By JR Salazar
June 20, 2009
She may not have been able to defend her Aquamarine, but the Sapphire necklace sure works for Shana.
The girl with the fire in her eyes torched Yuki Nagato in Santo Domingo, 1947-1359, to win her second ISML necklace and first of the season.
Supporters in the Dominican Republic capital of Shana waved flags that contained the logo, as well as their own national flag. Banners that said, "¡Shana, tu esta por siempre el fuego en nuestros corazones!" (Shana, you are forever the fire in our hearts!), "¡Shana-tan es mi gasolina!" (Shana-tan is my gasoline!) and "¡ENCIENDA!" (IGNITE!) were raised as Daddy Yankee's "Gasolina" was played over the speakers placed in the center of the city.
"To all my people and fans who have supported me, thank you from the very bottom of my heart," she said through a Spanish interpreter, surrounded by Kazumi Yoshida, Margery Daw and Yuji Sakai. "This victory is dedicated to you, and for you. Let us soldier on to the Emerald phase. Muchisimas gracias, ustedes. (Thank you very much, everyone.)"
"I lost to a worthy opponent," said Nagato in a conference after the fight. "Shana has proven that her relevance is still strong, and it will continue to be that way, so long as the fire that burns in her supporters then continues to burn now."
Haruhi Suzumiya, meanwhile, kept her unbeaten streak alive with a 1713-1445 victory over Kyou fujibayashi in Buenos Aires.
"Everything is going to plan so far," said Suzumiya. "I think Yuki is going to be the contest that could make or break my run. Kyou's defense was going to end anyway. Congratulations to Shana on her victory."
Suzumiya now has gone through four of seven necklace phases without a single defeat.
Tomoyo Sakagami also went through Sapphire undefeated with a 2004-1437 annihilation of the defending champion, Fate Testarossa Harlaown, in Lima.
"It feels good to end your campaign on a winning note," Sakagami said. "I think this will put me in good shape heading into these last three stages."
"Give credit to Tomoyo; she knew her schtick," said Fate at a news conference after her fight in the Peruvian capital. "I plan to use this as a learning experience because if this is how things will work out, the days of defending my Tiara could be numbered."
As of Sapphire 9, three shows are out of the competition: Bamboo Blade (Kirino Chiba, Tamaki Kawazoe), Shugo Chara (Amu Hinamori), and Azumanga Daioh. The representative of the latter, Ayumu "Osaka" Kasuga, has yet to win a match. Aya Shameimaru and Patchouli Knowledge of Touhou and ARIA's Akari Mizunashi are also eliminated.
A pillow fight between already-eliminated opponents saw Knowledge defeat Kawazoe 1085-1037 in Dhaka.
Unless a miracle happens, all of Touhou's characters could be out of the competition by the end of Emerald or Ruby. But Reimu Hakurei is providing a flicker of hope. She defeated Minori Kushieda in Tokyo, 1434-1239, to end Sapphire on a winning note.
Fate/Stay Night's characters ended their Sapphire runs on a winning note. Illyasviel von Einzbern defeated Fuuko Ibuki 1690-1390 in Madrid, Saber had no problems against Kallen Kozuki (Stadtfeld) in a 2045-890 Colombian necktie in Bogota and Rin Tosaka scored a 1713-1341 victory over C.C. in Istanbul.
The Rozen Maiden Alice Dolls also collected a clean sweep. Suiseiseki defeated Sakura Kinomoto easily, 1871-1182, in Sydney. Suigintou trounced Tsukasa Hiiragi 1897-1423 in Los Angeles, and Shinku routed Sayuri Kurata 1744-1318 in Katowice.
In other action...Kotomi Ichinose sounded off Rena Ryuuguu 1777-1308 in Mexico City, Maria outlasted Hayate Yagami 1642-1296 in Mumbai, Evangeline McDowell defeated Kasuga 1688-817 in Sao Paulo, New York City witnessed Chii take out Remilioa Scarlet 1355-1147, Taiga Aisaka roared past Mei Sunohara 1706-1381 in Shanghai.
Mai Kawasumi whipped past Ami Kawashima 1550-1398 in Lagos, Marisa Kirisame stayed alive with a 1309-1280 win over Makoto Sawatari in Seoul, Konata Izumi defeated Nagisa Furukawa 1870-1584 in Dhaka, Anya Earlstreim took out Shameimaru 1442-1087 in Manila, and Cairo saw Konjiki no Yami (Golden Darkness) annihilate Alice Carroll 2070-824.
Louise Francoise Le Blanc De La valliere outpaced Shiori Misaka 1547-1300 in Paris, Vita ended her Sapphire campaign with a 1546-770 win over Mizunashi in Moscow, London saw Index L. Prohibitorum defeat Chiba 1323-1106, Nanoha Takamachi busted Rika Furude 1808-1455 in Tehran, and Misuzu Kamio defeated Hinamori 1586-1078 in Bangkok.
Wrapping up the Sapphire phase...Hinagiku Katsura scored an impressive 1608-1493 victory over Kagami Hiiragi in Santiago, Holo swallowed up Nagi Sanzen'in 1641-1328 in Kinshasa, Toronto saw Hanyuu Furude crush Shiki Ryogi 1690-981, Mikoto Misaka chalked up a thrilling 1291-1241 victory over Ayu Tsukimiya in Algiers and Nayuki MInase defeated Yuuhi Katagiri 1602-1310 in Milan.
The top 16, as of Sapphire 9's conclusion...
1. Haruhi Suzumiya
2. Shana (SAP)
3. Tomoyo Sakagami (AQ)
4. Fate Testarossa Harlaown (C)
5. Kyou Fujibayashi
6. Yuki Nagato (TOP)
7. Kagami Hiiragi
8. Taiga Aisaka
9. Suigintou (AM)
10. Nanoha Takamachi
11. Saber
12. Rin Tosaka
13. Konata Izumi
14. Mikuru Asahina
15. Hinagiku Katsura
16. Suiseiseki
(C) = Defending Champion
(AQ) = Aquamarine Necklace winner
(TOP) = Topaz Necklace winner
(AM) = Amethyst Necklace winner
(SAP) = Sapphire Necklace winner
ilkaid of the ISML contributed to this report.