as she struck a dramatic pose. The four were now out of school, and walking down the street. They came to the point where they all went their separate ways. Kajuu got home, and immediately ran upstairs. She took Sakuraryu out of her bag, and debated whether to train in the Piffle Princess or at home. She decided to practice home, and got right to work.
*_*_*
Kajuu had adapted the move that brought her defeat last year as one of her finishing moves. Also, out of her fear of facing Suzuka, she had come up with a few low attacks that the Rolling Thunder couldn't be used against. After practicing for two hours straight, Kajuu decided to take a break.
"Too much stress is bad, isn't it?" Kajuu laughed as she picked up Sakuraryu. "Mom!! Sakurayu and I are gonna take a walk to the park!"
"Ok!!" A faint call came from somewhere in the house. Kajuu went to the door, put on her shoes, and walked out the door. She went down the almost always-quiet street in her neighborhood. When she got to the end, she made a right turn, staying on the sidewalk. Eventually she ended up in a park. She wandered around the park, looking for somewhere to sit. Finally, she found the perfect place.
It was a small hill that looked over the pond. Kajuu climbed to the top of it, and sat Sakuraryu next to her. She scooted forward a little bit, and then, putting her hands behind her head, she laid down in the grass. Her head was right next to where Sakuraryu sat. She looked up at the sky, which was full of puffy white clouds. She got lost deep in thought. About last year's tournament, about how hard Sakuraryu had worked, and how they were gonna show the world what they could do. She had come up with one new move. One she was gonna use against Taki.
As she proceeded to think, she began to get drowsy, and finally succumbed to the power of sleep.
*_*_*
SMACK.
"Owwww!!!" Kajuu sat up and rubbed her head. She turned around to see who had woken her up so rudely.
"Baka…" Kajuu was staring straight up at her 17-year-old brother. His green eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he saw his sister rub her head in pain.
"That wasn't nice!" Kajuu leapt at her brother, who only stepped back, and removed his hand from behind his back. In it was Kajuu's white haired Angel. "Sakuraryu!"
"It has a name?" Yakan gave the Angel a weird look.
"Yes, SHE does! Now give her back!" Kajuu jumped for Sakura, but couldn't get close to her brother's hand.
"Mom's been waiting for you to come home. She's been really worried about you. Let's go home."
"Gimme Sakuraryu!! If anything happens to her, you're gonna get it!"
"You'll have to catch me first!!!!" Yakan took off without warning.
"Oh please, I can run way faster than you!" Kajuu followed. With her speed, she caught up with her older brother before they got out of the park. She leapt at him, and he fell to the ground. Before he hit the ground, her had thrown Sakuraryu into the air. Kajuu jumped over her brother, and caught Sakuraryu before she hit the ground. She turned around, and stuck her tongue out at Yakan, who was now getting up.
She ran out of the park, and all the way back home, with Yakan close behind her. When she got home, she quickly threw off her shoes, and ran up to her room. She slammed the door right before Yakan could get in. She locked it, and threw herself on her bed. She laughed as she heard banging on her door.
"Kajuu!" It was her mother's voice. "Dinner!"
"Be right down!" She took Sakuraryu with her, as she always did.
*_*_*
Kajuu had gone to sleep early that night. She wanted to be ready for the tournament. When she woke up, she got dressed, and did sanitary stuff, ate breakfast and left the house. She walked with Sakuraryu to the stadium, and when she got inside, she let the person at the desk know that she was there. She proceeded to the West Corner waiting room. She sat down, knowing that she probably wasn't fighting. To her surprise, the lady walked in and called for her.
'W-1, Kiriyou Kajuu?" Kajuu sprung up, and followed the lady, clutching Sakuraryu tightly. 'Why do I always have to go first?' She laughed to herself. She had to admit, she was very nervous.
"In the East Corner, Deus: Kaeri Suichi! Angel: Kasuru!" A girl with black hair and glasses walked out, and took her seat.
"In the West Corner, Deus: Kiriyou Kajuu! Angel: Sakuraryu!" The crowd roared. "Kiriyou Kajuu is one of the favorites for this tournament! Last year she went all the way to the final match! I'm sure she's back and ready to take anyone on this year!" Kajuu smiled as she heard calsl of her name, and her Angel's name. She even saw a few signs. This made her a little less nervous. When both the girls were in their chairs and had their visors on, the announcer continued.
"Angels to the Layer!"
"Kasuru! Release our pain on this foe!" Suichi threw Kasuru into the layer. "Angel, fall-in!" Kasuru opened her eyes, and with both arms sticking out, did two flips, and landed on the Layer, folding both arms across her chest. Kasuru was dressed in a black dress that reached her ankles. It was Chinese-style, so there were slits in it, allowing for movement. It was trimmed with red, and she wore black slippers with red tassels on them. She had red eyes, and long black hair that was in a bun, held with two red chopsticks.
"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 got in a ready stance.
"Angelic Fight!"
Kasuru immediately charged. She threw a punch, but Sakuraryu dodged it. Sakura did a back flip to get some distance between her and the opponent. Kasuru again charged, but right before she was able to hit the white haired Angel, Sakuraryu jumped over Kasuru, and connected with Kasuru's back with a powerful kick. The other Angel didn't go too far, so Kajuu decided that she was heavyweight. Kasuru quickly recovered, and began an assault of punches, all of which Sakura dodged. Kasuru threw one last punch, and Sakura grabbed the fist, and used it to lift herself up and slam a kick into Kasuru's face. Kasuru went skidding across the Layer, and Sakuraryu followed. She jumped high into the air, and stuck out her knee. It slammed into Kasuru's stomach.
Sakura jumped back, and watched intently as Kasuru got up. Again, Kasuru went in for an assault of punches. 'Why doesn't she use her feet?' Sakura again grabbed her fist, except this time, she didn't do anything. She simply held on to both Kasuru's fists, and stared her in the eye. Kasuru then picked up her foot, and swung it at Sakuraryu, who dodged. 'Finally…it seems like Kaeri is a first time Dues…' Sakura jumped into the air, and as expected, Kasuru followed. Time was almost up, so Kajuu wanted to finish the match. Kasuru threw a punch while in the air, and Sakura again grabbed the fist, and threw Kasuru towards the Layer. Kasuru went flying towards the Layer, and Sakuraryu landed with her back to the Angel. Kasuru's damage meter reached zero, and the crowd erupted. Kajuu took her visor off, and smiled at the crowd. The chairs were lowered so the Dues' could pick up their Angels.
"Great match." Kajuu smiled as she shook hands with Suichi. Suichi smiled sadly as the chairs were lowered outside the Layer. They both walked out of the arena, and Kajuu went immediately to go see who she was fighting. To her horror, it read Deus: Kobayashi Hatoko, Angel: Suzuka.
"Oh great…this is not cool…" Kajuu slapped her forehead, and went to the café to take a break before her next fight.
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Ok, so I lied. I updated before vacation….I'M A LIER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *cries* Anyway, Dedication Time!: This chapter dedicated to my friend Suichi! (nickname, not real) I don't think she reads my fanfics, but I don't care. She was the Deus Kajuu fought, and I designed her Angel because I couldn't get in contact with her. Ok, Words of Wisdom!: Never eat yellow snow. Leave me a review!!!! ^.^