AN: This chapter is meant to show partly what Elemental is dealing with (i.e. her archenemy). I'm also trying to get into the character's minds more. Shout outs next chapter.

Raining Hard

Chapter 8: "Without darkness there are no dreams." -Karla Kuban

*~POV Alex~*

I've known K-chan for most of her life. Well that isn't true, okay, half of her life. We were mortal enemies at first. Those first few rocky months are times that I can now laugh at, but at the time is was no joke. We were really ready to kill each other. Gradually though both our teachers (who were very good friends) brought us together in such a way that no one has been able to separate us yet. Sometimes I think they believe they made a mistake, pressuring us be friends, but it was fated...destined from the beginning of time.

And now I understand why our teachers thought that they were wrong. It hurts. It hurts to see her like this. It hurts to know I can't defend her and I can't be more than a friend.

She is sleeping now. I have the door open so I can watch her from the living room. The book I was trying to read, Dante's Inferno, was open on my lap. Levels of Hell wasn't exactly the most comforting thing at the moment, so it lay there, the words staring back at me, as if they knew something that I didn't.

I rested my head on my hand, which was resting on the sofa's arm. I looked away from the frustrating book up towards the picture that K-chan had owned for as long as I had known her. She always hung this huge painting in a place of honor in the house. It was a brilliant piece with dabs of different colored paint to represent flowers. In fact, it looked like a whole sea of color with a person sitting down in it. K-chan had titled it The Flower Lady.

I heard a rustling from K-chan's room. She was tossing in her sleep again. No matter what I do when she is awake she always has her demons in her sleep. Shartar has plagued her for many years now...too many years. I got up from the couch and walked over to her door. Her breathing is deep and even. Good, she is actually asleep.

I glanced at the digital clock in her room. 2:34. Time for me to sleep, but I can't. She knows this. She knows I'm not sleeping, but she hasn't said anything about it. 3-4 hours of sleep a night is normal for me, but with K-chan hurt it is more like 1-2.

Turning to leave the doorway of her room, I looked out the living room window onto the street. The street lamps were on, and the fog had rolled in from the ocean. The Golden Gate Bridge could be seen on a clear night, but tonight was just clouds.

The clouds keep rolling in. Much like in life. No matter how dark it is, it can always get darker. Cynical, I know, but I haven't seen any good on this earth. K-chan is all I see, and her light can almost out shine anything, except for the horror that people do to one another. Even her light dims when she hears of war and terrorism.

I never could figure out how she was able to put a smile on her face after all that she has seen. K-chan has watched people be killed and she herself has endured the pain that comes with losing a close friend, and through everything smiles and laughs and enjoys life.

I thank whatever supreme being there is everyday that I know her, because with all I have seen (and K-chan has seen more) I don't see any good other than her.

*~POV Black~*

I guess I just don't know what anything is good for anymore. Ever since Elemental had been hurt, I have been fighting myself it seems. My body tells me to rest, my mind tells me to calm down, my heart tells me not to worry, yet now because of knowing Elem it seems second nature to worry about her.

A sigh escaped me and I looked at the white mug in my hand. Chamomile tea is supposed to calm you down. Doesn't work on me. I rose from my seat with the intention of pouring the tea down the drain of the sink closest to me, but Jackie happened to walk into the room right as I got up.

"Captain Black, good, I wanted to ask you something."

Inwardly I groaned. "Yes?"

"Who or what is Elemental's archenemy?"

"Tough question." I did not want to answer this tonight. "Let me know when you have an answer."

Jackie blocked my path to the sink, however the door was looking pretty good right about now...

"You know more than you're telling."

Shoot. Now we are to the stating part of the questioning.

"Maybe."

"No, you know more than you will tell me."

"Not now Jackie. Please, I'm tired, I'm annoyed, I'm worried about Elem. Now is not the time to ask me about her personal matters, even if it is the world's problem."

"Is a battle coming?"

Damnit, I was halfway out the door!

"Yes."

"Will it involve us?"

"I don't know Jackie."

"Will Elemental be killed?"

"No."

"Will she be hurt?"

"I pray to God every single damn day for her not to be!"

Jackie grew silent. I let out a breath.

"She is like my daughter."

I was breaking down way too fast.

"She is a kind, humble, caring, compassionate, all around good person."

My eyes were starting to water.

"Every time I pray, I wonder what God would do this to her."

Drops started to pour down my face.

"And through everything, through the pain, the hurts, the defeats, she still says that God loves her. She still has faith in everything."

I have no doubt that my eyes are red.

"She has such a strong faith in God."

I looked at Jackie and smiled a faint smile.

"And that is what makes Elemental, well... Elemental."

I walked out of the room towards my rooms. Hopefully Jackie wouldn't bring this up anytime soon.

*~POV Sakura~*

3:02. Not 3:00 but 3:02. For cryin' out loud everyone else is probably asleep! Heck, I should be, but no here I am lying on my suddenly uncomfortable bed, an insomniac. Great, I'm getting to be as bad as Alex- san. Maybe I've stayed her for too long. This is the second...no it is the third night in a row I haven't been able to sleep past 3:02. I'm dead serious. I wake up at 3:02 on the dot.

There is movement downstairs. It has to be Alex-san. He's the one that lives on 1-2 hours sleep every night. How does he do that? He's probably leaning against Sensei's door frame and watching her sleep. She does have nightmares often, that's got to be part of why he watches over her so much.

Gazing up at the ceiling only shows the white ceiling darkened by the lights being off. I need some sleeping pills or something, because this sucks.

I threw off the covers to my bed and put my feet in my slippers. Perhaps Alex-san would like some company. And some hot cocoa would be nice.

As I descend the stairs, Alex-san sees me and nods and turns back to his vigil.

"Coffee, Chocolate, or Tea?" I whispered.

"Tea."

I nod even though he can't see me and head to the kitchen. I put some water in a glass pitcher to boil in the microwave and got out two mugs. I put the cocoa mix in mine and a sleepy time tea in the other. There's no reason why one of us shouldn't sleep.

A few minutes later and presto. Hot chocolate and tea hot and ready to drink.

After handing Alex-san the tea I leaned on the wall opposite of where he was. I glanced at Sensei. She was sleeping soundly.

"So," I began. "What causes you to be so protective of Sensei?"

"After a few more years, you'll know." He still hasn't looked me in the eye.

"What exactly is she fighting?"

AHA! That made him look me in the eye.

"She's fighting Father Time."

Perfect, a cryptic answer. 3:10 in the morning is not the best time to give me a cryptic answer.

"Could you elaborate?"

"No."

And I made this man tea!

"Why?"

"Because to find out more about K-chan, you ask K-chan."

Humph. Well, I won't be getting more out of him tonight.

"Right then, Alex-san. Pleasant dreams."

As I stalked away I realized that the sleepy time tea that Sensei has will knock out Alex-san for a good 6-7 hours even if he only takes a sip. As I walked up the stairs I saw him drink a lot of the tea. A smile formed on my face despite what I did to stop it, and Alex-san saw it. However, he only shook his head.

My hope as I finally fell asleep was that I could wake up in the morning and see Alex-san fast asleep with Sensei shaking her head while standing over him.

*~normal POV~*

The night was still and the stars shone bright somewhere in the world, but in San Francisco the peace was the quiet before the storm. Something was moving. Something evil was formulating its plan. Shartar had come, and it wasn't about to leave without at least trying to kill the Advisor. Yes, she needed to learn who was in charge on this world. The battle would decide.

Clouds would moved. The wind would change. Tides of the ocean would abandon their routine as the battle of year 22 began.