Disclaimer: The characters used in this story do not belong to me at all. Except for one or two. You know what I mean.

Chapter One—

She'd known since young that she was the heir to the leadership of the Tendou Clan. Her mother had whispered it into her tiny little ears ever since she was a baby. She could still remember the last time her mother mentioned the fact that she was the heir.

It had been raining outside and nobody was home except for Akane's mother. It was only hours later when Akane had returned only to find her mother on the ground, bleeding, body almost lifeless. Himiko's breathing was ragged and she had to gasp for air at times. Somebody had gotten into the huge mansion during the stormy afternoon and had managed to stab the frail Himiko in the back five times. Akane had fallen to her knees at the sight of her dying mother. She had felt the tears fall down her cheeks but she knew that nothing could be done to safe her mother. Although Akane had thought of using her power to freeze her mother so that she could be 'preserved'.

And the last few words her mother had uttered were, "Remember your responsibility, Akane. You are the heir to the leadership of our clan." And then her mother was gone. Himiko's head slumped back and her eyes closed while her hands hanged lifelessly by her sides.

Akane kissed her mother's forehead, as it was what her mother had told her to do to the ones she loved very much, and lay her down on the ground gently. She knelt down on the floor for hours and hours, until her oldest sister, Kasumi, had returned from the Fruit Park, which was an orchard inside the territory of the Tendou Clan.

Akane had decided to forget the incident. After that very day, she never remembered her mother or how Himiko had died. Even though Kasumi had exclaimed that Akane had told her what Mother had said before she'd died, Akane could not remember a single thing. The only memory of her precious mother were her last words.

Akane stood up from the floor and walked out of the dojo. That day was her sixteenth birthday and as tradition had it, she was to marry some man her father had chosen for her before she had even been born. She was to be wed before the noon had gone by.

Kasumi came out of the house and saw Akane trudging toward her. She felt excitement emit from her own body. "Akane, you shouldn't seem so grouchy, you know. You're getting married!"

Akane looked up at her sister's fair face. "I don't want to get married," she sighed, "but if I have to, then...I will."

"Oh, but Akane," Kasumi's hands flew to her bosom, "marriage is a wonderful thing. Tofuu-sensei is a good example. He is a loving husband and..." Kasumi's voice trailed off as she relived her first married night with her husband.

"Let's go get changed. I have a man to marry," Akane walked past Kasumi and headed up the stairs to her room.

Akane knew that one would officially become the leader when one got married. She wanted to become the leader but she didn't want to marry some stranger she had not even met. Akane felt reluctance in her heart...

But she had no choice.

"Akane, you look so beautiful!" Yuka commented as Sayuri twirled her friend around in her wedding dress. Sayuri then proceeded in describing the dress's details and how much hard work was put in to make it.

Akane gave a smile. Her heart wasn't really in her marriage but one could only get married once, so Akane knew that she'd to convince herself that she was a happy to-be-bride. "I'm a very fortunate girl." She said half-heartedly. "Marrying some handsome guy who will be my partner in leading the clan."

"Oh," Yuka cried out with glee as a bell sounded. "Your wedding's starting! Hurry, Akane, we've got to get you to the open-air area on time. And watch out for your dress, it's really expensive, according to Sayuri-chan."

Akane heeded her friend's advice and picked up her skirt as she ran across the grass. She felt her clogs sink into the soft soil and although some may need much effort to lift their feet up, Akane moved on through the soil without much effort.

It was thanks to years of martial arts training. Her father, Soun Tendou, had taught her what he'd known, along with lessons on how to control her power.

The priest muttered some sort of prayer or blessing- Akane wasn't listening- and thanked the gods for the fine weather they had that day. Time passed by so quickly that Akane didn't even notice when the priest was looking at her.

Sayuri whispered harshly, so that Akane could hear her almost inaudible words. "You're supposed to say 'I do'."

"Uh...I-"

A huge stream of water rained down on the crowd. A group of girls and children screamed. Akane stared, dumbfounded. Several soldiers hurried forth to retaliate the attack.

Akane noticed that the water came from somewhere on the walls surrounding the home of the Tendo Clan and its followers. She quickly dropped the flowers in her hands and threw back a jet of cold air which froze the water in mid air.

She could see the people who had been using the power of water to attack them. One was a man who had a bandanna around his head, his eyes were fierce and he looked determined to win the fight. Akane was going to prove him wrong. Beside the man was a girl with long brown hair and a spatula on her back. She seemed just as resolved on winning. There was also a girl with a black ponytail on one side of her head who had some kind of ribbon in her hand and a girl with purple hair and amethyst eyes with bon bons. They were smirking- well, some of them were.

They jumped off the wall and landed a few meters away from Akane.

People were running away from the open-air area, leaving only the groom, Akane's bridesmaids, a few soldiers, and Akane's family. Akane walked forward a few steps and then stopped.

She concentrated her aura energy into her palms, cold air was growing about her hands. She made sure it was just the right size before she threw it at the attackers.

"Hyaa!" she cried out, throwing the cold energy towards them. It was going to hit them and then they would all freeze.

But something jumped in front of the cold aura and blocked its path. It retaliated with its own hot energy. And there was a huge explosion. Akane successfully stood up despite the explosion and the wind blowing against her.

There was smoke and dust all over the place. As it cleared, Akane could make out the shape of a man with a pigtail. He had a smirk on his face and his aura radiated around his body.

The soldiers immediately tried to counterattack with the power of the wind but the man's power of fire was very powerful and the fire had scorched the soldiers. Akane used her cold aura to stop the fire from burning the men up.

Akane stood up and stared at the man, contemplating her choices. She did not expect him to have the power of heat (fire). His power came straight from his aura, just like hers. So, they were both talented people. After all, she had the exact opposite power, the power of coldness (ice).

People who were gifted had to draw in energy from their surroundings to convert the energy into an element.

Akane knew that he had to be the head of the assailants. Take him out, then the others.

She took in a deep breath and decided to try a method she'd been trying to develop. This method helped one focus better when fighting or using one's aura energy to change into an element. It was half martial arts half element fighting. She took a fighting stance and breathed in again.

She charged and ran as fast as she could, jumping into the air, she threw a kick at him; at the same time, she drew her energy into her foot.

The man saw her coming and jumped out of the way.

He jumped down above her and tripped her. Akane fell onto the ground on her tummy. She felt the man assert certain pressure on her pressure points and then she felt her surroundings turning darker and darker...

Author's Notes: Don't forget to tell me how you feel about this story! If you're confused about the powers and all that, tell me and I'll explain.

Hope you enjoyed the story!