The Five Elements

The Sakurai Family

I growl, "everything is just peachy."

After my stupid exercise with Haruka earlier, I went back to my room and took a shower.

I'm sitting on the floor in my room staring at a wall. I've gotten to that level of boredom.

It's almost lunch. How about you go ahead and get some food. It might help with your boredom.

I guess.

I stand up and leave my room. The hallways are surprisingly empty as I walk down them.

Curious.

I enter the cafeteria and spot all four sages and my team. As I walk up to them, I notice that they are having a serious conversation.

"Hey, what's up?" I ask before pulling a seat out and sitting down.

Each one of them look at me with complicated expressions. Captain Endo sighs, "first of all, today is a free go home day, so everyone else is with their families. And as much as i'd love to send you off to your brother, I can't. You have been summoned by the Sakurai family to meet with them today by 5'o'clock."

The world crashes down upon me, and I jump up and slam my hands onto the table. I yell angerly, "but why? I don't want to meet that two-faced rich girl's supid filthy rich parents!"

Jun and Raiden stiffle laughter while the others shake their heads in disapproval.

Emiko sighs, "I know how you feel, but there is no need to say things like that. You haven't met them yet. Meet them then judge."

"She's right," Captain nods his head and continues, "don't be prejudice towards nobles."

"I'm not! I'm just-"

Haruka interrupts me. "Judging them before you have even talked to them."

John adds, "before you've even seen them."

I frown, cross my arms, and turn my head away from them. What do they know? She acts the way she does for a reason. It has to be her parents.

~~time skip~~

I take a deep breath then knock on the door. A moment later it opens and an older man dressed in a butler suit stands before me. He smiles at me then gracefully bows. "Its a pleasure to have you here Miss Yuhara." His voice is smooth and even. I almost forgot my manners.

"Oh, ah, thank you sir, but, um, you don't have to address me like that. You can just call me Suki. I don't really care for formalities," I grin and shake my head.

He gives me another smile. "Thank you, however, it's part of my job to speak like such. You also deserve respect, so it would be out of line if I were to talk to you so casually."

I nod my head in understanding. I look down and find myself studying the unique floor. I think its marble?

"This way, Miss Yuhara."

I look up at the sound of my name. He has his arm extended towards the stairs, so I take it has a hint to walk up there.

As we ascend the staircase, I come to realize that the interior is hardly decorated. Few paintings hang on the wall and the ones that are there seem to be of the family. Really the only lavish things in the mansion so far are the floors, walls, and railing of the staircase.

He leads me to a dark brown oak door at the end of the first hallway we come to. He knocks on the door and announces my arrival. "Mr. and Mrs. Sakurai, Miss Yuhara has arrived."

From the other side of the door a deep steady voice commands for us to come in. The butler, who's name I learned is James, opens the door for me, and I step through tentatively.

The room is large, as expected, but it's oldly cozy. I suspect because of the fire burning in the fireplace. The walls are a soft grey while most of the furniture is a deep brown, except the pillows which are blues and greys.

My eyes eventually settle onto the Sakurai family sitting not too far away. I scan Mr. Sakurai's face for any hiden emotions then Mrs. Sakurai's. My green eyes finally settle onto Eshima. Her brown hair is pulled back into a tight bun at the back of her head. She's wearing a pale pink dress with long sleeves that ends close to her ankles. I almost scoff at the difference between now and when I've usually seen her at school.

Mr. James gestures for me to sit on the chair, so I comply silently. I just have to get through this without saying names or causing trouble. Shouldn't be too hard, right?

Mr. Sakurai speaks first saying, "it is so nice to have you here, Miss Yuhara. We are glad you could make it."

"Yes, it is an absolute pleasure," Mrs. Sakurai adds.

Eshima forces a smile then nods. She looks so unnatural the more I look at her. She's wearing more makeup than normal, somehow, and is her right cheek a little puffy?

I notice that they are waiting for my reply and that I've been staring a little too long. I blink then force out, "it is nice to finally meet you both, also."

The rest of the meeting went soothly except for when I noticed a bruise on Eshima's wrist. I had paused what I was saying then stuttered when I continued. They had invited me today to ask if I could help train Eshima in some areas, more specifically in the area of fire. I wanted to deny, however, something in the back of my head told me not to, that I should accept. So now i will be training with the water Princess. Spirits help me.