Ok, meant to answer this question before but...anyway, Li-ain asked if Sakura was a nickname for Sakuraryu, and the answer is yes! It's just easier to type...I think...yeah, I know, it's only three more letters...but hey, I'm lazy. ^.^;

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One Second Counts: Year Two - Kajuu's Turn To Shine

Kajuu sat outside, pigging out on her recently purchased food. She always thought that eating would make her feel better. She watched the big screen, where Taki and Tsubaki were fighting. 'You better not loose now, Kazan...' Kajuu thought to herself glaring at the TV. Sakuraryu sat in front of her Deus, eyes closed. Kajuu eventually finished her food, and looked back at the TV. She had missed the very end of the fight, but did catch the winner.

"You ready to beat Taki into the ground, Sakuraryu?" Kajuu took her mess to the trashcan and threw the remains of her food out. She walked to the waiting room, Sakuraryu in hand. As soon as she opened the door, the call for her fight came.

"W-5, Kiriyou Kajuu?" Kajuu ran around the corner, her heart beating fast. 'Calm down...We've beaten Taki twice...this might be harder, but we'll do our best, won't we?'

"Our next match is between the two that made it to the finals last year! How will they do against each other this time? Will the same Angel be the victor? In the East Corner, Deus: Haiiro Kazan! Angel: Taki!" Kazan, the Nationals Champion of the previous year, walked out. She smiled, and quickly too her seat. "And the one who almost made the victory last year, In the West Corner, Deus: Kiriyou Kajuu! Angel: Sakuraryu!" Kajuu smiled, waved, and took her seat. The two Deus smiled at each other, giving a quiet 'good luck' to the other.

"Angels to the Layer!"

"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. She folded her arms, and waited.

"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, which was a big change from her previous match.

"Angelic Fight!"

Neither Angel moved. The Dues' looked from the Layer to each other, and back to the Layer again. Then, in a sudden rush, both Angels disappeared from the Layer. 'Shoot...she was thinking the same thing!' Kajuu thought as her attention shifted from the Layer surface, to high above it, where both Angels floated. Taki spun in a circle with her foot sticking out, trying to knock Sakuraryu to the Layer. Sakura stopped the foot with her hands, and quickly wrapped her fingers around Taki's ankle, and threw her at the Layer. Taki recovered before hitting the Layer, and landed kneeling down. Sakura came down for a follow up, and tried to knock Taki backwards.

She used the heel of her hands and tried to slam into Taki's jaw, but the blue-haired Angel kicked her foot out, connecting with Sakura's jaw. Sakura flew backwards, but did a flip to regain her balance. 'We're too evenly matched! Neither of us has received too much damage...' Kajuu looked around the Layer for where Taki went. She was charging at the white-haired Angel. She stuck her fist out, but Sakura side stepped the punch, and slammed her elbow into the back of Taki's neck. As Taki fell, she put her hands under her, and threw her feet over her head, kicking Sakuraryu's cheek, sending her halfway across the Layer.

Both Angels slowly stood as the time ticked down to 5 minutes. Sakuraryu charged, and began an onslaught of punches, targeting the edge of the Layer. Taki was being slowly pushed back. It looked like Sakura would win, until she made a big mistake. Instead of continuing her punches, she got down low, and tried to kick Taki's chin. Taki grabbed Sakura's foot, and was about to throw her out of the Layer, when Sakura used her other foot to gain momentum and spin her other foot out of Taki's grasp. Once she was up, Sakuraryu held her ground. Taki ran and kicked, but Sakuraryu grabbed her foot, and used it to slam a kick into Taki's face. Taki went flying out of the Layer, and it was all over.

"Layer out! Sakuraryu wins!"

Kajuu was in a state of shock. She tried to hide her surprise by forcing a smile. 'It was over too fast...' She thought as her chair was lowered to pick up her Angel. Kazan walked up, Taki in hand. She smiled, and motioned for a handshake.

"A well deserved victory." Kazan said as the two Deus' shook hands.

"You did an awesome job last year. I guess I never really got to say that seriously to you." Both smiled and turned back to their waiting rooms. Kajuu smiled at Sakuraryu.

"Great job." She heard a very familiar voice, and looked up, only to see Madoka and Arisu. Kajuu squealed in surprise.

"You watched?" She had forgotten Madoka was a Deus just like her.

"Of course I did." She smiled, and left as her name was called. Kajuu took a seat in the café later on, and took a long look at her tiny Angel.

"We never got to use our move against Taki and Kazan. She was probably thinking the same thing. How ironic...both of us jumping into the air at the same time..." She sighed, took another look at her Angel, and left for more food.

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Kinda short...but I haven't been writing long chapters...I hope everyone liked the battle! I tried my best to make it worth the wait! ^.^ leave me a review, and I'll update soon!...I hope... ^.^;