Chapter Five: Realization and Preperation

Akari's P.O.V.

Atiyama's eyes were slightly wide as several thoughts ran through his mind, his eyes focused on the wounds he had just received. "Of course... How could I be so foolish? His element has light right in the damn name... I need to kill him, now!" He held his hand out in Sanda's direction, but I was in front of him in a matter of seconds, spreading out my arms and encasing myself and Sanda both in a barrier of light. "Damn..."

I glared at him. "Your fight was with me. You fight like a coward."

"I fight with my brain, unlike you." He stood up, dusting himself off. "You really think you can protect him and take us both on?" The Plasma Elementia flashed over and was at his side.

I smiled confidently. "Maybe not me... But we can." The other five Elementia were around the barrier of light in seconds, encasing Sanda with one barrier each. The other Dark Elementia appeared around Atiyama as well.

"We won't let you kill Sanda. You'd best leave." Daichi spoke.

"Unless you want to lose your plasma." Agni growled as his fists lit aflame.

The Plasma Elementia faltered. I'm guessing he wasn't too confident he could take one of us on and survive right now. Atiyama sighed and backed away. "Retreat. We need to prepare..." Atiyama's eyes locked with mine.

"You really think I'll let you leave with this opportunity in front of me?" I mumbled.

"Yes because unlike me, you're not the type to fight those you know are weaker than you. You're not a bully, Light Elementia." Atiyama said bluntly. We both fired a ball of our elements at each other simultaneously, causing a smoke screen. When it lifted, the Dark Elementia were gone. The others sighed with slight relief and let their barriers down, Sanda still knocked out on the floor.

Daichi walked over and picked him up, holding him over his shoulder. "I'll take him to his room."

I nodded, staring at the spot Atiyama was standing. "He'll be back... Most likely before the month is over..." I looked up. "If we're not prepared, he'll kill Sanda, and leave us at a huge disadvantage... Even I couldn't take on all seven of them alone..."

Atiyama's P.O.V.

When we returned to our base, a shack in the middle of the woods, I leaned against the wall, sighing. "Too bad healing isn't our strong suit. It'd be nice to have that nature girl on our side for this." Kristy mumbled.

"I'll be fine. I've had much worse than these little burns before. We're lucky that's the most powerful thing he can do right now." I looked to the Plasma Elementia. "How long before you think you can master your element? Enough to kill the lightning? It's even more urgent now."

He was silent for a moment, his eyes closed as he thought to himself. After a few moments, he opened his eyes slowly. "By the end of the month."

I thought to himself for a moment as well. "So about a week and a half. Alright, rest for today. After that you'll be training until then, only stopping for meals and sleep, understood?"

"Fine with me boss." He smiled. "You don't have to be so formal though. We're all friends here." The rest of them either smiled slightly or grinned as a response to that.

"I guess you're right..." A small smile formed on my lips.

"I'm gonna start on dinner..." Isek headed off to the small kitchen.

"He's got no spirit so people think he's lazy, yet he does all the chores and even cooks..." I chuckled at the thought. I then thought of Sanda's power, of lightning itself. "If I'm right...he'll learn fast..." I mumbled to myself.

Sanda's P.O.V.

I slowly opened my eyes, seeing the ceiling of my bedroom. I groaned a bit, clenching my head gently. I had a throbbing headache, but I've felt worse, so I sat up and looked around. The last thing I remembered was Atiyama trying to kill me and then getting struck by lightning. "Awake already?" I heard a voice to my right and looked over, seeing Hanako sitting in a chair beside my bed.

"What are you doing in here?" I asked.

She smiled. "Well I'm the Nature Elementia. I'm our healer, so it only makes sense for me to watch over our injured right?"

"I guess you're right..." I giggled weakly, looking down at the blanket covering my body. "Is everyone else okay? Was anyone else hurt..?"

"No, everyone else is just fine. You should rest though. I'll bring you your dinner when it's ready."

"I can't afford to rest..." I mumbled, looking down still. "As I am now, I'll only hold everyone back. Chances are that plasma guy will be able to master his element before me. That's why I have to train even harder... Besides, I feel fine aside from a little headache, and I'm not even tired!"

Hanako smiled. "Being the Lightning Elementia, I guess your quirks are long lasting stamina, quick learning, and quick recovery. Interesting. Alright, I won't stop you. I'll be here if you have any injuries though. Please be careful Sanda." Her tone turned a bit worrisome and her smile had faded.

I gave her the best smile I could muster. "I'll be fine. I promise." I stood up slowly and I honestly felt completely fine. Hanako led me out of my room to go see the others. Everyone looked over when they saw me, but Akari was in front of me in a flash, making me jump and move back slightly.

"Are you alright? Are you hurting anywhere? Let me see." Before I could even open my mouth she was checking me all over for wounds.

I chuckled nervously and blushed faintly. "This is kind of embarrassing..."

Everyone else began laughing. "Don't worry, that's normal. She gets worried like that whenever something bad happens to any of us." Jinny smiled.

"R-Right..." I smiled awkwardly. "It's comforting...having someone worry about you like this. Though, she is the Light Elementia. I guess that's just her personality." I thought to myself.

Akari backed off and sighed with relief, then looked at me with a warm smile that made my cheeks even redder. "Good, you're alright. I'm glad nothing bad happened to you..."

I averted my eyes and scratched the back of my head. "Y-Yeah... Me too..."

"Aren't you going to keep resting?" Daichi raised an eyebrow and I shook my head, repeating the same words that I said to Hanako. I clenched my fists slightly as certain thoughts crossed my mind: one of them getting badly hurt trying to protect me, or even dying, or me dying because of my own weakness. They all paused for a moment before smiling at me. Even Agni gave me a small smile.

"Well we're all here to help you. Remember that." Akari placed her hand on my shoulder. This time, i slowly returned her smile.

"If you want to continue, then let's go right now. Things are going to get way more intense." Jinny spoke from her seat.

"That's fine with me, throw everything you have at me. I'm ready."

She grinned. We both headed outside to our usual spot, each taking a stance. I took a stance that matched Akari's when she was fighting Atiyama, determination flickering in my eyes. Jinny's eyes widened for a second, but she smirked. "Alright, come on noob. Let's do this!"

I dashed at her quickly, the memory of Akari and Atiyama's fight flashing through my mind, and I mocked Akari's movements perfectly. Jinny parried and blocked my attacks as best she could. I quickly fell back and swept her legs but she jumped and flipped over me. I jumped up and spun around, kicking her. She quickly caught my leg however and grabbed onto it, pulling me and spinning me around. "Impressive, but you'll have to do better than that!"

"Aaaahh-ahhh-ahhh!" I yelled as she spun me around, starting to get dizzy before she threw me out of the arena and into a tree. "Ugah!" I slowly slid to the ground, groaning. "Ughhh..."

"O-Oops, maybe I got too into it... Are you alright Sanda?!"

The same thoughts from before came into my mind and I quickly shot up. "Is that all you've got?!" I ran at her and jumped back into the arena.

She stared at me for a second and smiled. "You're gonna regret saying that!" She rushed at me and we both continued fighting the rest of the day. By the end of our session, I had memorized several of her movements and even used some on her. We were starting to become evenly matched, but she still managed to kick my ass.

"You really do learn quick." Jinny panted, sweating a little.

I, however, was laying on the ground, panting heavily and drenched in sweat. "Not fast enough..." I muttered. She knelt down next to me and flicked my forehead. "Ow, why?"

She looked into my eyes. "Have a little more faith in us. We won't go down easy and we know how to take care of ourselves." My eyes widened slightly and I averted my gaze. "That being said..." She muttered. I looked up at her again and she smiled at me. "I'm glad to know you're so worried about us."

I blushed and averted my eyes again. "I-I didn't even say anything."

She laughed and ruffled my hair. "You didn't have to. You're doing good, Sanda."

I smiled a bit, pulling her down suddenly so she was on her back at my side as I stood, kneeling on one knee, my fingers pointed at her throat. "You were saying?"

She smirked. "You really know how to flatter a girl." She teased and I laughed.