Order of the Elements Chapter 5: Light of Hope

Part 1: Hikaru and Teshii vs Smokewraith

Hikaru stood face to face with Smokewraith.

But this ti–

He wasn't alone.

Teshii cracked his knuckles. "Alright, Sunshine, what's the plan?"

Hikaru glanced at him. "You're asking ? How do we beat this guy?"

Teshii shrugged. "How am I supposed to know?"

Hikaru froze. "What do you an you don't know?!"

Teshii sighed. "Look, I'm just a guy who punches things. We're fighting a mutant."

Hikaru blinked. "A what?"

Mutant? What did he an?

"Never mind, it doesn't matter right now – WATCH OUT!"

"SMOKE TENDRILS!"

Smokewraith roared, and the smoke around them twisted, morphing into massive tendrils.

Two of them lashed out.

Teshii dodged, flipping backward and obliterating one with a roundhouse kick.

Hikaru–

Didn't dodge in ti.

The tendrils wrapped around him, tightening like a constricting snake.

"CO ON, HIKARU! USE THE ELENT OF LIGHT!" Teshii shouted.

Another tendril slashed toward Teshii.

He countered.

Then – another.

And another.

More tendrils kept coming.

And Hikaru was trapped.

anwhile in the cafeteria

Aoi wrapped Hikari's ankle.

Then – she smirked. "So... you like Teshii, huh?"

Hikari blushed furiously. "N-no! I an... maybe... I – shut up!"

Aoi laughed.

Then, Yami approached.

His expression was serious.

"Hikari."

Hikari turned toward him.

Yami was Hikaru's childhood best friend.

And he wasn't here for jokes.

"What happened?" Yami demanded. "And tell the truth."

Hikari took a breath.

"Smoke."

Yami and Aoi stared at her.

"Smoke?" Aoi repeated.

Hikari nodded. "It wasn't fog. It was smoke surrounding the university."

Yami and Aoi exchanged glances.

"And the smoke... it turned into people. They attack ."

Aoi gasped. "The smoke turned into people?! How is that possible?"

"I don't know." Hikari shook her head. "I ran, but I tripped. Then... Teshii appeared out of nowhere."

Yami narrowed his eyes. "Teshii?"

Hikari nodded. "He saved and took them all out."

Then – her voice softened.

"And after that..."

Yami and Aoi leaned in.

"After that?"

Hikari covered her face with both hands.

Her voice was barely a whisper.

"I fell in love with him."

Yami and Aoi stared at her in disbelief.

Back to the Fight

Teshii was still dodging the tendrils.

More and more kept attacking.

Hikaru struggled against the one wrapped around him.

"SUNSHINE!" Teshii yelled.

Hikaru looked up in distress.

"ANY TI NOW WOULD BE GREAT!"

"I'M TRYING!" Hikaru shouted back.

"TRY HARDER!"

Hikaru gritted his teeth.

He had no idea how to activate the Elent of Light.

How had he done it before?

Then–

Teshii shouted sothing.

"STOP OVERTHINKING IT!"

Hikaru froze.

"HUH?!"

"STOP OVERTHINKING IT, SUNSHINE!"

Teshii jumped back, avoiding another attack.

"STOP FORCING THE LIGHT TO CO OUT!"

"TAKE A DEEP BREATH–"

"AND BE ONE WITH THE LIGHT!"

Hikaru stared at him.

Be one with the light...?

Then–

"STAY OUT OF MY WAY!"

Smokewraith raised his hand.

The smoke tightened around Hikaru.

Hikaru choked.

He couldn't breathe.

He was suffocating.

He closed his eyes.

Teshii's words echoed in his head.

Be one with the light.

Then–

BOOM!

A shockwave of energy exploded outward.

A blinding light.

Teshii and Smokewraith both shielded their eyes.

When the light faded.

Hiaru stood there.

His entire body glowing.

The Elent of Light Awakens

Hikaru's golden aura flared around him.

He stared at his hands.

The light pulsed like a heartbeat.

For the first ti...

He felt in control.

He lifted his hand.

Aid at Smokewraith.

"RADIANT BLAST!"

A beam of light surged from his palm.

BOOM!

Smokewraith was sent flying.

Teshii grinned.

"LET'S FUCKING GO, SUNSHINE!!!"

For the first ti–

They had the advantage.

Well – Hikaru did.

Teshii was just holding back.

Because he wanted Hikaru to have his mont.

Part 2: Light of Hope

Smokewraith rose from the rubble, his eyes burning with fury.

His teeth clenched. "FOOLS."

He charged forward.

But this ti–

Hikaru wasn't afraid.

He had control of the Elent of Light.

And Teshii was by his side.

Smokewraith lunged at Hikaru.

Suddenly–

Hikaru's entire body lit up.

A blinding flash.

Smokewraith shield his eyes–

POW!

Teshii's uppercut slamd into his gut.

Sowraith gagged, blood flying from his mouth.

Then–

BAM!

Teshii followed up with a roundhouse kick, sending him stumbling back.

Hikaru took his shot.

"RADIANT BLAST!"

BOOM!

The golden energy wave sent Smokewraith flying.

Blending into the Smoke

Then–

Smokewraith vanished.

"Where did he go?" Hikaru asked.

Teshii frowned. "I don't know, Sunshine."

The two of them stood in the thick smoke, tense.

Then–

BAM!

Hikaru coughed up blood.

"SUNSHINE?!" Teshii turned toward him. "You good?"

BAM!

A fist slamd into Teshii's, kocking him to the ground.

Teshii spat out blood, eyes narrowing.

Damn it – he's blending in with the smoke!"

Hikaru staggered back, trying to spot their enemy.

Then–

The attacks kept coming.

Punches.

Kicks.

Strikes from all angles.

Neither of them could see where Smokewraith was attacking from.

Teshii gritted his teeth. "Damn... it's like fighting an invisible opponent."

"Good luck blocking this," Smokewraith sneered, preparing another attack.

But–

Teshii smirked.

Then–

He suddenly moved.

His hand shot up–

And blocked the attack.

Before countering with a devastating punch!

Smokewraith recoiled.

And then – disappeared again.

Hikaru stared in shock. "Teshii... how did you know he was there?"

Teshii adjusted his crimson glasses. "I can sense him."

Hikaru blinked. "How though?"

Teshii shrugged. "Don't ask , Sunshine. Ask the writer."

Hikaru tilted his head. "What?"

Teshii grinned. "Nothing."

Then – an idea sparked in his mind.

"I've got a plan, Sunshine."

A Final Plan

Smokewraith erged from the mist, spotting Hikaru alone.

"You're finished, Elent of Light."

He rushed toward Hikaru.

Suddenly–

Hikaru lit up again.

A brilliant light flooded the area.

Smokewraith covered his eyes.

Then–

Teshii appeared behind him.

"Gotcha."

He grabbed Smokewraith's arms, locking him in place.

"SUNSHINE, DO IT!"

Hikaru turned.

His fist glowed with golden energy.

He charged forward.

"SUNRISE PUNCH!"

He slamd his fist into Smokewraith's chest.

BOOM!

Aftermath

Hikaru's punch detonated on impact, causing an explosion.

The smoke began to clear.

But–

Smokewraith wasn't gone.

He had reford.

Only–

He was no longer in human form.

Now, he was pure smoke.

Hikaru stiffened. "We... didn't beat him."

But – he was weakened.

Smokewraith glared at Hikaru.

"This isn't over, Elent of Light."

Then – he turned to Teshii.

Teshii grinned.

Smokewraith stared at him for a mont.

Then–

He smirked.

And disappeared.

Post-Battle Banter

Teshii stretched. "Well, that was fun."

Hikaru exhaled. "Yeah, it was."

Then, he turned to Teshii.

"Thank you."

Teshii raised an eyebrow behind his crimson glasses. "For what?"

Hikaru hesitated.

Then–

"For helping control the Elent of Light. And... I guess you're not as annoying as I thought."

Teshii grinned.

"Awwww, you like now."

Hikaru imdiately shook his head. "Nope. You're still annoying."

Teshii laughed.

Then–

"Alright, ti to go."

"Go where?"

"The bathroom."

Hikaru blinded.

Teshii nodded. "I told Yami I was in the bathroom. And you know we have to keep all this a secret."

Hikaru's eyes widened. "Wait... I told him the sa thing."

Teshii grinned. "See? We can have fun in the bathroom together."

Silence.

Hikaru stared. "What... the... hell."

Teshii's eyes widened.

"WAIT – NO! THAT'S NOT WHAT I ANT!"

Hikaru smirked. "Sure, buddy."

Part 3: Whenever There Is Light, There is Darkness

Aoi stared out the window.

"Look." She pointed outside. "The fog – no, the smoke – it's gone."

Yami, Aoi, Hikari, and the other students gathered near the cafeteria windows.

The thick smoke that had blanketed the university... had vanished.

Then–

The cafeteria doors swung open.

Two figures stepped inside.

Hikaru and Teshii.

Teshii stretched dramatically, rubbing his stomach.

"Damn. I didn't think I'd develop a special relationship with the toilet today."

Hikaru rolled his eyes.

Teshii grinned at him. "Though, I didn't expect to see you there in the bathroom, Sunshine."

Hikaru groaned. "Oh, for the love of – stop saying that!"

Then–

"Hikaru! Teshii!"

Hikaru and Teshii looked up.

Hikari waved at them from across the cafeteria.

She was standing with Yami and Aoi.

Hikaru and Teshii walked over.

Reunion

Hikaru's expression softened.

"Hikari, are you okay? I heard what happened from Teshii."

Hikari smiled. "Yes. I'm fine. It's nothing serious."

Hikaru hugged his younger twin.

Hikari blinked in surprise.

Then – she looked past Hikaru and saw Teshii.

Her face turned red.

She quickly looked away.

Teshii noticed. He smirked.

"Teshii, thank you for saving my sister." Hikaru said.

Teshii shrugged. "It's what I do."

Then–

"Hikaru."

Hikaru turned.

Yami.

His expression was unreadable.

"What is it, Yami?" Hikaru asked.

Yami stared at him.

He had questions.

About Teshii.

About Hikaru's disappearance.

About the smoke.

He rembered when Hikaru had told him he was going to the bathroom.

Yami never believed him.

Hikaru was hiding sothing.

But–

Yami glanced at Teshii.

Sothing about him felt... off.

Then–

"Yami?" Hikaru said.

Yami snapped out of his thoughts.

He looked at Hikaru.

Then–

"Actually. Never mind."

Hikaru raised an eyebrow.

"Okay then..."

Teshii watched the interaction closely.

He could see it.

Yami was sharp.

Too sharp.

Hikaru might not have noticed it yet...

But Teshii did.

A Thought

Teshii crossed his arms, smirking to himself.

"The Order of the Elents' journey has officially begun."

Hikaru – the Elent of Light – was just the first step.

There were nine more Elents left to find.

But maybe...

Just maybe...

They already had another Elent standing right in front of them.

Teshii's eyes flickered toward Yami.

Then–

A single thought crossed his mind.

Whenever there is light...

There is always darkness.

TO BE CONTINUE!!!