The Wind of Deception

The wind swept briskly through the university campus, rustling trees and whipping through the open air. The clock mounted on the university wall continue its steady tick-tick.

The clock showing it was 01:02 P.M.

The Elements – and Teshii – stood face to face with a stranger who had just revealed a startling truth.

The boy's silver-grey hair danced in the wind, and his green eyes held a calm confidence.

Hikaru's eyes widened.

"Y-You're the Element of Air?"

"Yep!" Sora nodded cheerfully.

CHARACTER INTRODUCTION

Name: Sora Arashii

Age: 17

Hair Colour: Grey

Eye Colour: Green

Height: 5'6

Weight: 148lbs

Occupation: Unknown

Ikazuchi narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

"How do we know you're telling the truth?"

Sora tilted his head, smiling.

"Well… have you noticed how windy today's been?"

He had a point.

All morning, the breeze had been usually strong – persistent gusts blowing through the trees and tousling everyone's hair.

"He isn't wrong," Reito said, brushing hair from his face. "It really is unusually windy today."

Ikazuchi groaned and crossed his arms.

"Well, Sora, I don't give a f*ck whether you're the Element of Air or the spirit of the sky. Just stop the damn wind already. It's messing with my hair and it's too cold!"

Sora gave a smug smile, unfazed.

"I'd rather not stop the wind today, my friend!"

Ikazuchi narrowed his eyes.

"And why the hell not?"

"I have my reasons," Sora replied, coolly.

Daichi stepped forward, frowning.

"And what reason would that be, Sora?"

Sora's expression didn't change.

"That's none of your business."

Daichi clenched his fist.

"What did you say?"

Hikaru stared quietly at Sora, who was already sparking tension with Ikazuchi and Daichi. The grey-haired newcomer seemed to enjoy stirring the atmosphere – literally and figuratively.

So he's the Element of Air, huh?

Suddenly–

BUZZ!

A vibration came from Hikaru's pocket.

"Hmm?"

He reached for his phone and pulled it out of his pocket. The screen lit up with a new message.

Aoi?

Hikaru blinked. Aoi was one of his childhood friends… and Yami's girlfriend.

I wonder what she wants.

He tapped into the messaging app and read her text.

Aoi: Hikaru

Aoi: Can I talk to you?

Hikaru raised an eyebrow, his thumb moving quickly over the keyboard of his phone.

Hikaru: Sure!

Hikaru: What's up?

A few seconds passed.

Aoi: I'm worried.

Hikaru narrowed his eyes at the screen.

Worried?

Hikaru: About what?

Another pause – then the next message made his heart skip.

Aoi: About Yami.

Aoi: I haven't heard anything from Yami

Aoi: For the last few weeks.

Aoi: He hasn't replied to any of my messages.

Hikaru's thumb hovered over the screen. He stared at her texts, concern growing on his face.

What should I do?

Beside him, Teshii caught the shift in Hikaru's expression.

"Oi, Sunshine," Teshii whispered, "What's wrong?"

Hikaru turned slightly.

"Teshii… Aoi just messaged me. She said she's worried about Yami."

"Yami?" Teshii repeated.

"Yeah," Hikaru nodded. "She hasn't heard anything from him in weeks. He's completely ghosted her."

Teshii frowned, then rested a thoughtful hand on his chin.

"Hm… how about you go and see Aoi? Check in with her."

Hikaru blinked.

"I mean… I would. But what about you guys?"

Teshii grinned.

"Don't worry about us! We'll talk to Sora. Besides…" He struck a dramatic pose. "These guys have me – the King of Martial Arts."

Hikaru gave Teshii a long look, then sighed.

"If you say so…"

He glanced down at his phone and began typing.

Hikaru: Ok

Hikaru: I'll go to your house and see if I can help you.

A few seconds passed. Aoi replied:

Aoi: Ok

Aoi: Thank you, Hikaru.

Aoi: But…

Hikaru raised an eyebrow.

But?

Aoi: Can you bring Mei?

"Mei?" Hikaru muttered, frowning.

Hikaru: Why?

Seconds later:

Aoi: Because

Aoi: I know you two are dating.

Aoi: I just don't want her to get the wrong idea.

Hikaru's entire face flushed red.

W-What?!

He quickly typed a response:

Hikaru: Aoi

Hikaru: Me and Mei are not dating.

A few seconds later…

Aoi: You're not?

Hikaru let out a long sigh of relief and typed:

Hikaru: We're not.

Almost immediately, Aoi responded:

Aoi: Still

Aoi: Can you still bring her?

Hikaru stared at the screen for a moment, then replied:

Hikaru: Sure, no worries.

Hikaru: I'll see you later, then.

A final reply came in:

Aoi: See you, Hikaru.

Aoi: And

Aoi: Thank you.

Hikaru smiled softly as he tucked his phone back into his pocket.

Then–

"SERIOUSLY?! YOU'RE STARTING TO PISS ME OFF!"

Hikaru froze at the sudden outburst.

"Huh?"

It was Ikazuchi – completely furious, sparks crackling around his body.

The source of his rage?

Sora's refusal.

"I asked you one simple thing. Why can't you just do it?" Ikazuchi growled.

"Yeah, I agree with Ikazuchi," Reito added. "Why can't you stop the wind?"

"Because I have my reason," Sora replied calmly with a nod.

Daichi stepped forward, gritting his teeth.

"Let me ask again. What are those reasons?"

"Like I said before…" Sora shrugged. "It's none of your business."

"Okay, that's it!" Ikazuchi snapped, electricity now sparking across his arms.

Then–

"STOP!"

Everyone – including Sora – froze at the sharp command.

It was Teshii. And he was no longer amused. His voice carried weight, sharp and clear. He turned to Hikaru.

"Sunshine, you can go."

Hikaru nodded without hesitation.

"Okay. I'll see you guys later."

He turned around and jogged off leaving the university courtyard behind.

Moriya watched him go, puzzled.

"Where's he going?"

Teshii crossed his arms, his gaze unwavering.

"He has some urgent business he needs to attend to."

Sora raised an eyebrow.

"Like what?"

Teshii stepped forward, his shoes scraping lightly against the ground.

"None of your business," he said coldly.

Sora blinked.

"What?"

Teshii now stood directly in front of him, arms still crossed.

"So… tell me," he said, eyes narrowing behind his crimson shades. "When did you awaken the Element of Air?"

Silence…

The wind continued to whistle through the air as Sora stood face to face with Teshii, his narrowed green eyes locked onto the man before him.

Then – Sora finally spoke:

"Three years ago."

Teshii's expression sharpened behind his crimson shades.

"Three years ago, huh?"

"Y-Yeah," Sora nodded. "Have you ever heard about… um… the tornado in Nagoya?"

Teshii raised an eyebrow.

"Nagoya?"

"That's right," Haruto suddenly spoke up.

Everyone turned to him in unison.

"Three years ago, there was a massive tornado in Nagoya. The tornado just came out of nowhere," Haruto said, his tone serious.

He slowly turned his head toward Sora.

"Don't tell me…"

Sora gave a sheepish chuckle.

"Yeah… that was me who caused the tornado."

Everyone just stared at Sora after his casual confession.

Then–

"A bit irresponsible, don't you think?" Teshii said dryly.

"What?!" Sora snapped, glaring at him.

Teshii casually cleared his throat and waved his hand.

"Never mind that." His voice became stern again. "Tell me… what are you doing here?"

Sora let out a deep sigh, steading his breath and relaxing his shoulders.

"I'm here because I want to join the Order of the Elements."

Teshii raised an eyebrow.

"You are?"

"Yeah." Sora nodded firmly. "Last week, I heard about the Order of the Elements – that they were searching for the 10 Elemental Warriors. So… I figured I'd find you guys and join."

"Really?" Moriya said, his expression softening. "If that's the case, then welcome."

Haruto and Reito both nodded in agreement. Even Daichi, although almost having a fight with Sora, gave a reluctant nod.

Ikazuchi, arms crossed, turned his head away.

"Hmph! I don't really like you. But… welcome, I guess."

Sora smiled brightly.

"Thank you. Thank you, all of you. I'm very honoured to join the Ord–"

Then–

"Bullsh*t."

Teshii's cold interruption cut through the moment like a knife.

Everyone turned toward him, confused.

"What do you mean, Teshii?" Daichi asked.

Teshii crossed his arms, his tone sharper now, his eyes locked onto Sora.

"There is no way you would know about the Order of the Elements." Teshii said, voice serious. "Because… the Order of the Elements is a secret organization."

The other Elements – Haruto, Moriya, Ikazuchi, Reito, and Daichi – all widened their eyes in realization. Teshii was right.

Haruto slowly turned to Sora, narrowing his gaze.

That's right… The Order isn't public knowledge. There's no way he would've heard about it just from the newes…

Teshii pointed directly at Sora.

"And another thing – I also think it's bullsh*t that you're the Element of Air."

"Oh yeah?" Sora asked, trying to keep his cool. "Why's that?"

Teshii's tone didn't waver.

"Because if you were the Element of Air, we'd be able to sense it. When an Element is close by, we can feel their energy in our minds. It's something only true Elementals can do."

"That's right." Moriya added, now glaring at Sora himself.

He took a step forward.

"So what's going on here, Sora?" he demanded.

Sora gritted his teeth, visibly agitated.

"C'mon! I get it, okay? It's weird that I knew about the Order when it's secret. But that energy sensing thing? Maybe it just didn't work this time."

He let out a nervous, hollow laugh.

But no one was laughing with him.

Teshii crossed his arms, unwavering.

"Alright then. If you are the Element of Air, then prove it. Tell us – what are our Elements? If you're one of us, then your instincts should tell you who we are."

Sora's jaw tightened.

"Let's start with my baby little brother," Teshi said, smirking slightly.

Reito glanced at Teshii, raising an eyebrow.

"Baby little brother? You have a brother, Teshii?"

Teshii turned his head toward Reito.

"Yeah, Sunshine!"

"Huh?! You and Hikaru aren't even related!" Ikazuchi blurted out.

"I mean…" Teshii tried to explain. "I am dating his sister, so that would practically make me his brother."

Ikazuchi stared at Teshii in disbelief.

I can't believe I respect this guy.

Then–

Teshii turned back to Sora.

"If you know about the Order of the Elements, then tell me – what Elements do we have? Starting with my little baby brother, Sunshine."

Sora chuckled.

"That's easy. He's Light."

Sora then pointed to Haruto.

"He's Water."

Then to Moriya.

"He's Wood."

Then to Ikazuchi.

"He's Thunder."

Then to Reito.

"He's Ice."

Then to Daichi.

"He's Earth."

The Elements all glanced at each other.

"H-He got them all right," Daichi muttered.

Then – Sora pointed to Teshii.

"And you are Fire."

Silence…

Teshii smiled and pointed at Sora.

"And you are f*cked."

"Huh?" Sora said, his smirk fading.

"Here's the thing, Sora – if that's even your real name." Teshii crossed his arms. "I'm not even an Element."

Sora's eyes twitched, his smirk falling completely. He clenched his fists and closed his eyes.

Suddenly–

His entire body began to shift.

A green aura shimmered around him. His skin tone turned much paler, his hair colour shifted to blonde, and though his eye colour remained green, it no longer held the innocent from earlier.

And within seconds–

Sora Arashii was gone.

In his place, a completely different man stood.

Ikazuchi gritted his teeth.

"Who are you?"

The man's lips curled into a smug grin.

"Call me Chameleon."

CHARACTER INTRODUCTION

Name: Kai

Age: Unknown

Codename: Chameleon

Species: Mutant

Ability: Shapeshifting

Hair Colour: Blonde

Eye Colour: Green

Height: 5'8

Weight: 165lbs

Occupation: Unknown

Haruto raised an eyebrow.

"Chameleon, huh?"

Teshii turned to the rest of the Elements.

"Alright, Elements! Ready?!"

The others nodded, their faces firm and alert.

Chameleon smiled, his confidence unwavering.

C'mon, then. Come at me. Let's see if you guys can fight me… without accidentally fighting each other.

TO BE CONTINUED!!!