The Five Elements

Getting Down To Business

Suki's pov:

She suddenly smiles at me. "Nice to finally meet you, Suki. Call me Gabrielle."

After my awkward introduction with the Queen, we are brought to a seemingly lounge area. The walls are a gentle cream color. They attract enough light to brighten the room and make it feel cozy. The furniture is dark blue and white, while the pillows are white and pink. Little decor here and there is pink and blue, and the shelves are white with many different colored books.

It feels nice in here.

"Take a seat anywhere," Queen Gabrielle soothingly says.

I sit awkwardly next to Tyler across from the Queen. I can hear my heart pounding in my ears, and I guess Tyler can hear it too since he rubs circles over my knuckles with his thumb.

I look up at the Queen as she takes the tea the head butler was handing her. She's so graceful that I can't help but stare.

I feel Tyler halt his rubbing and glance over at him. "My Queen," he begins seriously, "can I see your tea for a second?"

She raises a single white brow and inquiries, "what is it Tyler? You usually aren't the one to be suspicious?"

Haruka suddenly giggles from where she sits on the end of the couch. Her smile forces her eyes closed as she says, "yeah, that's John's job. Being suspicious of everything and everyone."

I hear John sigh from across the room. He's leaned up against the wall with a look of obvious exasperation. I can't help but feel a little sorry for him since Haruka always takes jabs at him like this.

I wonder why?

It is as clear as day.

It is?

Yes but you are just so oblivious to it.

I frown at Kane's underlining rudeness but force myself to focus back on the scene unfolding in front of me. The Queen hands Tyler the tea. He sips the tea then scrunches up his nose.

"Poison," he states flatly. "John lets go find out who poisoned the tea. Raiden find out exactly what poison it is. Girls stay here and protect the Queen."

"Got it!"

We disperse. The boys head off to solve the mystery while Haruka and I stay behind to watch the Queen. She has remained calm which makes sense because she is quite old. She has been through many things like this.

I remember learning about Queen Gabrielle's daughter when I was 12. Her daughter had fallen in love with her guard. After getting married, her daughter became pregnant with the royal grandchild. However, a coup was started by the resistance and forced the princess and her husband to flee the capital. The resistance lost, but the royals never returned to the capital. They had just disappeared. Even the Sages could not find them. This event is looked at as being the Queen's biggest loss. She lost her whole family in a matter of hours as if they just fell off the face of the planet.

~~time skip~~

Tyler and John come back in with complicated expressions. Well, actually just Tyler. John is expressionless like always.

I raise my concern in as soft a voice as I can. "What's wrong Tyler? Did you not find the culprit?"

He sighs, "no...I did."

"Then who is it?" Haruka asks.

The guys share a look between themselves. "It was one of the Queen's pranks."

The three other Sages share a collective sigh as the Queen hides a smile.

"It was to test how Suki would do along with your teamwork. The five of you haven't gone on any mission together as a complete Sage group," Queen Gabrielle explains. "The so-called poison was just a sedative that I had Charles place in my tea."

Charles?

The head butler.

"My Queen isn't this a little much? Suki is only 15. She's still a mage-to-be. Though she is technically a Sage, it isn't official yet," Raiden says, entering the room and conversation abruptly.

The Queen smiles, "Raiden, how nice of you to join us."

He seems to be tired which is odd considering that he is the second most energetic person I know. The first being Jun.

"I guess you found out the situation?" Tyler asks. "It being another prank?"

Raiden frowns, "of course I did. Who do you think I am? Investigation is what I'm best at."

"That's surprising," I say suddenly. My eyes widen when I realize that I said it out loud. "Ah! Sorry Raiden! I-I didn't mean it like that! I just-"

"It's fine Suki. We don't know each other well. Plus my personality doesn't exactly scream sneaky," Raiden laughs.

My chest tightens with guilt. I judged someone too quickly again. Is this because I'm the Fire Sage? Is it the reason that I rush to conclusions?

That doesn't matter. I can always work on it.

"I suppose now is a good time to talk about why I asked you all here," Queen Gabrielle begins, suddenly getting serious. "It is to talk about how to go about introducing Suki as the Fire Sage to the people."

...what?

It is only natural. People need to be aware that all Sages are here now.

Haruka is the first one to speak up. "What do you have in mind?"

"How about at the ending ceremony?" John pipes in.

Queen Gabrielle ponders it for a moment. "That's not a bad idea. It gives Suki time to get accustomed to her new powers and lets her finish this year of studying. Plus everyone around the country watches the ending ceremony. It's perfect John. What do the rest of you think?"

"Yeah I think it's reasonable."

"Sounds good."

"If...if Suki likes the idea then it's fine by me," Tyler sighs.

They all look to me for my answer. I run it through my head then a question floats up. "What about my brother? The capital is even further away than the school. I can't bear to be that far away from him."

Tyler's eyes almost bulge out of his head as he almost screams, "you have a brother?"

I look over at him. "A twin brother."

"Twin brother? How come we never knew?" Raiden asks with a hurt expression.

"You guys never asked. Plus...I don't go around talking about him for his own protection."

"Protection?" Haruka inquiries.

I frown, "my brother well...he has a certain...disability. I-I don't want to talk more about it. It's not my right to. It's his."

I stare down at my clenched fists. Awful memories arise. My stomach turns painfully as I remember blood stains. Chains. Scattered clothes.

"Oh, I remember you and your brother now. It's been years," Queen Gabrielle smiles gently when I look up at her. "If you'd like, when you move in, your brother can too. It's the least I can do."

I jump up. "You-you mean it?" She nods with that same gentle smile. I get on my hands and knees and thank her over and over.

"Oh, there's no need for that child."

However, there is. Nothing means more to me than this. I can live with my brother once again and protect him. Protect him like I couldn't before.