Full Summary: Shou, Master of the Great Winds, has died causing all the ocean currents to stop thus leaving the world in grave danger. His young daughter Sora, an air spirit, must now take his place as Mistress of the Great Winds to command the delicate cycle into motion once more. The only obstacle is that she hasn't finished her training. Seeing that the winds have ceased to move the oceans, Fujimoto takes it upon himself to remedy the situation. The wizard takes Sora on as an apprentice to finish her final stage of training; how the air and sea work in harmony.

Sora: The Apprenticeship of an Air Spirit

Chapter 1: Overture to the Beginning of a Long Road

Sora looked down to the earth from her place on a small, white cloud. She smiled lazily while dangling her hand over the side of the cumulus formation. Making gentle sweeping motions with her hand, little breezes rolled over the tall field grasses below her like ripples in water. With her small pointer finger she gracefully drew patterns over the field that the wind then followed; pushing the grass to match the outlined path.

Sucking in a lung-full of the cool morning air Sora then rolled off the cloud and proceeded to fly down to earth like a diving hawk. She let out a bubbly laugh as she leveled herself out and zoomed over the rolling fields below her. A large stream of wind trailed out from her form and disturbed the life in the grassland once more. Nearing a cliff she shot over the edge and headed down to the sea below. Reaching out with her hand, she let her fingers dip into the water, sending salty droplets flying into the air that glittered like diamonds in the sun. Nearing a large fishing boat, Sora then spun back up into the sky like a rocket. Several fishermen on deck were blown backwards by the strong gust of wind.

Leveling out once more, the air spirit joyfully headed back to the fields and mountains to finish her job of casting the morning winds. The seaside would have to wait till the afternoon, she thought with a grin as she sailed across the sky.

Beneath the Ocean

Fujimoto sat on the floor of his home, his long slender legs folded beneath him. A small purple jar sat on the ground before him and he had a long slender-necked vessel in his steady hand, its mouth held above the jar. His eyes narrowed in the upmost concentration as he proceeded to pour a drop of the liquid from the vessel into the small jar. He had one chance to get this particular elixir he was working on right or else he would have to start over again. One drop was all the potion could take and no more so he had to be precise. As the magic started to flow out of the vessel he heard a chorus of squeaking coming from the adjoining room.

"Girls please be quiet, your father is trying to concentrate."

Regardless of Fujimoto's request the squeaking only continued. Sighing, the sea wizard put down the vase and pushed himself off the floor.

"Alright girls, you have my attention." He said entering the other room.

The school of goldfish swam around excitedly in their bubble seeing that they got their father away from his work. Then they formed in a group and swam over to one side of their large tank. Some of the fish pressed their noses against the bubble to let Fujimoto know where they wanted him to look. The sea wizard followed the path they were pointing with his eyes. It was his systirne, a coral bowl with silver liquid used to summon other elemental wizards and spirits. The liquid in the systrine was glowing an unusual yellow.

Fujimoto's brow furrowed in confusion, "I'm being called to the surface? Something's wrong." He said gravely. He reached the other side of the room in a few long strides. Grabbing his blue and white striped coat off of a rack he headed to the door leading to his submarine.

"Stay put, I will be back shortly." He said to the goldfish somewhat hastily.

As Fujimoto neared the surface he called on the ocean wave spirits to lift him out of the water. Upon reaching the surface he noticed that the air was quite stagnant.

"Odd, there should be wind, a current runs through here." He thought aloud. Looking around the open ocean he saw that the sea was barely moving. It was almost flat. He gasped, "How could this be?"

Kneeling down to the water's surface, Fujimoto closed his large eyes and dipped his fingers into the sea. A golden light spread from his fingertips and dispersed into the ocean. He waited in this kneeling position for a moment longer; upon opening his eyes a green earth spirit appeared floating before him. Fujimoto pursed his lips in confusion, he was expecting anything but an earth spirit out in the middle of the open ocean, calling on him no less. He was known somewhat as a recluse in the magic world; sticking only to his beloved ocean.

"Fujumoto, great wizard and king of the sea?" The earth spirit asked, his vine-like hair floated around his shoulders. Fijimoto stood from his kneeling position and nodded,

"Yes, I am he."

"I have been sent by my master Yasu, Master of Earth, to deliver a message. I am afraid I have grave news. Master Shou, Keeper of the Winds, is dead."

"Dead?" Fujimoto was shocked. "But that means-" the wizard fearfully looked down at the stagnant ocean.

"Yes, I am afraid so. He died this afternoon. Master Fujimoto, we are all in grave danger. The gods and goddesses have requested that all masters of earth, air, fire and water go to Cloud Castle immediately to decide upon what is to be done."

Fujimoto nodded, now sharing the earth spirit's distress. "I will be there as soon as I can."

"Many thanks to your hastiness my lord," he said anxiously. "But now if you will excuse me I must I must take my leave. I have to find Sora immediately. No one has been able to locate her; she has not yet heard the news."

"Sora?" He asked curiously, neatly folding his arms in front of his chest.

"Shou's adopted daughter."

Fujimoto nodded solemnly, "Oh I see."

"She is so young, not yet twenty, one would hardly think of placing such a responsibility on her."

"She is to be Mistress of the Winds?" He asked somewhat surprised.

"Yes, but unfortunately Shou died before her training could be fulfilled so no one is entirely sure what is to happen yet. I'm sorry my lord…" the spirit said urgently "…but I must find Sora."

"Yes certainly. Thank you for alerting me."

The spirit nodded and then quickly faded away, leaving only a shower of leaves behind. Fujimoto eyed the stagnant leaves on the water with uneasiness. All he could do was shake his head. "This is not good."

AN: If people could review I would be very grateful to all of you. It really helps me out. Also I was a bit unsure if I wanted to make this a slight romance or not. Please let me know what you want/think.