AN: Thank you all who have given time to review. And now I'm just going to make one thing clear. As stated in the genre this story is not an action one. I've reread it a few times and I can see that to some it would be considered slow. However, my point in this story is not to make the action the center, but rather the characters and the situations they find themselves in and how they respond. There is also an element of faith in this story considering I started out with a very different ending in mind. I meant to draw more on the JCA's characters, but that just didn't work. In these ending chapters, yes something is going to happen, and it might be what you expected or it might not. In short, faith and determination have gotten me through the writing, and I hope that it is evident in the end. Now to the tale...

Raining Hard

Chapter 10: "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret; it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye." -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Saturday ended as simply as it began, with the sun. The sunset that night was of red. A pure blood red covered many of the clouds and purple strips of color were at the outermost edge of the sun's influence. Pinpricks of lights took their time coming out of hiding and when they were visible they were hardly seen with the city of San Francisco's many night lights.

Elemental readied for her fight. She had spent most of the day sharpening her sword and practicing parries and blocks. The evening was spent praying and meditating. Her students left her alone for each was pleading with God for their sensei not to have to fight. Captain Black, Jackie and Jade had come over to see her, because their consciences told them they had to go to Elemental's. And Alex watched over Elemental for he would not be able to do anything for her tomorrow.

The battle of Year 22 would begin at midnight, when darkness had it's full form.

*~Jade's POV~*

I used Elem's computer to search for my person to do my presentation on, but once again I found zilch. Hikari and Sakura gave me some ideas, but none of them panned out. I wanted a person who had strong convictions, and yet didn't force them on other people. I wanted a person who was kind and generous, but didn't let others control them. I wanted...

I paused as I realized I was looking for what I wanted. Maybe I was missing something in the pursuit of my perfect person.

I glanced at the clock as I heard a knock on my door. It was 11:45.

"Come in!"

Jackie came into the study I was using. "We're going to be gone for a while, so-"

"Everybody's going to be gone?"

"Yes."

"Jackie, what's going on that you don't want to tell me about?"

Jackie paused on his way out the door. This was seriously serious.

"Elemental's going to fight."

"Why?" I didn't understand. Elemental was kind and generous, why would she fight?

"She has to."

"Can I come?" I was shocked to hear those words come out of my mouth. I don't ask to go, I just go.

But Jackie smiled at me. "Yeah, but bring an extra coat."

I hopped out to the chair to get my orange sweater and a black coat that was Hikari's that I knew I could borrow.

"Let's go!" And with that I raced down the stairs to the strangest sight I had ever seen.

*~Normal POV~*

The scene in Elemental's living room was one of the less normal. Elemental stood in battle array as she checked over her sword once more for nicks and cuts. Alex was the closest one to her and silent regardless of all the pleas for Elemental not to do this. Captain Black was putting his whole heart into keeping her from fighting.

Elemental calmly took this in and smiled at them all. "I have to do this," she said. "I don't have a choice. This is destiny."

She looked up to see Jade and Jackie descending the stairs. Jade was the first to ask the inevitable question: "What's going on?"

"I'm going to fight." Elemental watched the girl with compassionate eyes.

"Why?"

"I have to."

"Okay."

Elemental smiled and then turned to Captain Black. "Listen to me, and take a lesson from a child. She does not understand any more than you do, and yet she understands completely. I have to fight tonight. It is fated to be."

Captain Black opened his mouth to speak, but Elemental held up a hand. "No, you will say no more. Nothing will change what must be."

With this she turned to walk out the door. Before she did, she turned her head to Alex, giving him a fleeting glance. Then the outside pitch black night encased her form and she was gone.

*~Switch Scene~*

Upon a rooftop there stood a form holding a obsidian staff weapon. Feminine in nature and evil in being. It stood with eyes closed, gathering its strength for the fight ahead. It would last till morning broke. The form was wrapped in a black fighting costume with yellow swirls about it. Skin of ashen gray, topped by blackest night hair, held nothingness as eyes. There was no emotion but rage. There would be nothing but anger. Such was Shartar, archenemy of the Advisor.

Another form landed on the roof with sword strapped across the back. Also feminine but just in character. She gathered light unto herself and drew the silver blade of her fate. Eyes closed and then opened revealing pure light. Such was the Advisor, also known as Elemental.

A SUV pulled up to the building. Six people piled out and headed towards the building opposite where the Advisor and Shartar were. They would see the battle from the rooftop.

Shartar spoke. "Advisor, what are the rules of our engagement?"

"Aura and Armory rules."

"Accepted."

"First to attack is the opposite of the one who chose the rules."

"I know."

Elemental readied herself. She held her sword at resting position. Shartar brought her weapon around and pointed the blade at Elemental.

"I accept the Battle of Year 22."

Elemental brought her sword to ready.

"I accept the Battle of Year 22."

Lightning crashed. Thunder growled. The gathering clouds let out what they held.

Rain began to fall, only this was the storm after the quiet.