How did THAT happen? Long ago, when the Japanese first came to Hawaii (because, yes, the Japanese did originally colonize Hawaii), a group of Sohmas joined them, and thus escaped the clutches of their "god", Itami. They created a village on one of the islands and lived peacefully for years. However, when one of the newly married couples gave birth to a baby lion, they realized that while they may have fled Itami, the curse had followed them across the sea to their island.
Soon afterwards a cousin of the new mother gave birth to a baby girl. Worried that the baby may also be cursed, they allowed her father to hold her soon after her birth. When she did not transform into an animal, they rejoiced. It soon became apparent, though, that this baby was not normal. By the time she was two, the weather began to change with her moods. When she was angry, it would storm, when she was sad, a horrible, gloomy group of clouds would gather over the island. When she was happy in the summertime, it became bright and warm, and in the winter, it would snow.
These two Sohma cousins were the start of two new branches of the original Sohma family. They became the Cursed Hawaiian Sohmas, and the Blessed Hawaiian Sohmas (when Hawaii became part of America, it was changed to the American Sohmas).
That's a bit of the past, so now how about a bit of the present? There are presently fifteen blessed American Sohmas, and twelve cursed American Sohmas (they follow the American monthly zodiac, as opposed to the Japanese following the Chinese yearly one). While we discarded most of the old traditions of the cursed Japanese Sohmas, we did keep the tradition of Head of House, only they were not labeled as "god". The head of house is just responsible for the family, and for the family secret.
As I said before, I'm one of the blessed. I am also the head of house. When I was at the age of 13, the head of house, my great-grandmother at the time passed away at age 105, leaving me responsible for the entire family. Granted, I had alot of help from my mother, father, and grandparents, but that is still alot to place on a thirteen-year-old girl!
I am currently 16 years old, and I'm getting along pretty well as the head of house. Or at least, I am for now...
Writer's Note: A total and complete explanation of inside jokes, other background explanations, and/or explanations to "What the heck did she just say?!?" moments will be added to the end of the story. You can all be juuust liiike me! You: I...will...be...just...like...you.
Me: N-no! That's not a secret hypnotizing page to turn you all into my zombie minions!!! Heh...heh...heh...anyways, I prefer to refer to them as my zombie onions! shifty eyes