(A/N: well here we are with another chapter of surprise! Hope you enjoy.)
Two days later, it was time to leave the onsen. "Thank you for everything, it was so wonderful." Ebony bowed to Okami-san.
"Yes thank you." Tohru said, and they all bowed.
"Please, feel- fr-free to- to come back!" She said nervously as she closed the door behind her as they left.
"Oh Momiji-kun, thank you so much for this." Tohru said and kissed him on the forehead. He smiled up at her.
"Aw, you're welcome." He said and skipped down the path to the bus that just pulled up. His bag swinging lightly with his steps.
"Thank you so much Momiji-kun!" Ebony hollered, and turned to Hatsuharu who took her bag from her. "Hatsuharu-kun, I can carry my bag." She insisted to the white haired boy.
"Don't trouble yourself, I've got it." He said and gave her a small smile.
"Here, let me get your bag." Kyo said and tried to take Arianna's bag. She jerked away from him and sent him a glare.
"No, that's okay, I've got it." She glared at him and quickened her pace to the bus.
"Ari-" Ebony persisted. Arianna gave Ebony a glare and turned back around. Ebony's eyes narrowed, she had enough with her sister. She stopped walking and stood back, everyone else stopped walking and looked at her. "ARI!" She yelled at her sister. Arianna turned around, glaring at Ebony. "Don't act like that towards me." She said angrily. "I'm here to help you, I'm your sister. Remember that!" Ebony said, tears forming in her eyes.
Arianna gave her a sad stare, and turned around walking towards the bus. Ebony closed her eyes. No. She wasn't going to let Ari ruin the rest of this trip, she was acting so strange at all of the meals and she refused to get into the hot spring for a second time.
They all got on the bus and the bus ride home was a quiet one. They soon arrived home and they thanked the bus driver. The gang that lived at Shigure's was dropped off first. "Thank you again Momiji-kun." Tohru smiled at the blonde haired boy.
"We appreciate it so much." Ebony said and smiled too.
"Thanks." Ari said depressingly and she took her bag and walked towards the house.
"Oh, children! You're home!" Shigure said happily as he came out with his arms stretched out wide. Arianna stomped past him. "Oh, what did I tell you about hormones?" He questioned with a smirk on his face.
"Be quiet." Arianna snapped as she flicked her wrist and a gust of wind blew Shigure's kimono.
"WHOA!" He gasped. "What bit her bottom?" He whispered to Ebony.
"Don't ask." She said passively and walked with her bag up to her room.
"There's a lot we don't know about them yet." Yuki said as he walked into the room, Tohru following behind.
"Like where did they learn Japanese so well?" Kyo huffed as he came into the room. Yuki shrugged.
"We could always ask." Shigure said as he went into his den to finish writing his manuscript.
Tohru walked up to the room that she, Ebony and Arianna shared. She was nervous as to what she would find… but she slid open the door. Arianna was sitting on the ledge of the window sill, her feet dangling out of the window. Ebony was sitting unpacking her bag on her bed.
"Ebony-san?" Tohru asked, she knew she would get more out of Ebony then she would Arianna.
"Yes Tohru-san?" Ebony asked looking up from her unpacking.
"Where did you learn to speak Japanese so well?" Tohru asked, sitting down next to Ebony, facing her. Arianna suddenly used air and sprang out the window, not wanting to listen.
Ebony gulped and looked down at her lap. "Well, Tohru-san, we- we learned it in- in a laboratory." She said quietly, tears falling from her cheeks.
"A laboratory?" Tohru questioned, staring at the back of Ebony. Ebony nodded slowly and painfully.
"A year ago, ou-our foster parent's found out about our powers, and they sent us over here to-to Japan to a laboratory so they-they could see what was wrong with us. They injected us w-with chem.-chemicals…. They used lasers to increase our intelligence, and we-we learned different languages." Ebony cried, covering her hands with her face, she fell to the floor, hard on her knees.
Tohru stared at Ebony horrified. "They –they tested you? Like animals?" Tohru looked in horror at Ebony. "Why would they do that!" She yelled, tears falling from her eyes now. Tohru embraced Ebony in a hug, a tight hug. Ebony cried into Tohru's shoulder. "That's terrible." Tohru whispered, she cried. Her heart went out to the poor girl.
Ebony pulled back. "I'm sorry I told you about that… you-you didn't need to know that." Ebony wiped her eyes with her fists.
"YUUUUUKIIIIII!" A strange voice hollered/sang from downstairs.
"Who is that?" Ebony asked and sniffled. Tohru smiled.
"That's Sohma Ayame! Yuki's brother." Tohru said, trying to sound happy. Ebony's eyes swirled.
"Yuki has a brother?" She said and held her head, wiping her eyes.
"Yes, yes! You must meet him!" Tohru said and pulled Ebony down the steps, trying to change the painful subject.
"Get. Out." Yuki seethed, his head down and his hands clenched into fists.
"Oh Yuki that is no way to treat your older brother! Submit to me!" Ayame hollered. "Where is my Tohru-kun? I heard there are others too! I feel so happy, like a wild butterfly going wherever the wind takes me!" Ayame said and put a hand to his chest. His long silver hair tied in a braid over his shoulder.
"Oh my God. He looks like Ari." Ebony said as she stepped downstairs.
"TOHRU-KUN! NEW PERSON-SAN!" Ayame yelled happily as he smiled warmly at the two young girls.
"A pleasure to meet you." Ayame said and took Ebony's hand and kissed it. "I am Sohma Ayame, Yuki's wonderful, much older, and better looking brother."
"Don't kiss her hand like that you perv!" Kyo hollered as he hit Ayame over the head. "God only knows what you're thinking!"
"Nice to meet you, I'm Wilson Ebony." Ebony said and bowed.
"Oh, what a lovely young lady, you must come by my shop, I have the most perfect outfit for you!" Ayame winked at the black haired girl.
"Um, alright." Ebony said hesitantly.
"Don't take her there!" Yuki argued.
Suddenly, Arianna walked in the door. "What's all the noise?" She complained, she looked up and what saw her, scared her. "What-what is that?" She stared at Ayame with a look of confusion on her face. His face seemed to light up when he saw her.
"MY TWIN!" He yelled as he came jogging towards her.
"I already have a twin!" Ari screamed, terrified of the--- man-woman who was coming towards her. She rushed over and hid behind Ebony. But, she wasn't fast enough for Ayame, he grabbed her arm and pulled her to him, he touched her long silvery hair and swooned.
"You have lovely, lovely, lovey hair!" He said and ran his fingers through it. Arianna's eye twitched as she tried to contain her anger.
"Is that Aya (A/N: plz forgive me, idk how to spell aya, and im too lazy to get up and get my manga… forgive me) I hear?" Shigure said and popped his head in the room.
"GURE-SAN!" Ayame said and looked up. "What a pleasant surprise to find you here!"
"I only live here Aya." Shigure said and shook his head. "Oh Aya, you haven't been cheating on me have you?"
Ebony and Arianna almost fainted. They stood there with their eyes the size of basketballs.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Ayame said with a wink. Both Ebony and Arianna's eyes twitched and they couldn't speak.
"Good." Shigure and Ayame said and flashed each other thumb's up.
"Stop being idiots." Kyo yelled as he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over his chest.
"You're GAY?" Arianna screamed, her eye twitching even more.
"Ari!" Ebony hissed, shocked that her sister would say that.
"Oh, no, we're just wonderfully close friends! We have been for years!" Ayame said and smiled.
"Whatever…." Arianna said and looked strangely at the long haired man…
"Oh, Gure-san, I've found my long lost twin!" Ayame said and grabbed Arianna by the shoulders and pushed her infront of Shigure's eyes. "Yuki, YOU HAAAAAVE A SISTER!" Ayame sang.
"Stop it, you're scaring her." Yuki said and shook his head.
"Eh.." Arianna said, her eyes swirling, her body going limp.
"Um-" Ebony and Tohru said together, unsure of what was going to happen next.
"I LOVE YOU! MY SISTER, let me make you a shirt that says 'Ayame + Yuki+ Arianna siblings forever! Quick, remove your shirt immediately!" Ayame said and pointed to Arianna.
"You pervert! You're worse then Shigure!" Kyo yelled and both he and Yuki hit Ayame over the head. Arianna's eye twitched uncontrollably and she suddenly felt light-headed.
Tohru giggled and shook her head. "Tohru-" Arianna said weakly, she held her head, trying to make the room stop spinning.
"Yes Ari-san?" Tohru asked and turned her head to face Arianna.
"I'm scared." And suddenly, Arianna fell to the floor with a thud.
"SHE FAINTED!" Ebony hollered as she knelt down by her sister and waved her hand in front of her face.
"Oh my…" Shigure said and held his head with his hand.
"OH MY GOD! SHE FAINTED!" Ebony started to spaz out. "QUICK, GET ME WATER, GET ME WATER!" Ebony screamed, everyone looked at her like she was insane. "DID YOU NOT HEAR ME! I SAID WATER!" She shrieked as Yuki rushed into the kitchen and got a cup of water. Kyo grabbed it from him and dumped it on Arianna's face.
She sat up and coughed. She looked around. She looked from Yuki, to Tohru, to Kyo, to Ebony, to Shigure to--- "OH MY GOD! EBONY! HE'S HERE!" She screamed and pointed to Ayame. She jumped up and grabbed a hold of Ebony's hand. "QUICK, TO THE BOMB SHELTER!" She shrieked as she raced upstairs, dragging Ebony with her.
"ARI!" Ebony hollered as she made the floorboard come up and smack Arianna in the forehead.
"OUCH!" Arianna shrieked, she let go of Ebony's hand and Ebony tumbled down the steps.
"OOF!" She hit the wall with a thud, she slowly stood up and walked up the steps to Arianna. She grabbed her arm and dragged her down the steps.
"Ari. Apologize." Ebony's eyes were narrowed as she shoved Arianna forward towards Ayame. He looked sad as he glanced up at her.
"To the he-woma-" Arianna started, she turned to face Ebony. Ebony gave her a death glare, Arianna shivered and turned back around. "Ayame-san, I apologize for my rudeness." Arianna said and bowed.
"Oh my dear, it is quite alright!" Ayame said triumphantly as he gave her a wink. He glanced at his watch. "Oh my, look at the time, Mine must be working her little fanny off, I must return to the shop. Good day my friends." Ayame said as he turned and walked out of the house.
Suddenly the phone rang and Shigure hurried in and got it. "Hello?" He asked happily. "Oh, Haa-san! You wanted to- Oh, you wish to speak with Ebony? Oh, alright." He said the last part sadly. "Ebony?" His voice wavered. "The phone's for you…"
Ebony looked confused. She walked into the room where the phone was and Shigure held it out to her. She looked at him questioningly, his face showing no signs of emotion. She held it to her ear and took at deep breath. "Hello?"
"Ebony-san? This is Sohma Hatori." Hatori's voice said from the other line.
"Oh, hello Hatori-san." She said with a small smile on her face.
"Ebony-san. There is a need for you to come to the Sohma House." Hatori said, his voice trembling slightly. Ebony narrowed her eyes in confusion.
"Why would I ne-" She started. But Hatori interrupted her.
"Please Ebony-san. I just need you to come… alone. Akito wishes to speak with you." He said. She sucked in breath. Akito was the one that all the Sohma's were afraid of. She had never seen him before, but she knew this would be bad.
"Don't tell the others you are coming here. I'll send Haru-kun to get you." Hatori said and hung up. The dial tone replaced Hatori's voice and she kept the phone to her ear. She slowly brought it down and placed it in the jack. She was nervous. No, terrified. What was Akito going to do to her?
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A few minutes later, Hatsuharu was at the door with a sad expression on his face. "Are you ready?" He said worriedly. She nodded as she pulled on a jacket.
"Shigure-san, I'll be back soon." She shouted and walked out the door, closing it behind her. Her heart was beating a million miles a minute. Her breath labored. "Hatsuharu-kun?" She asked worriedly, looking down at the ground. He looked at her as they walked down the dirt path. "What's going to happen?" She asked. She was so worried to meet him.
He turned his attention from her to in front of him. They walked even more. "Haru-kun?" She asked almost pleadingly.
"I don't know." His voice shook as he didn't make eye contact with her. He took her hand and laced their fingers. "I don't know." He said again, sorrow apparent in his voice. Ebony gulped, this wasn't going to be good.
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They stopped in front of a gate. 'Sohma.' She stared at the sign, the big wooden gates had an ominous look to them. "Haru?" She started. "I'm scared." She whispered and he pushed open the door.
"So am I." He whispered and they walked through the gates.
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"It's nice to meet you Wilson Ebony-san." Akito said lazily as he laid on his side, a small bird rested on his finger. She was alone in this big room. Intricate designs flowered the walls and she kept her gaze on the floor. Her breath quickened. Akito was a small man, with a kimono, his hair almost resembled Yuki's, but it was a darker, creepier shade.
"It-It's nice to meet you too Akito-san." Ebony said softly as she shivered in fear. Akito smirked, his eyes narrowing.
"There's no reason to be afraid." He blinked and stared at the terrified girl a few feet away from him.
Ebony looked up and stared at Akito. She gulped, she couldn't even form words. This was ridiculous, he was just a person. There wasn't any need to be afraid. She could burn him to a crisp if she truly wanted to.
"You're an orphan." He said bluntly and randomly. Her eyes widened and she stared at him.
"How did you-" She started, terrified.
"I know a lot." Akito said passively, smirking at her. "Tell me, how is it that you and your sister look nothing alike? She is your twin, no?" He asked, glaring at her.
"How, how did you know that we don't look alike?" She questioned.
"I asked you a question. Answer it." Akito sneered, his patience dwindling.
"I-I- we-" Ebony stuttered, at a loss for words. How did Akito know these things? Was he spying on them? Did he ask the other Sohma's to tell him these things?
"Don't stutter!" He hollered at her, standing up, anger in his dark eyes.
"WE HAVE A CURSE!" Ebony blurted in fear. She started shaking looking at the ground. Her fingers trembled in her lap.
"Is that so?" Akito said calmly smirking triumphantly, he knew he had won, and so did Ebony.
"Arianna is the moon, and controls water and air. I- I'm the Sun, and I control earth and fire." She was so scared she didn't even know what she was doing. Her eyes darted around. This was terrifying. She wanted anyone to be here with her, Hatori, Momiji, Shigure, Kyo, Haru, Yuki, anyone!
"Interesting…" He murmured. "Very interesting. But you see, I already knew that." He hissed and grabbed the top of her hair, he yanked it and she cried out. "Tell me, what do you see in Hatsuharu-kun?" He changed the subject so quickly she didn't know how to react.
"I-what?" She questioned, tears falling from her eyes, his grip on her head tightened.
"DON'T BE IGNORANT!" Akito yelled, letting go of her hair and backhanding her across the cheek. Her head whipped to the side and she put her hand to her cheek, tears falling uncontrollably from her eyes. "What do you see in Hatsuharu!" He yelled at her.
"I-I-" She started, and then she suddenly got a confidence boost. "I see everything I should see in him." She said starting Akito in the eyes. His eyes widened and he slapped her again.
"Don't be smart with me you stupid girl." He hissed at her, glaring at her. "Tell me, if you really do love Hatsuharu, and let's say in the future you would like to get married…. How would you hug him? How would you react when you couldn't make love, and if you did, how would you react if your child was a member of the Zodiac, hm?" Akito questioned, smirking. "How can you expect to love him when you can't even touch him." He seethed. He was winning.
She hadn't thought of that. She stared wide eyed at the floor. "I've seen mother's of the cursed one's scream as they see their child. Like for instance, Momiji-kun's mother, she called him a thing, a monster. She had her memory erased just so she could forget him." Akito hissed. If things went far enough… how could she hug him? How would she react if her child, her baby was a child of the Zodiac? What if her child had her curse? "You didn't think of that, did you?" Akito questioned. "Well, it seems that you don't like the idea of that… why do you even bother seeing Hatsuharu?" Akito smirked.
'Momiji's mother gave him up?' She started to cry, and she didn't care if Akito thought she was weak, or useless. What mattered was that she loved Hatsuharu no matter what happened. Akito could beat him until he was paralyzed, she would love him anyway. Akito could beat her until she was near death, and she would love Haru until the last minute. "You're a coward." She murmured between tears.
"Excuse me?" He asked, his eyes wide, his voice dripping with disgust. He stepped closer to her.
"I said, you're a coward." She said and stared up at him.
"Worthless wench." He said and slapped her, harder then the other times. She winced as she cried out and fell to the ground. "Don't speak to me like I'm lower then you." He hissed. "I'm the head of the cursed Sohma family. You will speak to me with respect, and maybe I'll acknowledge your existence." He hissed as she got back up and knelt before him.
"You can't lift this curse. NO ONE can lift our curse." He laughed as he laid back down. "Now, get out of my sight." He said coldly, almost as if nothing had happened. She stared dumbfounded. "GET OUT!" He yelled and through a glass vase towards her head. She ducked and it shattered against the wall, pieces falling to the ground. Her body went numb. "Are you deaf?" He seethed, his voice and face filled with rage. She slowly stood up and bowed.
"Th-thank you A-Akito-s-san." She hurried and rushed out the door, slamming it behind her. Then she heard Akito's angry voice.
"TELL THE WORLD! GO AHEAD! TELL THE WORLD OUR SECRET!" he screamed from behind him. "See if I care!" Akito lied and screamed as she heard things crashing around again. She ran down the halls, not knowing where she was going. Fear, anger, fatigue, all swelled inside of her.
She looked down the halls not knowing where to go… Where was Hatsuharu? Where was anyone! "Are you lost?" A small voice came from behind her. She spun around with eyes wide, shaking violently. Ebony couldn't speak. She nodded her head and stared down at the tan haired little girl. The little girl took her hand and led her down a small corridor, where soon, Ebony was out where she had first come in.
The little girl still held her hand and looked up at Ebony. "I'm sorry." The girl whispered and hugged Ebony. Ebony was still in shock but somehow managed to hug the little girl. "I'm Sohma Kisa." The girl said and looked up at Ebony.
"Wil-Wilson E-Eb-" Ebony stuttered. Kisa looked up at her with her big eyes.
"I know. I know who you are. Maybe I'll come visit you and see Onee-chan too." Kisa smiled softly and she guided Ebony to the big gate. Ebony stepped outside and the gate closed slowly behind her. Tears fell from her eyes as she collapsed onto her knees on the hard pavement.
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Hatsuharu leaned up against the wall to where Akito talked to Ebony. He had heard everything. Everything. Tears fell down his cheeks as he slammed his fist on the wall. "I'm sorry Ebony-chan. I'm sorry I couldn't save you." He whispered harshly to himself as Hatori walked by and helped him up. "Leave me alone. I'm worthless. I couldn't help her…" Hatsuharu complained as his body went limp.
"Come on Hatsuharu." Hatori said and helped Hatsuharu walk. "Let's go." Hatori said softly as they walked down the hall towards Hatori's house.
(A/N: depressing huh? Yeah… not much I can say.. but to review and tell me what you think. Oh and idk when I'll be able to update with High school starting in a week! ehehe)