Cut and Polish

Jasper

"Jasper has a rich history as a powerfully protective stone. Jasper is thought to deflect negativity and stress while inducing mental clarity, focus, stamina and general good health. It is also associated with stability, security and independence."

Iruka was trying to decide which was currently harder for him to control, his nerves or his excitement. He sat in the crowded waiting room, surrounded by the other contestants that had managed to survive all the way to the third and final stage of the competition. When he had first arrived he had been temporarily shell shocked. Never in his entire life had he been surrounded by so many beautiful people before. But he had managed to recover himself quickly enough, all he had to do was mentally compare these strangers to Haku and instantly they seemed as ordinary as him. Although he was still slightly put off by the designer label clothes, he was never more grateful for his roommate or his roommates wealthy boyfriend.

Haku had stopped him as he was leaving that morning, dismayed that he hadn't realized Iruka would have nothing suitable to wear. He had been wearing his best pair of denim jean( the pair with no holes and only a little bit of wear) and his cleanest button down. But his friend had only sighed at him and practically stripped him in the doorway before pulling him into his closet to find him something fashionable. At first Iruka had been flustered, immediately reaching for the most drab clothes he could find. But Haku had slapped his hand away and set to work throwing him clothes to try on. He had settled on a brown pair of pants that shimmered as he walked and had taken him almost all of five minutes to wiggle into. A white button down with embroidered crosses on the collar that was left open to expose his throat and collarbone. Over that Haku and forced him into a short vest that matched the pants. All in all Iruka felt like a waiter, but Haku had merely laughed and sent him on his way.

Now that he sat face to face with some of the richest, best dressed, and most talented of the other contestants Iruka decided that he would treat Haku to anything he wanted after this way all over. These people looked down on him in disgust for his plain face and his indignation could only carry him so far against them. But Haku had eyed him as he left and given him a mischievous smile and promised him that he would give even the most beautiful a run for their money and Iruka believed him. Haku wouldn't lie to him about something like that. And that knowledge gave him the self-confidence that would have been missing if he had arrived in warn jeans and a wrinkled button down.

He stretched his legs out into the isle before him, shifting his hips uncomfortably. The clothes defiantly inspired confidence. But unfortunately the pants also encouraged a restricted amount of movement and blood flow. He reached for a bottle of water kept in a cooler free to all contestants and was startled to realize that another boy had snuck up beside him. He smiled slightly at the taller youth. The boy had chin length silver blue hair that had to be dyed and a pleasant smile. But Iruka had heard him talking to another contestant earlier, a girl who had left the room in tears before the second stage began and never came back. He was sure that this boy was a viper masquerading as a worm. The boy sat down beside him, smile never wavering.

"Your name is Iruka right? I watched you during the reaction test. That was pretty impressive, I've never seen someone break into tears so fast. Or turn them off so easily." Iruka blushed despite himself. Maybe not everything the other boy said dripped venom. "My name is Mizuki, it's a pleasure to meet you." There was something in his eyes then, that told Iruka that Mizuki would like to get to know him very well and it chased away any remaining doubts about his appearance in the borrowed clothes. His blushed deepened as he slowly allowed himself to relax.

They chatted for a long time, Iruka gulping down water nervously and Mizuki constantly checking the clock. The boy frowned, "They sure are keeping the contestants in there for a long time. I think I'm gonna run to the restroom-" but as he stood an attendant entered the room and called his name, signifying that it was his turn. He grimaced. Waving goodbye to Iruka he left following the attendant. When he reached the door he turned just long enough to see Iruka sneak away in the direction of the bathroom and he finally allowed the poison to show in his smile as he went to face the judges and his imminent victory.

Iruka absently dried his hands on his pants, forgetting they weren't his, as he left the bathroom. He decided that he should probably try not to drink anything else until after he had faced the judges. He didn't envy Mizuki, having to act on a full bladder. He came to a halt as he reached a fork in the hallway, trying to remember which hall to take to get back to the waiting room. He had decided to go right when something was thrust over his head and his arms trapped behind his back. Surprised he struggled, opened his mouth to scream but a fist slammed into his gut driving all the air from his lungs stunning him.

He was being dragged somewhere. He tried to walk, to get his feet underneath him. But whoever was dragging him yanked him forward off balance. He heard a door click open and he was thrown inside ripping the cloth off of his head. His captors were giggling madly, wearing ski-masks to cover their faces, but the idiots hadn't thought to change their clothes. Fuu and Rai were brothers, both impossibly fat and equally stupid. Iruka remembered that they had been eliminated during the first stage. Why were they still here?

A pipe caught him upside the face and he cried out in shock and pain. He dropped into a ball on the floor covering his head as they reigned down blow after blow. He wanted to fight back, to defend himself. He could feel bones breaking, blood seeping out of the large cut on his face. He wanted to at least get a hold of something that could be used as a weapon. But when he looked up to search for something to defend himself with, the pipe came down and connected solidly with his temple. He collapsed, shuddering to the floor. When they realized that Iruka had stopped moving Fuu and Rai stopped hitting him, switching instead to poking him in the side with the bloody pipes.

"Is he dead?"

"I dun think so. If he was dead wouldn't his eyes be wide open an his tongue hangin out?

Like this!"

"Iunno, Did Mizuki tell us to kill him?"

"Dunno, this was the one he wanted us to get though right?"

"Stupid! O'course this is the one! Mizuki said that the one he wanted us to get rid of would go to the bathroom when the little hand pointed at the three and the big hand pointed at the twelve! He was the one who showed so it had ta be him."

"Okay…What do we do now?"

"I guess we should leave. We were wearin' masks, so he won't know it was us that dun it. We should leave before someone finds us."

"Okay, Goodbye…what was his name again?"

"I dunno, something …to do with a fish?"

"Okay! Bye bye Sushi!"

"Fuu, I'm hungry."

…