Return of the Elementals

Chapter Three

It was morning, pale sunlight streaming through the window and blanketing the room in light. It was Wednesday, and that meant all six of us were going to tandem train today, as per our schedule. Today, the professor wanted to show us something he'd been working on, so it was at least worth checking out before training. Donning our jackets, we strode down the stairs. "Mom, Dad! We're going out now!" Choromatsu called behind us as we left, making sure they knew.

No words were whispered between us as we stepped into the morning day, the sky baby blue with the freshly risen sun painting its light all over Tokyo. "I wonder what the professor has for us," Jyushimatsu perked up, allowing his voice to shatter the early silence that birds were already chirping into. "Who knows? I just hope it's something cool," Osomatsu shrugged nonchalantly. "Cool? What matters mostly is if it's any helpful for any future encounters," Karamatsu interjected, putting emphasis on the word helpful.

"Excuse me? Do you really fucking think that we're gonna need to fight more killers?!" Todomatsu shrieked. Karamatsu shrugged. "I didn't say killers, but you never know if there's more enemies hiding," he said calmly. Todomatsu huffed, and we continued on. I studied the sky and familiar neighborhood, seeing each thing with new detail. The sky was orange and scarlet, splotches of blue mixed within the concoction. Birds flew ahead, singing and chirping their songs. The sun was shoving aside the curtains of colors to shed its light out onto Tokyo.

All around us, life was stirring. Cars hectically scurried throughout the roads, and windows and curtains were sliding open. My brothers' arguing was breaking the peace of early morning, and a car that whisked by actually unleashed a honk at them. "Asshole," Osomatsu scoffed under his breath. We walked in time along the sidewalk, our footsteps merging into one. Not one of us uttered a word.

I slid my hands into the pockets of my light grey jacket, and I could feel the warmth from my decision to throw it on over my purple hoodie. At last, we'd reached the professor's lab, characterized by the building's resemblance to its owner. The professor was already outside, leaning against the building right at the doorway, his arms folded to his almost bare chest, concealed by his long lab coat.

His grey eyes lit up upon seeing us. "Good morning, dasu!" he cheerily greeted us, standing up straight and buttoning up his coat. "G'mornin, professor," Osomatsu yawned, his mouth stretching wide. "Good morning, professor Dekapan," we all mumbled, except for Jyushimatsu, who said it with a high energy. "Let's cut the casual chit-chat," Todomatsu demanded, and I rolled my eyes. Professor Dekapan cocked his head to the side. "What's on your mind, dasu?" he questioned.

"You said you had something for us?" Karamatsu added, stepping in front of Todomatsu, who gave him a dirty glare. The professor's eyes flickered with confusion before lighting up with remembrance. "Ah, yes! Now I remember! Something I've been developing for your aid, dasu!" he chirped, and me and my siblings exchanged confused glances of blue, brown and green. "Well, what is it?" Todomatsu pushed again. "Come in, follow me, dasu!" the professor exclaimed again, pushing aside the heavy door and scurrying inside, allowing us to follow in.

We traveled within the lab at his tail, following him through rooms lined with test tubes, beakers and failed experiments. Dayon, the professor's assistant (and as rumors liked to claim, his husband), was nowhere to be seen, oddly enough. The unblinking man was always within the main lab. I took no note of it, writing it off as nothing to be considered significant.

The professor began to mumble to himself before turning back to us. "I really hope you like them, dasu," he said, just barely audible. Silence draped over us as he led us to a door. Dayon stood outside, and pulled open the door to reveal a small room when he spotted us approaching. The professor ushered us inside, and locked the door when we were fully inside.

The tiles were black and white, laid in a checkered pattern. The walls were all light blue, with the odd paper or sticky note dangling from the otherwise empty walls. Black counter encircled the room, housing beakers, notebooks and many other items. In the center? A large table with a sheet draped over. 

The professor moved to the sheet, grasping it. "Are you six ready, dasu?" he questioned, his grey eyes sparkling with excitement. "Whenever you are, professor," Karamatsu nodded, and the professor whisked the sheet into the air, revealing six colored crystals splayed out on the tabletop. They were oblong, and etched into their bright surfaces were symbols. 

Silence, but this time it was drifting awkwardness. It was a full five minutes before any one of us spoke again.

"What... are these?" Todomatsu inquired, picking up the pink one with a single water drop carved into it, turning it over and over in his hands. "Elemental crystals, dasu! If you focus enough of your power into them, they'll turn into major weapons!" Professor Dekapan explained, his look of anticipated excitement not wavering for a minute. Todomatsu's eyebrow raised in confusion.

"Why would we need weapons? I thought our powers WERE the weapons?" Osomatsu asked, his voice trialing off. The professor nodded. "That is true on its own, but these become physical weapons, brimming with the element infused within your DNA," he explained, picking up the nearest crystal and handing it to me. I took it from him, and ran my finger along a ridge. It was purple, and a symbol of a snowflake decorated its surface. 

It felt cold in my palms, and I noticed specks of white infused into it. "No offense, but we don't need these," Todomatsu hissed, putting his crystal back onto the table with a look of disgust. Choromatsu was fiddling with his green crystal when he looked up, his green eyes locking in a glance with the professor's grey. "What do you mean by physical weapons?" he asked, genuine curiosity inhabiting his voice.

"You'll see when the time comes, dasu," was all the professor said. "What do you mean when the time comes? There won't be a next time! There's no more Destruction Dragons!" Todomatsu spat, his eyes slitting into blue pools of rage. "Oi, Totty," Choromatsu growled, and Todomatsu angrily rolled his azure eyes.

"Thank you for the thought, professor. We'll be sure to use them when needed," Karamatsu bowed, his eyes sparkling painfully, and for a moment I contemplated the outcomes of using my powers on him. "I won't," Todomatsu huffed under his breath. The professor shifted on his feet. "I forgot to mention, dasu. Me and Dayton are going out of the country soon, so there won't be training for a while," he said. We all turned to face him.

"Seriously? You're waiting to tell us NOW?" Todomatsu screeched. "Leave him alone, Totty." Osomatsu said sternly, his eyes narrowed and his forehead creased. Todomatsu let out an exasperated sigh. "Fine," he grumbled. What had gotten into him since the takedown of Ryuu and the Dragons? He seemed to be more irritable. 

"Thank you, professor, for the thought of these weapons." Choromatsu thanked the old man once again, and we all scurried out, wanting to avoid another confrontation from Todomatsu.

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Stepping out into the sun again was an experience. I threw my arm over my eyes to shield my eyes from the sudden light. "Thank god that the reporters lost interest, huh?" Osomatsu remarked, a half-smile on his face as he rubbed the underside of his nose with his finger. "That's one good thing that's happened after this whole mess," mumbled Todomatsu, kicking a stone across the sidewalk, watching as it tumbled onto the dark grey of the street's asphalt.

"Hey, how's Hatabou been doing?" Jyushimatsu inquired. Until he uttered those words, the memory of how our friend had formulated the plan that had taken down Ryuu had slipped my mind. "He's fine, I think. He's been laying low ever since we took down Ryuu together," Choromatsu added as we began to walk back home. "Why? He was a huge chunk of the entire thing, even while we were trapped in there!" Osomatsu asked, his green eyes wide.

"Last I recall, he didn't want the publicity, and he didn't want his secret getting out," I butted in, watching the sidewalk pass under me as we walked. "Oh, yeah..." Osomatsu mumbled, and we continued on our way in silence, not exactly sure what today would bring.