Elemental Aeon
Kesshou Uryou

Act II
Chapter VI
Test

"Life isn't always fair."

Tomoyo had never envisioned this conversation taking place. She had already had the same words exchanged between herself and Meilin, both mauling over their shortcomings and the fact they were clearly not cut out to be Elementalists. (Albeit Meilin seemed to take the latter as a blessing while Tomoyo had taken it as a heavy blow.) But this was different. Meilin had been substituted by another.

"I don't need you to tell me that." Syaoran, arms crossed and all, was the replacement.

"Then stop moping around like a baby."

"I'm not." Tomoyo silently wished that Meilin was the one here, reciting her lines. He needed someone to accompany them with a thrashing.

"Yes, you are." Tomoyo sighed at his obvious lack of attention. "It's your own fault anyway," she accused, voice rising ever so slightly. "At least it's not the end for you. It's only a delay! How do you think I feel?" Syaoran had no response. He was never one gifted with words. It was better just to not reply to that one. Word had gotten around as fast as Tomoyo knew it would, but she still wasn't over the fact. It had not yet been that long. Sakura's still current attempts for her to get a hearing with Clow were proof enough of that.

"Look, Li-san. All you did was hit a bump in the road. Are you really going to let that get to you? Are you really going to prove them right? Do you actually have no talent? Is that it?" There was a pause.

"Of course not." It was an indignant answer.

"Then prove it." Tomoyo took it as her cue to leave. She had her regular shift to attend to at the medical ward. It felt like it was her last piece of actual usefulness. She couldn't help desperately clinging onto it. She was not going to loose again. Syaoran needed to learn he needed to stop complaining so much and start doing something about it. She was no expert on the matter, but this much she at least knew.

Syaoran was left staring at her back. Finally common sense kicked in before she was completely out of sight. Turning around himself, his mind was wrapped around the prospect of more training. If he wasn't good enough yet…

Tomoyo paused and sighed. She knew he had a one track mind. She saw it in action as she glanced. That wouldn't solve anything. She wondered how long it would really take for him to figure that out. But Syaoran was allowed to go his way as Tomoyo went hers.

--e--a--

Sakura couldn't sleep. That was saying something. She blamed the occurrence on being back to a less comfortable and a constantly shifting bed. She had eventually gotten used to the condition three years ago after being on the road for a length, but a lot of time had passed since. Now it was back to square one with a sleepless night ahead of her.

Still, there was another reason too. One of which she didn't want to recognize, at least to the same extent.

She was nervous. It was more than just being away from her new found home for the first time in years. It was something else. In fact, for a while now, the possibility of failure had been weighing more heavily on her. Now she was in actual competition with those she had worked so closely with before. One mistake could send you down the ranks so easily. From now on she had to make sure not to slip up. If she was ever going to make it to Apprentice level, she'd have to excel more than ever.

That was where the nervousness had originated. However, that wasn't the only thing darting across the brink of her conscious mind. Once again guilt was making itself known to her. Syaoran hadn't exactly taken extra measures to ensure she didn't feel like a traitor. Although, honestly, she'd have to say that it was his own fault.

You don't walk around with that attitude and expect to succeed. He always had to have it his own way, but maybe now he'd see he would only fall behind if he kept it up. She wondered how he'd make it to clearance for travel like she had done for there was no doubt in her mind that he would do so in the first place. The question was only how. If a reform of any kind was to take place, she wouldn't be surprised, but she knew that he was not one to willingly change so easily. He'd probably fake the results and turn back into a jerk again.

She sighed and folded her arms behind her head as she laid down upon the hard wooden flooring that was all too apparent through the practically paper thin mattress. Yes, sleep wouldn't be coming easily. Now, however, there was a stir not too far away. A sleepy voice infiltrated what was once quiet save for the rhythmic sound of turning wheels and progress across a rather smooth path.

"What is it Sakura?" Sakura started for a moment despite knowing that she had awoken. She calmed down and settled into her blanket for the nth time that night.

"It's nothing." Had there been any real source of light, Sakura would have attempted the smile that went along with it.

"Don't try to be so disarming." Sakura spared a glance in the other's direction.

"What are you talking about, Rika?" The fellow water Elementalist audibly shifted. Sakura could practically feel the sleepy grin.

"When you talk like that… kinda works too well." Sakura was more than just a little confused.

"Huh?" Clearly, understanding was not mutual here. A sigh was the first response.

"Forget about it. It's going to be tiring tomorrow no matter what. I don't need to be up half the night." Then as an afterthought, "You should try to sleep too." Sakura took to shaking her head even though the other girl had no hope of seeing the action.

"I can't stop thinking. So I can't fall asleep." It seemed then that Rika had sat up, and indeed she had.

"You're nervous. I am too. Don't worry. We'll make a good team. Watch my back and I'll watch yours." Rika didn't wait for a reply before lying down again.

"Hai." Sakura burrowed once again, knowing that it was still a futile effort. Rika's breathing evened out. Sakura's did not for a long time yet.

--e--a--

Syaoran walked out empty handed. He always did. Walking into that room made him feel suffocated and oppressed without fail. There was never anything gained from the visits, but it was required.

Just like it was required for him to succeed. And that was one of the few things that they agreed upon. Failure was a taboo word at least when it came to describing him.

But fail he did. It had been an unexpected loss to an unexpected battle. Syaoran laid the blame on one man: Terada. All common sense pointed out that the man wasn't really to blame entirely (Meilin had flaunted that in his face enough for one life time), but his grudge was not one to be let go of so easily. He just wasn't that kind of person. Meilin must be rubbing off on him.

The prospect was not surprising, but he supposed it was just another negative aspect of his personality to chalk up. After all, weren't his "lack of cooperation" and "failure to comply with orders" what had gotten him into this mess in the first place?

Having his mother call him just to mercilessly and tirelessly review this with him weren't going to fix things this time. Even his mother could not overrule a verdict made by another Elemental-sensei when the person in question was under the other's jurisdiction.

Instead he had been told to correct the problem by any means necessary, and he wondered if his mother actually meant that. She had spoken in her harsher of tones so he was certain of it, but did she really couldn't care less what happened to him so long as he did what was expected of him? He wasn't so sure about that.

"So how'd it go?" Meilin stood there, a book clutched to her chest and all smiles. Something had gone right. She wasn't at her full height, leaning against the wall like that, but even then she was still taller. The three year age difference did wonders.

"What do you think?" Syaoran was not in the mood to discuss a particularly sore spot. He never had been, and it had been overdone one too many times.

"That bad, huh?" The grin didn't leave as she leaned forward a bit for reasons unknown to Syaoran. It just seemed to amplify her good mood, which undoubtedly contrasted his sour one.

"What are you so happy about?"

"What, I'm not allowed to be happy now?" Meilin expertly shifted the book to her hands as they clasped behind her back. Syaoran knew something up. Then again, with her, something always was.

"You're never happy. Just obsessed." Syaoran knew that it was a bit of a lie. She could have her cheerful moments, but realistically speaking, she was pretty much a pessimistic at heart. Well, she hadn't always been, but for a very, very long time she had been. When exactly had she started again? Oh, right… then.

"Very funny. I'm in a good mood. So kill me." Her eyes shifted to the closed ornate door. They both knew what was behind there.

"She's willing to talk anytime you are." Meilin look surprised for a moment before looking at him with a sudden flicker of resoluteness in her eyes.

"We're a lot alike, Syaoran. We both don't like to follow the rules. But we're different too. You have to follow them." Syaoran knew she was implying where exactly that had gotten him: behind on his goals. Like he needed to hear that one again. "I don't."

She made her way down the hall, and he was left to wonder why she was there in the first place. Had she been waiting for him? Or had she been considering talking to her? Syaoran, coming back to reality, didn't completely loose the useful functions of his tongue.

"And what about with Clow-sama?"

Meilin made sure to give him a point blank glare before turning the corner.

--e--a--

She had never met him before. She had heard the stories and imagined the tales with envy. Just like everyone else. Surely they couldn't be completely true though. There was no way that he could have accomplished all of what had been rumored about the complex between bites of a quick meal and walks through the gardens and streets. Stuff like that just couldn't be possible. He was so young, and it just didn't work like that.

She didn't know why then she was doubting her once firm beliefs.

She told herself it was the way he carried himself. He just had the sort of ambiance to make people believe what they had heard. No wonder the gossip mills had gotten so out of hand.

And she wondered what it would be like, knowing that someone was out there whispering behind their hands as you walked by. You had done so and so, and that wasn't all either. Wait until you heard this. Something along those lines was what she had to imagine it as.

The reasons behind his so-called exploits had to be justified, however. It was him after all. Still, that only brought root to her jealousy again. He unquestionably met her mother's dream requirements. He was everything she was not and more.

She had summed this all up just from sitting across from him. Not a word had passed between them, and she was reduced to simply staring right at him. Surely he was used to it. Honestly, Tomoyo was too nervous and out of it to really care about his opinion on the matter. She'd only stop if he had something to say about it. And it was all too clear that he didn't so she went right on doing what she wanted to do. He just kept looking at the wall that her cushioned bench was against.

She had attempted to crane her neck to see what held his attention so steadfast, but the search was in vain. It was nice enough, but it was nothing in comparison to some of the other architecture feats of this place. What was so interesting was beyond her.

What was he even doing there to begin with? Wasn't he some sort of prodigy? Shouldn't he just be doing some solo training or something? Was it really necessary to wait here like this and be doing nothing? And then she realized that the last question applied to her, and she had no answer to it.

She hooked together her fingers at her lap as she endured more of the long wait in silence. How did Sakura ever talk her into this again? The conniving girl wasn't even here for Tomoyo to berate. When she got back…

"Are you alright?" Tomoyo had somewhere along the lines looked down at the ground with the closest thing resembling a scowl that she could pull off marring her face. More importantly, her hands were in a death grip with the folds of her skirt.

Tomoyo slumped her shoulders back in defeat. What a great way to make an impression. "I'm fine." The next part slipped out of her mouth before she even got a chance to register it. She did have an excuse though. His eyes were still glued to the wall. "What are you staring at?"

That brought a common courtesy reaction. His eyes were sapphire-like in color and she mused how her observation skills were going down the drain if she hadn't noticed that. Soon she'd be as bad as her best friend. Speaking of that girl again-

"Nothing, really. Just thinking." Tomoyo was brought back to reality rather abruptly. She had almost forgotten that she was in the middle of a tentative conversation. However, she had forgotten who it was with, on the other hand.

"Oh." That was all there was to say as far as she was concerned. She wasn't even here to speak with him. All she wanted were to give a few words. She didn't desire the awkward atmosphere that settled around her. He seemed unaffected, and she wondered if she was just acting completely strange today. Thankfully her self-inquisition was cut short with the door opening. Finally, the waiting was over. Although it really hadn't been a very long one when she actually thought about it.

A graying, older man had stepped out of the now closed door. Tomoyo waited for a moment before taking that as her cue to enter. Leaving behind the young teenager of her age, she couldn't say she had that many regrets. She could finally get this over with. There'd be no more awkward waiting and knots in her stomach.

At seeing him standing directly in front of her, she bent into a bow without even thinking about it. Her greeting was short, but it was adequate. "Clow-sama."

He waved it off. "Sit down." Tomoyo obediently complied, sitting stiffly on the rather comfortable and single chair. There was another, but seeing as it was cornered off behind a large desk, Tomoyo refrained from even thinking about sitting there. From this position though, she had to crane her neck to still see him. As if noticing her dilemma, Clow moved into her direct line of sight.

For a couple tension-driven minutes, she thought he had completely forgotten that she had entered. Feeling very invisible, the only thing keeping her from thinking such was that he had spoken to her, and he couldn't possibly be so absentminded. Now, however, he was leafing quickly though a book that he had just taken from one of the numerous shelves aligning his large office. For the second time today, her tongue betrayed her.

"You have a large collection of books." Tomoyo managed to not clutch her mouth in realization and subtle horror. It had done the trick though. With a snap, the book was closed along its spine.

"To be informed is to be prepared." She kept silent there, the glare on his glasses making eye contact impossible. Clow seemed to resign himself to his fate as he too sat down, book still in his grasp. "Why did you come here today?"

Tomoyo steeled herself for what she knew was not going to be an answer she wanted. Stupid Sakura, this was no good at all.

"It wasn't really my idea… but someone, no me, I was wondering what I should do now that I have failed the Air Trainee exam. I was told I should cancel my elemental training and give up my status as an Air Novice. There are other options right?"

"Are you in any of the other programs?" Tomoyo almost narrowed her eyes, a little in confusion, a bit in frustration. That was avoidance of a question as any there was.

"Yes. The Medical Branch." A little confidence seeped into her voice. That was something she was always willing to talk about.

"How far along are you?" He was staring at the book he had closed again, but only at the cover as she remembered that she still hadn't gotten her answer. And here she was answering all of his questions.

"I'm advanced for my age."

"I see." He placed down his book with finality and made eye contact after a silent moment. "There's only one thing to be done then."

Tomoyo leaned forward almost unnoticeably, slightly eager. He was going to say something good, right? She was sure of it.

"Quit." Tomoyo practically recoiled. Eyes wide, she wanted to start protesting, but she didn't know where to start. What did you say to Clow-sama?

"Why is that the only option?" she managed to breathe out after a deeply rooted pause.

"Let me tell you this." Clow repositioned himself so that eye contact was still maintained but made Tomoyo feel smaller. "Some people have what it takes. You don't."

Tomoyo's grip on the edge of her chair was so tight she thought her arms were shaking, but she couldn't tell. That was unexpected. That was just… cruel. Saying that to her was the worst thing he could have done.

"The exams into Trainee level are that difficult for a reason. It shows who has the potential to continue. Usually when one doesn't pass, there is never any hope of continuing. There is the occasional late bloomer, but they so far have amounted to nothing much at your age."

Tomoyo took it all in. So that was it. It was all over. This had been completely pointless. She was going to be kicked out and be going home to a mother that would be less than pleased.

"You will, however, be welcome to stay as long as you're in the Medical Branch. As long as you're helping in some way, there's no need to make any changes. You can keep your accommodations and continue your work there. Now, do you have any requests or was that all you came here to discuss?" Tomoyo froze for a moment. It was that simple? Clow was wrapping this up like he dealt with this everyday. He probably did.

But now did she have anything to ask for? That was an unexpected question. She wanted to fill the void that elemental training had once occupied. She currently had substantial free time, and she didn't know what to do with it. And there was one thing she had been considering, but she hadn't voiced it out loud as of yet.

"It's sort of two things." Tomoyo started without even preparing how to exactly say it. "I would like to go into rehabilitation. And also, I'd like to further my skills by specializing in elemental history. For reference. To be informed is to be prepared." She managed a small smile at the end, hoping she wouldn't be denied.

Clow didn't take long to decide. At first Tomoyo thought he was reaching for the book he had been staring at before, but he changed direction and grabbed another one resting on his desk and held it towards her. "That wasn't very hard to grant." She tentatively made a reach for the object, and once she had it within her grasp, she held it towards herself. He continued, "I'll speak to the supervisor."

Tomoyo immediately stood up and dipped into a bow. She was back up before even a few moments and was making her way to the door. She muttered something in thanks and was leaning on the opposite side of the door with it firmly closed in relief before she knew it.

Hiragizawa was still there, his attention now focused on her. Rather it was on the book she held at her side, but she walked by without caring. She didn't understand Clow's apprentice, but she surely didn't even begin to get Clow himself. She wondered how Meilin held up at all. She already hated him. You'd have to be blind to not see that.

--e--a--

Things hadn't gone as planned. Someone had spoken over the commotion that they rarely did. Sakura decided that had to be the truth. If nothing else, the elements were almost entirely unpredictable. Planning could only you get so far. You had to be flexible. Even when this was only supposed to be a simple test run wherein she could learn the real workings. There wasn't supposed to be any emerging conflict that they'd have to face.

Needless to say, things had changed.

There was a bubble of emotions floating somewhere in her stomach as she stood there now and took it all in at once. She was watching a town burn to the ground for the second time in her life. The first experience was not one that had ever completely returned. It was made up of fast paced images that never slowed, full of bright orange and dancing light that made her skin seem too pale. They crept up on her when she felt she was alone and lost tucked in for the night with the last candle dying away.

She had lost all familiar faces, including Rika, as she stood in the unknown town. And she felt three years younger all over again before she had to shake her head to clear the feeling away.

It took time, precious seconds flooding by, but she regained her senses. Steadying her wobbly legs, she took to a fast run. The mission was a simple one. Not entirely primal instinct when one was in danger too, but an incentive that deserved the highest priority in her line of so-called work.

She knew she didn't have the same prowess as others that had tagged along. They had more experience, could handle the situation much better than she ever could at this point in time. She saw them handling the most intense parts of the fire and thinning out to where they needed to be. Sakura could only look for those who needed her help.

And she saw the first victim as surely as they had to be there. Hadn't others been returned to the recovery site in charred forms three years ago? Hadn't there been those who needed saving? They had been late that time. This time they weren't, and she could do something herself.

Was that sensation of control what she had been looking for all along? Was that why she dedicated herself to this questionable profession? To feel like she could make a difference in a situation like this… she liked the sound of those words. Now, however, was not a time for introspective conclusions.

The middle-aged woman was writhing in a way that provoked her churning stomach even more. Resistance to throwing up had to be set up right then and there. When she had calmed down, it was simple enough to conclude what had transpired. A building had collapsed; something that was not nearly out of the ordinary when an enflamed structure was concerned. Only this woman had been unlucky enough to be caught under a burning support beam.

There was no way that her lower body was fine, it being much more likely that it was completely crushed. There was something too disheartening knowing that a perfect stranger had just become crippled and you couldn't have done a thing because you hadn't been there to help. But now she was, and she wouldn't let the opportunity pass her by.

Sakura rushed to her side without registering it, already condensing the hot and humid air around her to at least help to put out some of the hindering flames. The woman was still struggling and squirming with no respite in sight. Sakura wondered if she even knew she was there, face smashed into the dirt as it was.

Sakura herself didn't even know when she started crying. She only knew she was. Mixed with sweat, the scene almost seemed too awkward to be real. But this was reality she knew because a dream couldn't be so damn depressing and let you know you were failing so desperately at the same time.

The flames were as resilient as the struggling woman. Sakura couldn't even begin to comprehend how she could go on in such pain, but she wasn't giving up. Sakura wouldn't either.

She knew the burn was coming, only an idiot wouldn't, but it stung still- worse than she had thought it would. She knew the blistering would come too if she kept it up, but she did. Because this was life or death here, and she couldn't give in to the momentary pain.

Some rubble budged. More came, and then some more. She realized however, that this wouldn't save the woman. She lowered to the ground, grabbing the woman securely as she tried to leverage with her feet just right. A few more quick scrambles to clear out some stubborn debris. Tugging and tugging and a sickening snap or two, but it was done. She was free. Everything was fine now. Then she glimpsed it.

Sakura only saw it for a moment. She wished she hadn't. The mangled mass that had once carried the woman on long strides were never to do so again. That could only mean one thing, a thing that Sakura had already seen coming. She wasn't sure if she could support the two of them although she made no hesitation hoisting her up on her shoulders.

Her knees almost buckled at the newly bestowed weight. She should have known better, but there were hardly any other options. It would be beyond cruel to drag her, and Sakura knew that this would be faster if she could just manage to keep her feet moving forward.

It was a long process. The woman had not stopped shifting, and Sakura could not tell if she even registered her change of position. Surely she could, but she gritted her teeth wishing she would stay still if that was the case.

She didn't know how far they had made it in what seemed an eternity, and she was afraid of looking back to see only a short distance had been traversed. So instead she plowed on, well aware that the flames were beginning to remove many of once available escape routes. She didn't want to think of what would happen if they completely were surrounded.

Her mind was distracted, however. It was only for a single moment, but it had happened and Sakura stared wide-eyed at the occurrence. Beyond the forming barricade of fire was a small boy. She could him very clearly, and she didn't have to think as to why. He was being burned alive.

Somewhere, in the very back of her mind, this all looked familiar. And she had watched this horror somewhere before. It had to be a dream. But reality and the present weighed her back down as her knees almost gave way.

The only way to save him was to leave this woman here. She could not move fast enough, and the range between them made the situation out of her control. She didn't know what difference she could make. She could only think that the smell of ash was more pungent than it had been a moment before.

If she went, if she really did, would the woman be cut off from her by the flames? Would she only be left to die in time too? What if she couldn't reach the boy in time and it was too late or she was too weak to save him? What if they both died?

Sakura stood unsteadily, mind racing. Why wasn't anyone else there? Why wasn't this happening to someone else? Why was this even happening?

How did she choose which one to save? How could she take the chance of letting them both die? How did you gamble with such a thing as life?

--e--a--

Meilin looked down at what she was grasping. She had her mouth half-open, already posed to begin talking. Her mouth froze, however, and for a few short lived seconds, she couldn't think.

"…So this is it?" Tomoyo didn't miss the slight edge to the other's voice.

"Yeah." She paused, then worked her mouth around a question of her own, "You okay?"

Meilin knew what she meant. She had been maintaining her good mood for a longer time than anyone had expected, but it had turned south in just a moment. But staring at this brought some memories back.

"It's nothing. Just seen something like this before. Does your mother have some sort of affinity for black?" Tomoyo blinked, seeing Meilin was back to prodding, teasing in her own way.

"Not that I know of. That's the first time she's done that." Meilin wisely said nothing more as Tomoyo curled up. She was out in front of a warm fire they had lit in the small fireplace they had in their room. It was not a cold day. There was no real need dictated by the weather. Rather today it was there for another purpose.

"So, can you just…" Tomoyo trailed off, knowing Meilin would get the message. She did and she didn't bother sitting down for the short task. She knew she wouldn't get very far before she had no desire to continue.

The black envelope opened smoothly like brushing water, and Meilin slowly unfolded the parchment that had once been inside it. She held it with both hands, reading quickly, as was her nature, before putting it down and sighing. She had made it about halfway through. She now lost no time in crumpling up the letter.

She walked over to Tomoyo who could now see Meilin as she plunked down beside her. Meilin offered the crinkled ball and Tomoyo stared. Meilin didn't give up so easily, taking Tomoyo's hand and encasing the offending object into her right palm.

"Go ahead." Tomoyo was hesitant.

"What did it say?" Meilin sighed in response.

"Just do it." Tomoyo tightened her hand into a fist before performing the action.

Meilin had been right, there was just a sense of release and relief watching it burn like that. And some things were probably better left unknown.

--e--a--

Sakura managed to hear a small snippet from another conversation, not being able to fully agree with what had been said.

"Pay and rewards for everyone. It can't get any better than this." Obviously they were newly promoted Trainees too. Sakura couldn't help but think how different she was from them. It had been like a nightmare.

Now the sun was shinning through the apertures of the canopy of green leaves where the fire had not reached. She was situated just on the outskirts of a town that was never supposed to have burned last night. It was supposed to be a relief mission where fires had been occurring frequently. Nothing had gone right.

This providence was not an Elementalist hating one. Still, they were not entirely comfortable to the prospect of having them still there. They had thanked them for their help, although a bit tentatively as it was never good to let it get around everywhere that you were an Elementalist lover. Some people really couldn't stand for that.

So they were taking a brief rest before heading out again. Sakura had perched herself on the edge of a traveling cart. Next to her was a resting Rika. Both had their injuries to speak of, and Sakura eyes trailed to her bandaged hands. It was not a very pretty sight.

She looked to Rika then who had her eyes closed and seemed to be thinking herself. The girl, she had found out some time ago, was two years older than her. They were still relatively close being roommates, but nothing near Tomoyo and her. That was fine as Rika had taken to her childhood friends that had joined the program too. They were a quartet that Sakura had so far hadn't much time interacting with but would like to. They made for an interesting group, those four.

Now, however, she deemed it would be alright to ask her a question that had been plaguing her mind since last night.

"Um, Rika…" Sakura tilted her head to look down at the ground. "I have a question for you. Maybe you can answer it." She took to stirring her exotic drink, courtesy of the town which had drastically calmed down. No more random fires had been springing up as of this next day.

"Go ahead, Sakura. I'll try my best," was the soft reply. Both girls were tired. Sakura took a deep breath.

"How do you choose who to save when you can't save everyone?" Sakura was acting diffident for the first time in a while. Rika hesitated and took a shaky breath. Most had been with the same question the night prior.

"That's… that's something you're going to have to find out for yourself. There's no real answer to that."

From here on out, every chapter looks like it will have some "action" if that's what you'd like to call it. The updates are kind of slow, I admit, but I'm trying to get ahead in the writing so I'll have some back-up chapters when the amazingly busy school year comes by again.

I have also re-written my lost notes for this story's first side fic, thanks to my semi-reliable memory. It will probably pop up when I have gotten to chapter ten in this story because the first "chapter", runs in correspondence with chapter ten.

Thank you to the reviewers too. I loved every word you wrote. If you can, please tell me what you thought of this chapter too. It's that friendly-looking purple button right down there.