Now, time to set the stage! The final match of the tournament is ready to begin! The prelude starts now, and the real action will come next chapter. Review!
Deadly Ice 88: Thanks for reading, welcome back to all the fun.
KedharS: Nah. We aren't nearly to that level yet. Blake's backstory is crammed full as it is, no room for demonic heritage.
Pokemonking0924: Blake's got a lot of stuff on his mind right now. He tries to do the best he can, but he's only one guy. He's the best brother he can be, after all. It's hard to be a sibling to someone whose brain is wired differently from others.
AnonymousReader: Thank you for your submission, but I'm currently taking a break from accepting non-senior OCs.
Duskzilla: Both of those could work. I'll see when I can get to characters getting new pokemon.
Pokemon Academy: Beginning of Beginnings
Chapter 87
Sango glanced at the empty seat beside her, the anxiety clear on her face. When they had arrived at the stadium, they had managed to run into Serefina, Eli, and Dakota, and, for some reason, Kate. It took them a while, but they managed to find enough seats for the entire group, a few of them sitting in the front with some spaces in the back. While they'd been doing this, Blake had sent a text asking to save a seat for him while he handled some other business. Sango knew exactly what that was, too, and she couldn't help but be worried.
"Sorry, you can't pass through."
Blake glared at the impediment blocking his way into the corridors of the stadium. He'd been on his way to meet up with Elaina again, but where the previous day it had been a simple walk down the hallway, today there were two guards in his path. They appeared to be seniors by the looks of things, and as they were participating in campus safety activities they were probably in the Ranger Course.
"Why not?"
"Orders," the other guard stated. "We've been given some concerning information from the Eight Leaders that there might be people trying to mess with the finalists. So the only ones allowed into this section of the stadium are the finalists and a list of students who bought out the private boxes. And you're not on that list. Return to the regular seating with the other students."
Blake narrowed his eyes. So that's your play, Gerard.
"Listen, there's been a misunderstanding here," Blake said calmly. "I have some business inside. Just let-"
"I said no," the first guard repeated sharply.
"Is there a problem here?" A deep voice interrupted the argument, all heads turning to look at the new arrival to the scene.
Ayame was standing behind Blake, her expression as austere as always.
"Er… no, miss," the first guard said, flustered. His normally imposing figure seemed to wilt under Ayame's gaze.
"Y-yeah, we were just stopping this student from trespassing into the private areas," the other guard tried to explain.
"Oh, I see," Ayame said, her eyes skipping over Blake for a second before returning to look at the guards. "Didn't you hear what he said? There's been a misunderstanding."
"A… a misunderstanding?" the first guard tried to clarify.
"This student here is a guest of the Empress, Olivia," Ayame explained. "She invited him into her private box to watch the match with us."
"I-is, is that so? But he wasn't on the list, so…"
"It was a sudden thing," Ayame explained. "Just let us through."
She reached into her shirt pocket and withdrew her student ID.
"Here, this should be confirmation, right?" Ayame handed her card to one of the guards to scan. "If something happens, I'll be taking responsibility for it."
The guards glanced at each other warily, before looking back to Ayame. They returned her key card and stepped out of the way, lifting the cloth stanchion to allow them to pass.
"Thanks," Blake said as they walked through, Ayame not even sparing him a glance. When they got to a suitable distance away from the guards, Ayame whirled around and jabbed her finger in Blake's chest.
"I don't know what sort of business you've got backstage, and frankly, I don't really care. I helped you out since there was no reason not to, but I put my ass on the line now. So you better not go do something stupid and make me regret helping you, got it?"
"You know I'd never do anything to put that ass of yours at risk," Blake laughed. Ayame didn't share the joke.
"Security!" She called.
"Sorry, sorry," Blake said, waving his hands frantically. "It was just a joke!"
"Whatever," Ayame muttered, stopping in front of the door to Olivia's private suite. "Get whatever you have to do done, and then leave. The Empress and I can't get wrapped up in it. So you just remember to keep your promise, got it?"
"Right, our phone date tomorrow. I'll be waiting eagerly."
Ayame rolled her eyes and opened the door, not even sparing him a reply as she entered.
One more victory… Elaina thought, staring into the mirror and gazing upon the expressionless mask captured within it. Then it will all be over… We'll be done… then… maybe, even I could…
A knock on the door shook her free from her thoughts.
No, stop worrying about it. If my heart is in turmoil, then there's no way I'll be able to control myself… Elaina reminded herself, rising to her feet and turning to the door. Is there something else Gerard wanted?
"Elaina?" That voice… but why was he here?
Elaina glanced around frantically, smoothing out her dress and brushing several loose strands of hair into place.
"Come… come in!" Elaina said, mentally hitting herself for sounding as eager as she did.
Blake stepped into the dressing room, Elaina stepping up to greet him.
"Erm… what are you doing here?" Elaina asked. Her heart leapt up into her chest and she felt her cheeks flush. No… why… she clutched her breast as subtly as possible, trying to keep her emotions in check. Right now… hearing his voice had sent her soaring, but seeing his face… it was bringing up so much she couldn't wrap her head around. But she knew that right now was NOT the time. She could feel the control slipping from her.
How? How can this be? I'm not fighting anyone. I'm not using my powers… but still, how can I… how can I be feeling like this, right now? It's like my harmonia is going wild, and yet I…
"I wanted to check up on you, you know," Blake said, shrugging, trying to seem as casual as he possibly could. "See how you were doing. It's a big match, you know, so-"
"I'm fine."
"Are you sure? Because-"
"Blake," Elaina said, as coldly as she could to try and ease her pounding heart, "what are you doing here? We aren't friends."
She walked over to her dresser and picked up the note he'd given her the previous day, showing it off to him.
"This? What is this? What are you trying to do here?"
"You kept that?" Blake commented, surprised.
"That… that is not the point!" Elaina gasped, caught. She desperately shifted the conversation, "I told you before, I don't need your help. Gerard is enough, he-"
"I don't want to talk about him," Blake said. "I want to talk about you. Elaina, I'm worried about you. If there's anything I can do to help, then please…" he stepped towards her and held out a hand, but she shrugged him aside and stepped out of his reach.
"Just go…" she whispered, shaking her head. "Please… You can't do anything for me." She needed to have him go away. Before, thinking of Blake had only made her feel pleasantly, like she could control herself. But after what Gerard had said…
"I don't want to see him get hurt… and I don't want you to hurt him."
She wanted to keep him at a distance. But no. Blake would just keep coming. He would keep trying to reach out to her like this. Try to get closer to her. And if he did… if she hurt him somehow… it would break her heart.
"Elaina…"
"JUST STOP IT!" She shouted, the air warping around her and rattling the room, knocking a chair over and cracking the mirror, papers and pencils sent flying.
Blake reached up and placed a hand on his cheek, feeling something warm and sticky. He glanced down at the blood smeared on his fingers.
"Ah… ah…" Elaina stepped back shakily, holding her hands over her mask. "I didn't mean… I… would never…"
"Elaina," Blake said, noticing the tremors shaking through her. She looks like she's about to have a meltdown, for the love of god, please…
He held his hands down and lowered the tone of his voice to a more comforting volume.
"Elaina, it's okay. I'm fine. Don't worry. It was just an accident."
"I… I'm so… I never wanted to hurt you, I swear, not you, never, I… just go!" Another blast of wind, this one hitting him in the face and pushing him backwards. Blake stumbled back but maintained his footing, steadying himself. Elaina collapsed into a crouch, clutching her head to try and steady her shaking.
"I promise, Elaina, I'm not going to go anywhere, okay?" Blake said, sitting down to be on the same level as her. "Are you… okay?"
"No… I… I thought I could handle this, I thought, I… just go! If you stay here, I'm… I… I don't know, but…"
"I know," Blake said, nodding. "I know. Believe me, I know. Are you scared?"
Elaina nodded.
"I'm scared too," Blake admitted. "But not of you. Never of you. I'm afraid that you might go down the wrong path. Right now I can tell you're trying to push me away. But I won't let that happen."
"What do you want from me…?" Elaina asked in a choked whisper, glancing up at him. "Why… why would you…"
"I want to help you," Blake said. "I already told you that. Even if that means that I have to keep my distance from you like you want."
"What?"
"You're afraid of hurting me. I get it." Blake rubbed his cheek, the blood slowing. It was a shallow wound. "So if it would make you feel better for me to keep my distance, then I will. But I'm not leaving you. I'm not abandoning you. I just want to help you any way that I can."
Elaina said nothing for a long time. She buried her face in her forearms as she huddled up tightly, still shaking. Finally, she rose her head to stare at him, his eyes wet with concern that she blocked out from the porcelain barrier covering her face.
"Please… just go."
"Okay," Blake said resignedly, rising to his feet. He picked a bloodied pencil up off of the ground. It must have been what struck him. He wrote down his cell number on a piece of paper, and placed it down at her feet.
"Elaina, if you need me… if you need anything… please, just call."
Elaina didn't say anything further, and Blake didn't leave her, either. He waited at her side, at whatever distance she was comfortable with, until the time for her match arrived.
"Where were you?" Cynthia asked, frowning, Blake moving through the seats. "What took you so long?! The opening ceremonies are about to start!"
"Something came up," Blake said, trying to reassure his irritated friends. He sat down next to Sango, whose mouth fell open in shock as she caught sight of his cheek.
"Your face, what-"
"Oh, this?" Blake reached up and touched the scratch, smiling. "Oh, this is nothing. Don't worry about it. Seems I was being a little too forward with my flirting, and Ayame wasn't having it."
"And what, she went after you with a boxcutter?!"
"Sango, it's fine, don't worry. It's already stopped bleeding. It doesn't even hurt."
"…" Sango stared anxiously at him, frowning.
"I think it's handsome," Cynthia said, smiling. Blake rolled his eyes. He wasn't exactly thrilled to be sitting between the two of them and their hot and cold running banter, though he supposed it was better than sitting beside Claire, who was too busy making eyes at Serefina.
"No way… is that…" Blake caught Julia's voice, turning to look up at her. Julia was pointing out onto the battlefield.
Stepping out from the stadium entrance flanked by Lila and Darla was Kanone Harker, wearing the same cordial grin he always did. Murmurs, gasps, and cheers rumbled through the bleachers, Blake's eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"What's he doing here…"
Blake was not the only one with a reaction to seeing Kanone. Gerard was smiling his same smug grin. Everything was going exactly as he had hoped.
"Kanone, is it…?" Alcea gasped.
"See something you like?" Gerard asked, Alcea shooting him a glare. "I asked him personally to oversee the finals. It should be a good show, don't you think?"
"They're singing the school anthem," Alcea chided him. "Hush."
Elaina and Akira stood silently as they waited for Lila and Darla's recitation of the school anthem to finish. The two girls stepped off the stage and walked to their seats at the announcers' table on either side of Kanone.
"Excuse me," Elaina said, stepping toward them.
"What is it?" Darla asked.
"May I speak?"
Lila glanced at Darla, who nodded. Lila stood up and walked over to Elaina, handing her the microphone.
"Hello, everyone," Elaina said, her voice starting soft but growing harder, as though the jeers from the crowd around her were giving her renewed strength. "As many of you know, I'm Elaina Bishop. I know… that many of you see me… and you see someone to be feared. That's fine. I've moved past hoping that I could ever live a normal life. If you want to fear me, then do it. Because I'm done. I'm done with all of it."
"Um, Elaina, finalists aren't exactly supposed to be giving speeches…" Lila tried to take the microphone away, but Elaina silenced her simply by glancing in her direction.
"The winner of the Fall Tournament… is entitled to a certain privilege," Elaina explained. "They have the right to challenge anyone on campus to a battle. Anyone. I know full well that no one here would ever fight me if they had the choice. I'm exactly the monster you think I am, after all! But this challenge, you can't back down from. So that's why, when I win today…"
Elaina raised her finger, turned, and pointed at her intended target.
"Kanone Harker, I challenge you to a battle."
"Wha…" Lila gasped, Darla's mouth falling open in shock.
"Oh?" Kanone said, tilting his head to the side.
Gasps and utterances rang out across the stadium as the crowd began to gossip about this sudden turn of events.
"Is… is that even possible?" Callie asked, confused. "I mean, he's not a student here, right Rafe?"
"Who knows?" Rafe said, shrugging. "It's quite an intriguing thought, though."
"It never has had to be a student," Gerard confirmed. "Even a teacher was a suitable challenge target. Besides, I don't think that Kanone… is the kind of man to back away from this challenge either way."
Alcea glared at Gerard, trying to determine what exactly he had to gain from this shenanigan. Her eyes slipped to glance at Gabrielle, but Elle was a blank mask, with nothing to be found.
"…What a fascinating offer," Kanone said, smiling humbly. "Me? Of everyone here, you choose to challenge me. I must say, I'm flattered."
What are you doing, Elaina? Blake growled internally, glaring at his brother. Why do you want to fight him? Are you trying to match your harmonia against his? That won't…
"You know what? I'm intrigued. I accept your challenge, Elaina," Kanone laughed, much to the stunned surprise of Darla and Lila, eliciting gasps of shock across the stadium.
"Provided, of course, that you are able to win this match." Kanone's eyes flashed with challenge and his harmonia flared up, Elaina's burgeoning to match. The opening salvo between them was fired, unseen to the rest of the crowd.
"Good enough," Elaina said, nodding. "That's fine, then."
She handed the microphone to Lila and walked back into place, Lila scampering over to the announcer's box, her shocked look a mirror of her partner's.
"Oh, man!" Cynthia smiled. "That's gonna be amazing! Kanone vs. Elaina?"
"Will Kanone be okay?" Kitty asked worriedly.
"Of course he will," Nick said. "Elaina's the one who might have something to worry about."
Claire's eyes slipped to Blake, and he met her gaze. The worry on her face was apparent. Blake nodded, Claire slapping her hand onto her face in irritation.
Gerard looked out over the battlefield, trying to keep the joy off of his face. It was perfect. Everything was going exactly as he wanted.
Just one more win, Elaina. That's all. When you defeat Akira, and face against Kanone, that's all we need. This school already trembles in fear of your power. But when two harmonia users fight against each other, with the eyes of the school on them… the truly destructive power of harmonia, left completely unchained… it will be evident for all to see. The damage will be catastrophic… and when it is, they'll turn to the Eight Leaders for stability. The only ones who have the power to reign in the damage… to control that level of power…
Elaina, you're the perfect tool for this. You don't even need to win against Kanone. All you need to do is show just how horrifying that power of yours can be. And I'll do the rest. All you need to do is win against Akira, and our victory is assured.
Is it, really? Elaina still has to win, after all. Akira could still pull this out! Maybe Elaina won't end up fighting Kanone, after all!