Title: Our Secret, Our Curse.

Rating: PG-13 (probably won't go up near the end but hey, you never know)

Genre: Drama/Humor (I guess)

A/N: This chapter is a bit shorter, but I had to leave it there so it wouldn't interfere with the next chapter (which, if everything goes as I've planned, will be up soon). Nothing special in this chapter, though I had fun writing this. Lots of Akito-stuff.

Oh! And when there's ))(( it means somekind of a change of time, place or POV. And # # # is a flashback.

Vocabulary:

Minna-san - Everyone

Ja ne - See you, bye etc...

Sayonara - Goodbye

))((

"Hatori-san?"

Hatori closed the door behind him and raised his head to see Yuki's and Kyou's worried looks.

"How did you do it so quick? What-?" Yuki became silent, when he realised Hatori was alone. Yuki opened his mouth:

"Where.. Where are the girls?"

Hatori lowered his head a bit.

"Akito.. wanted to speak to them alone."

A shocked silence. Then Kyou bursted out:

"He WHAT?"

))((

Jelora gritted her teeth silently. The room's darkness made the situation even more pressuring. Akito turned his back to them again.

"You've found out our secret. And we have found out yours."

Basic statement. When Akito spoke next, Jelora could hear him smirking:

"It's hard to believe such young and petty girls would be the possessors of the elements."

Young and petty? Jelora thought, clenching her fists and loosening them immediately. She glanced quickly at Arameda next to her. She wasn't really surprised to see her sister sitting up straightly, chin held up. Her brown eyes were blazing with fire.

))((

Arameda felt her insides burning with anger.

I can't believe a young, skinny boy like that is bossing around everyone in the Souma family. For Kami-sama no sake, he's barely older than us! She flinched a bit when her hands held against her legs suddenly grew burning hot. She gritted her teeth.

Kuso! I can't control my powers! She willed the fire go away and looked up at Akito. The man stared right down at her, smirked and turned his eyes away.

))((

Akito was quite amused what he could do to these girls with just a couple of words. It was interesting to see them getting furious about his words, Hatori-kun, Yuki-kun... all of them just became afraid. I have to admit, he thought, these girls have the guts.

Akito watched them smirking, and then his eyes locked at one of them. A girl with shimmering white air, it was slowly swaying. But the air's tranquil, there's no wind.. Then the thought hit hit. Earth, fire, water - and air. I see, she must be the possessor of the air. Akito stared at her for a moment, waiting for her to raise her eyes from the floor.

Finally the girl did so, and looked Akito straight in the eyes. He frowned. There's something wrong in her.. but I can't say what.

))((

Jirohino didn't like the man's look at all. The cold, black eyes staring at her, seemed to bore their way into her, seeing right through her. She shivered a bit, then Akito turned away and spoke:

"Very well, you may go now. Exept", he added when the girls were starting to stand up, "You, Jirohino-san." Jirohino felt coldness inside her and she glanced at her sisters. They all stared at her. She smiled faintly.

"It's okay", she whispered, "I'm fine."

Then she sat back on the floor and listened her sisters leaving the room.

))((

Marande shut the door behing her and immediately heard a shout behind her:

"Oi! Are you okay? What did he say to you?" She turned around and saw Kyou, Yuki, Shigure and Hatori standing there. Marande smiled to them:

"Oh, yes, we're okay. He just.. talked to us."

Hatori frowned:

"He didn't talk about anything inappropriate, did he?"

Marande shook her head:

"No, not at all. He was... very calm."

"Oh, that's good."

There was a silence, until Yuki said:

"Wait a second, where Jirohino-san?" Marande nodded at the room they had just come out.

"Akito-san said he wanted to talk to her alone."

Hatori looked stunned:

"He did?" Marande nodded.

"I see."

They all sat down, waiting in silence. Jelora leaned closer to whisper in Marande's ear:

"Now, when I think about it, those two alone in the same room. I can't decide should I be more worried about Hino-chan or Akito-san." Marande gave her a sad smile:

"You have a good point."

))((

Oh no... What.. What does he want? I don't want to spend any extra time in here, the atmosphere is so pressuring. Jirohino was getting nervous. With her sisters with her, she felt at least a bit safe. But alone, with him. The worst part was the long silence.

"Ano.." Jirohino started. Akito turned to look at her and she felt herself blushing immediately.

"I.. just.. uh.. what did you want to talk about?" she asked, hoping she didn't sound any rude. Akito smiled slightly. Then, for Jirohino's big surprise and horror, he walked to her and kneeled down at her eyelevel. He looked her in the eyes and asked:

"What are you hiding?"

Jirohino frowned:

"Eh? What do you mean?" Akito looked closer at her face before answering:

"There's something weird in you.. Something that makes you different than your sisters." He.. he doesn't mean..? Jirohino gulped slightly.

"I.. I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yes you do."

Jirohino lowered her eyes. Akito stood up and stepped back from her. When he spoke next, his voice was softer than it was before:

"You know, it isn't easy to be like this. I don't want to be like this." Jirohino raised her eyes and looked surprised at Akito.

"Like what?"

Akito turned to look at her.

"I was born only to die, Jirohino-san. I have been told that since I was a baby. Do you think it's nice to live, knowing that?" Jirohino felt stunned. I never realized he had this sort of... To born, only to die..

# # #

"You're nothing, you know? You're just an empty shell, you stole my body. My life!"

"I didn't. I survived for a reason."

"And that is? You borned only so I could kill you. That's how it's supposed to go. You're going to die, Jirohino. I'm going to make it sure."

# # #

Jirohino snapped back to reality when she heard Akito speaking.

"Go- Gomennasai, I was a bit lost in my thoughts."

Akito stared at her. He seemed to be again his normal self, behind closed doors. His voice was again cold:

"I've had enough chatting with you. For this time. We still have lots to go through. You're dismissed." He turned his back to her and walked to the other door across the room and to the porch. Jirohino stared at him, then quickly got up and left the room.

))((

"It's better Akito-san not to do anything to her", Jelora said. It had been several minutes after they had left Jirohino alone with Akito. Marande tapped her shoulder:

"Nothing to worry about, I'm sure she'll be okay." Jelora nodded, and then a door slid open. Everyone turned to look at Jirohino, who was more or less okay.

"Hino-chan!" Jelora exclaimed, standing up. She walked to her sister and hugged her.

"Daijoubu ka?"

"Daijoubu", Jirohino answered and smiled to the others over Jelora shoulder. Hatori frowned:

"Did Akito-san say anything about his decision?"

Jirohino's smile faded a bit. She shook her head.

"No", she said, letting go of Jelora, "I think he wants to talk to-" Her sentence was cut off by Akito.

"Hatori-san", his voice came from the room, "You may now take the others home. Then we need to discuss."

Hatori nodded and stood up.

"This way", he said and lead the others outside. Their visit in the Souma estate was over.

))((

"Welcome back, minna-san!" Tohru greeted them all when they arrived back to Shigure's house. Tohru welcomed them all and asked:

"Are you hungry? I think it's about time for supper."

There was a common murmur of agreement. Tohru realized Arameda, Jelora, Marande and Jirohino were still there.

"Oh! Would you like to have some supper, too? I bet you're hungry after that day!"

Arameda smiled to her:

"No, we don't want to be any burden to you, Tohru-san. And anyways, I think it's time for us to go home as well."

"Oh, okay then. Oh, Hatori-san? What about you, or are you too busy?"

Hatori gave her a small smile:

"I'm afraid I have things to do, Tohru-san. Maybe some other time."

"Okay. Ja ne!" She waved to Hatori as he drove away.

Marande cleared her throat a bit.

"Yes, I think we'll be going too. We'll see you tomorrow at school, then", she said, her sisters starting to leave as well. Tohru smiled and waved to them:

"Sayonara, minna-san!"

The four sisters left with soft muttering about who will cook tonight. Tohru turned to look at Kyou, Yuki and Shigure. Shigure smiled contentedly.

"Well, that was really some interesting day."