• Chapter 6
    Yasuo stepped out of the bushes, “Hello Tomo.” He said, completely ignoring my presence. I rolled my eyes and cleared my tears away.
    “Why hello Yasuo, quite a way from the academy, aren’t we?” Oh, take THAT. I nipped in my thoughts. A silver butterfly fluttered out from a nearby tree and fluttered around us, resting on a yellow daisy.
    “Why yes, we are. I was dismissed early, so I came here. Why are you here?” He said back. Even though he said it kindly I knew he was probably thinking along the lines of CHECKMATE! “I was practicing with a student.” Tomo said, motioning to me. Ahh, nooo! Don’t bring me to attention. I thought franticly. “Why hello Nozomi.” He said frostily. “Back at you.” I growled, clenching my fists. The little silver butterfly fluttered off the flower and landed on the ground next to our lovely exchange. “Why were you practicing with her? I thought she was so amazing we brought her to the academy.” He asked Tomo. “That’s not really a concern of yours.” I butted in, hoping he wouldn’t press further. But of course, nothing ever goes my way, does it? “I wasn’t asking you.” Yasuo smirked. “You’re not the teacher, now are you?”
    I stepped forwards towards him menacingly. “No but I could teach a poor sap like you a thing or two.” I growled. “I’m not afraid of you. I saved your butt, I can destroy it too.” At this the butterfly fluttered between us and started glowing. It started growing until Naomi stood there, shaking her head at us. “I can’t even count on you two to stop fighting in front of a teacher. Have some respect. You both act like children.” She turned her attention towards Tomo, who I forgot was even there. “I’m sorry. I’ll handle these jokers. You shouldn’t have to deal with them.” Tomo looked at her, then at us. “Uh, OK then. I have some reports to grade, so I’ll be in my classroom if you need me.” He said slowly, looking shocked. He quickly fled the scene. “Alright you two, I’m not going to deal with this feuding any longer. You both are pathetic.” Naomi growled. “It’s not my fault any of this started. I was having a nice talk with a teacher and he butts in and acts like I don’t exist! Like, duhh I know you’re angry, but you don’t have to act so seven-ish.” “Seven-ish? How about how you butted in our conversation?!” “You were talking about ME how was I supposed to NOT?!” “Enough! Just be friends already! You both want to at least get along, and it’s not like someone is holding a gun to year head going – Don’t let her be your friend. Ignore him – don’t get along!!” Naomi yelled, as if she could read my thoughts. I DID want to be friends with him. Did he want to be friends with me?
    “Naomi! How many times did I tell you not to do that?” Yasuo growled at her.
    “Do what?” I asked, thoroughly puzzled at his outburst. “Naomi can read minds. She does it perfectly, so the person can’t tell. She can also destroy all your thoughts like a bulldozer if she wants to.” Yasuo explained.
    “Wow. But wait; can’t you only have two talents? That would be three for her. Air, transformation, and mind reading.” “Some people can have three or even all abilities. It’s extremely rare to have more than three though.” Naomi explained. “So you did want to be friends, both of you. So are you going to get along? Or will you two have to wake up tied to a flagpole?”
    ”I think I’ll get along.” I giggled. Yasuo just nodded, not looking directly at me. “I’m sorry how I acted, Yasuo, I didn’t mean to be offensive.” He didn’t say anything back, but I guessed he was still kind of shocked about the turn of events.
    “Now let’s go back to the school, you people give me a headache.” Naomi laughed. I nodded and we both followed her in silence.
    “Now, everyone pick a small group of people, preferably friends, preferably people with different talents. You have 120 seconds.” Haru, our travels teacher, directed.
    Everyone started scrambling around the room. I found Naomi right away; she had a boy right next to her. I saw Miki and quickly waved her over. Yasuo found us, and even though we weren’t fully trusting yet, he seemed to want to join our group. He had another boy along with him. Another girl that I think Naomi knew joined us at the last moment.
    “Alright everyone, sit down with your group.” Haru directed us. “Now. This is travels class, as you all know. You’ll be traveling around with these people when the school year is over in a couple of weeks. You will be talking with these people and practicing with them in this class. I will change people’s groups around if need be, everyone got it?” The class mumbled, some people groaning. “Now everyone go out with your group onto the school grounds, and get acquainted if some of you people don’t know each other.”
    I was jumbled through the crowd until our group was safely outside. We all sat down in a circle on the grass.
    “Who’s who on the crew.” The boy with Naomi laughed. “I’ll go first.” Naomi offered. “I’m Naomi, most of you know me. I’m 18, going to graduate this year. My abilities are Mind reading, air, transformation, and I can speak to animals. I’m an amazing person with a sparkling personality that-”
    “Oh shut up Naomi.” Yasuo laughed. “I’ll go next. I’m Yasuo, I’m 17 and still beautiful.” Gag. “My abilities are metal and fire. There, see Naomi, short and sweet.” He teased her.
    The boy that came with Naomi went next. “Alright. I’m Ryuji. And I’m superior to all of you.” He laughed sarcastically. “I’m 18, but older than Naomi. My talents are shadow and fire.” Ryuji had black shaggy hair. He looked really muscular and looked like a “Ladies Man,” if I do say so myself. He had gray eyes that seemed to sparkle with sarcasm.
    “I’m Miki, I’m 15.” She said shyly, I knew she wasn’t used to being called out. “My talents are thunder and ground.” Miki had blonde hair that was tied up in two braids on either side of her head. She had green eyes and dimples that showed up even when she wasn’t smiling.
    “I’m Mai Yoko, I’m 17. Abilities are transformation and light.” She smiled. Wow. She had perfect teeth. She had shoulder-length curly brown hair. She had yellow eyes just like a coyote; they made her look dangerous yet playful. No doubt she would be a cool girl.
    “I’m Yoshi, and I’m sorry but... I’m better than you.” He said, we all laughed. “I have levitation and lightning. Oh, and I’m 17.” He winked. He had light brown, rather short, hair. He had blue eyes with green flecks. He seemed funny enough; probably would keep us all sane on our trip.
    I was startled to find it was my turn. “Oh, sorry.” I blushed. “Well, I’m new here. I’m 16, and my name is Nozomi. My talent is ice. And no, I don’t know of another one I have, I’m just waiting patiently.” I smiled.


    Chapter 7

    “It’s impossible. I DON’T have another talent Tomo!” I growled at him.
    We had been out in the field trying everything possible, but no talents were coming to me. We had been out here since sunrise and the sun was high in the sky now. “I give up.” I said, plopping down in the grass.
    “Oh come in, you have to have another one.” Tomo said, sitting down beside me.
    “Nope, just call me the singly.” I laughed, but it wasn’t really funny. I gave up, it wasn’t fair that I only had one talent.
    Tomo sat up, snapping. “Kaibutsu, I think I know your talent.”
    I laughed bitterly, “We’ve gone through all the possible talents. I’m untalented, remember?”
    “No, it’s a rare talent, but I think you may have it. It’s called stone eye.”
    “Sounds painful.” I said.
    Tomo rolled his eyes, “No, it’s like you can change your surroundings to a place you’ve been before. Say I’ve been to a desert before and I had stone eye. Well I would be able to change our surroundings to like we were in a desert, you would even be able to feel the heat. Only the person with the stone eye can change it back. It’s kind of like teleportation – but not quite.”
    I nodded, “But why is it called stone eye?”
    “Well when you have a hardened heart they say you have a stone heart. This talent is partially fueled by having bad times and having a hardened heart. They put the eye because you can see the changes and things.”
    I nodded again, “Alright. How can we tell if I have it?”
    “Here, grab onto my arm, it will make sure I change with you.” I nodded and took a hold of his arm. “Now, think of a place. Any place will do. Do you have the image? Now think of it, and just like summoning ice, put all your power into that place.”
    I did as he said. I pulled up the image of an apartment building I had seen when I was little. I would stand on the sidewalk and wish I lived there. I put all of my heart into that place, wishing I was there.
    When I looked around my surroundings started to blur, fade out. Then they were replaced with the colors of the apartment and the road. Black pavement under our feet, brick buildings in front of us.
    Suddenly we were standing there. I gasped as I looked around. “I did it!” I squealed.
    Tomo smiled at me, “Now can you take up back to the lot?” He challenged. “Just do the same thing, wish you were there and think of the surroundings.”
    I did as he said, and we arrived back in the lot. “I did it! I did it! I’m a stone eye!” I squealed, jumping up and down.
    Tomo smiled at me, “I couldn’t do that as well as you could for at least a couple of weeks. Good job.”
    I gasped; he was a stone eye too? No wonder he knew so much about it!



    Kaibutsu Nozomi
    Monster Hope

    Yasuo Hiroshi
    Peaceful one Generous

    Raidon
    Thunder god

    Naomi Cho
    Beauty Butterfly

    Tomo
    A twin

    Miki Subarashii
    Tree excellent

    Haru
    Born in the spring

    Ryuji
    Dragon Man

    Mai Yoko
    Native American brightness; coyote positive

    Yoshi
    better, best