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Chapter 16, The Winds of Change.


“This is getting pretty damn redundant.” Jacob said, his staff in hand. The other Guardian’s had their weapons as well, out and ready.

Across from them stood the Destroyers.

“And repetitive. You fight us. We kick your asses.” Becky said with a slight smirk. Sean glared at her from across.

The eight of them were standing in an open field. The Guardian’s had been trying to use a shortcut to get through the city, but the Destroyers had cut them off. Now they were in a battle.

“Oh, but we’re going to switch it up a little.” Itamo said with a smirk. Then without warning, he flew at Aisha, his blade swinging in an arc. Aisha’s own sword came up to meet his, her eyes widening slightly. Her battle’s were generally with Jessica, not Itamo.

Meanwhile, the other Destroyers had picked new targets as well. Sean’s halberd was locked in tight against the chain of Kelly’s scythe, each tugging to pull the others weapon from their grasp. Jessica was spinning her scythe, attempting to block the bullets from Becky’s gun. Kagune’s metal tipped fan’s berated Jacob’s staff as he almost lazily blocked the girls attacks.

Everyone seemed to be fighting their opponents with ease. Except for Aisha. Itamo’s attacks were coming at Aisha with blinding speed. All the girl could do was counter his blows. With a smirk, Itamo pulled back his hand.

“Stone Palm.”

He slammed his palm into Aisha’s stomach, sending the girl flying backwards. Stone spikes followed her in a line. She recovered herself in midair, here eyes widening slightly as a spike came at her. She kicked off the spike, leaping high into the air, her white wings exploding from her back. She flew high into the air, away from Itamo.

Suddenly, he was in front of her, his sword coming down in an arc. Instinct saved her, and years of sword practice with her father. Her blade met his, sparks flying off the metal. She flew sideways, trying to get away from the white haired boy. Itamo followed her every move, stones from the ground flying upwards to support his feet as he followed the angel-winged girl.

Aisha was fast, but Itamo was faster. He quickly made his way ahead of her, leaping into the air. He plummeted twords the girl. With a small spin, he slammed his knee into Aisha’s gut, sending the girl falling like a stone to the earth below.

Aisha hit the ground next to Jacob and Kagune, the blue haired girl trying in vain to get past Jacob’s staff defense.

“Why won’t you go down?” Kagune roared, slamming her fans onto Jacob’s staff. With a quick spin of his weapon, Jacob spent the Destroyer girl’s fans flying.

An upward flash made Aisha’s eyes shift upwards. Itamo had his sword pointing down, and he was falling down. Straight down at Aisha.

Aisha grabbed for her sword, but she had dropped it when she hit the ground. It lay a few feet away.

Meanwhile, Itamo kept falling, a grin on his young face. He seemed to be picking up speed as he got closer to Aisha.

Suddenly, Jacob was in front of Aisha. When Itamo got closer, Jacob batted his sword away like a fly. Itamo landed on his feet a few yards away, scowling.

“Ja...Jacob?” Aisha murmured

“Stay out of this Stone Boy!” Itamo shouted, taking a stance with his blade.

“What’s the matter short stuff? Can’t handle me?” Jacob asked with a smirk.

With a roar, Itamo launched himself at Jacob, swinging his katana at the tall boy. Jacob parried Itamo’s strike with ease, enraging Itamo.

“Aisha. Go help Becky with Jessica.” Jacob said, swinging his staff at Itamo.

With a nod, Aisha jumped up and grabbed her sword. She started running, but Kagune stood in her way.

“You’ll have to get past me if you want to help your precious fr...”

She was cut off by Jacob as he slammed his fist into the blue haired girl. Then he picked her up and threw her at Itamo, who was trying to get up.

“Go! Now!” He shouted.

Aisha nodded again. Flapping her wings, she flew off to intercept Jessica.

“Two on one. This isn’t fair.” Jacob said, a smile playing on his lips.

“No one said it had to be fair.” Kagune said maliciously.

“True. Would you two like to call for backup?” Jacob asked with a laugh. With a sidestep, he dodged the torrent of water Kagune shot at the boy. With a small crack, she slammed the butt of his staff onto the ground. An earthquake shook the ground, splitting the earth under Kagune’s feet.

Itamo pulled her away from the chasm, a growl on his lips. He slashed at Jacob, sending a volley of rocks at the boy. Jacob slammed down each rock with his staff, even sending a few back at Itamo and Kagune.

Aisha flew at Jessica, thoughts racing through her mind.

Am I not cut out to be a Guardian, like my father was? She asked herself. Shaking her head, she flew at Jessica, sending air currents at the girl.

In hardly any time at all, the Destroyers were retreating, vowing once again that they would have their vengeance.

“Well, that was different.” Kelly said brightly, dissummoning her chain scythe. Becky nodded.

“Sort of easy too. There is no way any of them could beat any of us, right guys?” She asked. Jacob and Kelly nodded, but Aisha hung her head. The battle with Itamo left her doubting. Was she just weak?

“What’s wrong Tree?” Kelly asked, as they made their way into the city.

“What if....What if I’m not cut out to be a Guardian?” She blurted out. The rest of the group stared at her.

“Nonsense. You’re a fine Guardian.” Becky told her.

“But...Look at me! I could hardly hold my own against Itamo! You,” She said, pointing at Jacob, “Had to end up saving my butt! I’m useless....”

“Your not useless.” Jacob told her. Kelly and Becky voiced their agreements, but nothing they could say could lift Aisha’s spirits.

Eventually, the skies began to darken as the day made its way through its cycle. The four made their separate ways, heading to their own houses, except for Becky, who was staying with Kelly for the night. The Guardians went to bed, their day exhausted.

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Aisha awoke the next day to the sound of her doorbell. Her alarm clock was flashing 10:00. With a grunt, she rolled herself out of bed, still in her pajama’s. She flung the door open, expecting a mail man, or UPS driver.

Jacob stood in her doorway, his head almost touching the doorframe.

“Morning, Sleeping Beauty.” He said, raising his eyebrows. “Come on, lets go.”

“Where are we going?” She asked, blinking sleep from her eyes. “Where’s BK and BP?”

“We are going to hang out together today.” He told her. “And Kelly and Becky are spending the day together. They’re at the movies.”

“Oh. Ok.” She said, slightly startled. She started to head out the door, before Jacob’s hand stopped her.

“Um, don’t you want to change first?” He asked, glancing at her pajamas.

Aisha looked down at her ducky pajamas. Her face turned red, as she slammed the door in Jacob’s face.

“PERVERT!” She screamed through the door.

Jacob shook his head, rubbing his nose from the door. Summoning a stone bench, he proceeded to sit and wait for the dark-haired girl.

Thirty minutes later, Aisha bolted from the house, in a grey t-shirt and black pants.

“Lets go.” She said, grabbing his arm and dragging him down the road.

“What’s up?” He asked, managing to keep up with the girl.

“My mother.” She managed to get out through gritted teeth “Think’s I’m going on a date.”

Jacob said nothing, but raised an eyebrow.

“With you.”

Then he started laughing.

“What’s so funny?” She shouted at him.

“Me!” He wheezed. “With you!”

“What, meaning I can’t get a boyfriend?” She shouted.

“Oh, Tree, come on. You know I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just that we’re friends, the idea’s kind of funny.” Jacob said, turning serious. Aisha said nothing, her back turned to him.

“All right.” He said, pulling her over to a bench and sitting her down. “What is this really about?”

“I feel useless.” She muttered, not looking at him.

“Oh, Aisha, we’ve been over this! You’re not useless!” Jacob said. He plopped down on the bus bench next to her. “You handle Jessica all the time. It’s natural that when you face Itamo you should have a little bit of a hard time.”

“You had no problems with Kagune!” She protested.

“Well, that’s different. Itamo and Kagune have the same style, that’s all.” He argued.

“No they don’t!”

“Maybe Kagune’s putting on more weight.” He mused, causing Aisha to laugh until the bus pulled up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day drug on, Aisha and Jacob going to the mall, seeing a movie, and generally spending the day together.

“Well, this was fun.” Jacob said, licking a vanilla ice-cream cone. Aisha nodded, eating her own chocolate one.

“Thanks. I needed this day, Little Mongoose.” She said with a smile.

“Right. Your welcome.” Jacob said, raising his eye at his own nickname.

“Well isn’t this cozy.” Came a voice from behind him.

Jacob and Aisha whipped around. Itamo, Kagune, Sean and Jessica were behind them, their weapons at the ready.

“What, can’t fight us normally? You have to gang up on us?” Jacob asked, his staff in hand. Aisha had her sword out, somewhat timidly.

“Like I said. It doesn’t have to be a fair fight.” Kagune said, a wicked smile playing on her face.

“Fine. Allow us to make the first move.” Jacob said, shooting forward.

Aisha hadn’t moved, her eyes playing on Itamo’s sword.

Jacob’s staff made contact with Sean, batting his halberd to the side and cracking him over the head. He blocked several strikes from Jessica. She managed to get through his defense, and sliced his arm. With a cry of fury, he grabbed her scythe. With a quick spin, he threw Jessica into Kagune, who was preparing to attack.

Suddenly, a giant stone fist wrapped itself around his body. With a grunt, he squeezed tightly. Itamo stood a few yards away, conducting the giant hand with a smirk on his face.

The other of the destroyers were preparing their attacks. Kagune had what looked like two rivers, lifted into the air, and forcing themselfs forward in attempt to break through and destroy Jacob. No less then four tornados surrounded the stone hand, circling him in crosswinds. Sean had summoned a fire so great, it began to melt smaller metals around them.

“What about the girl?” Kagune asked, her blue hair whipping around from the force of their attacks.

“Don’t mind her. She’s useless.”

The words hit Aisha’s ears, and her eyes widened.

Useless. Useless. She’s useless.

The words rung in her ears, playing over and over. Then one more sentence, louder then the others broke through.

You’re not useless.

“Yeah, leave her alone.” Itamo repeated. “She’s useless!”

Suddenly, a burst of wind slapped Itamo across the cheek, leaving a red mark.

“I’m. Not. Useless!” She shouted.

Her shout picked up pitch, getting louder and louder. So loud, the Destroyers grabbed their ears. The force of her shout send everything twords the Destroyers, and their attacks fell to the ground, becomes useless. The stone hand holding Jacob shattered to sand, and the boy dropped the ground. The other Destroyers were sent flying.

Then, the shout died down, and the area was unusually silent.

“Sound.” Aisha whispered, a smile playing on her lips. Then she began shouting. “My second power is Sound!”

She ran over to Jacob and hugged him tightly.

“Jacob, my new power is Sound!” She said with joy.

“What?” He asked. She looked at him quizzically.

“I said, my new power is Sound!”

“Tree, stop whispering! But that attack was awesome! I think your new power is Sound!” Jacob said with understanding.

“Oi.” She said, shaking her head.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jacob ended up regaining his hearing an hour later. They headed over to Kelly’s house, and met up with Kelly and Becky. When they told the whole story, Kelly and Becky were excited for Aisha, who had gained her second power like the others.

Best of all, she was not useless.

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Wahoo! Finally done!!! Man this was a long chapter! As it should be, I had a lot to write!

Man, this was a great chapter! This one is dedicated to Aisha! Hope ya like it Tree!

Well, Aisha finally gets her secondary power, Sound. It’ll prove very useful later on! Jake and Aisha got to spend some time together, and their friendship is stronger then ever!

The next chapter is a surprise one! Hope you liked this one!