How Do We Tell Her the Truth?

Akane was Ayame's mother, and she looked exactly like her. Same features as her daughters except she had small noticeable smile line at the corner of her lips. She was walking along with another woman who was Atsuko's mother. Red hair, hazel eyes, and a body type like Atsuko as well.

The day was sunny, the breeze chilly, and the shopping center was bustling. Both of them were similar to Ayame and Atsuko because they've known each other since they were children.

"So, Akane what do you think your daughter will do once she learns about our families?"

"I don't know. Honestly, Maki, hiding this from her has been hard."

"Well, I know for a fact that soon both of those others will grow impatient," Maki stated as if stating an obvious point. "Ayame's birthday is next week, so you might as well let her know before something happens."

"I know that, but I don't want to endanger my only child," Akane said as she adjusted her shopping bag. "Ayame is a sweetheart, and this type of life isn't for her. You know?"

"I get exactly what you mean," Maki's body language changed. "Atsuko has been acting weird lately and she's worrying me."

Akane began to weigh her options, If I do tell Ayame how she will react? She's different, so will she be all right if I do tell her and send her off?

Maki shook Akane's shoulder, "Akane, hey, are you okay?" she asked in a worried tone.

"Yes, I'm fine."

"Well, I hope you are," she stated as she pointed to two people. "The turtle and the dragon are here."

Akane's heart began to beat faster as she already knew those two appearing would mean for the future of her family. All four of them went to school with each other. They were a part of the student council in high school, and they were all called the Four Guardians. But it wasn't just in name, they are the descendants of the vessels for the Four Guardians of Japan.

The Akiyama family are the descendants of Byakuya: The White Tiger.

The Tsukiyama family are the descendants of Suzaku: The Vermillion Bird.

The Yamamoto family are the descendants of Genbu: The Black Tortoise.

The Matsumoto family are the descendants of Seiryū: The Azure Dragon.

The families have been tied to each other for centuries, and they are all responsible for the direction of Ayame's and everyone's fate.

"Keiko! It's been forever since I've seen you," Akane exclaimed.

Keiko Matsumoto was a woman below average height, pale skin, blue hair, and green eyes. She smiled softly, "Hey Akane, how have you been? How has Ayame been?" she asked.

"Matsumoto do we really have time to think this is the time to be asking questions like that?" the man with Keiko asked.

Keiko looked at him irritated, "Shut up Hiro," she replied. "I haven't seen Akane in a while. She's the one with the most pressure on her, so I wanted to catch up first."

Hiro Yamamoto was a fairly tall man, he had on a casual business suit, black hair, he also had dark eyes that appeared to be black as well. Not only that he also wore glasses. His presence was intimidating enough to make Akane and Maki shiver.

"Why are you always so stuck up?" Maki inquired.

Hiro adjusted his glasses, "I'm not stuck up. I just don't like you specifically, that's all," he stated in a pretentious tone.

A vein seemed to pop from Maki's forehead. "What was that?"

"You heard me."

Akane saw Maki reaching for her bag as if she were about to throw it. "Maki calm down."

"I am calm!" she exclaimed.

Keiko stepped in, "Okay, okay, we don't have time for you both to be bickering," she stated as she looked in Akane's direction. "Isn't that right, Akiyama?"

Akane's shopping bag seemed to get heavier, "Ayame's birthday is approaching. My daughter has been telling me that Atsuko has been acting weird towards her and little Shiro. So, both I and the jerk here decided to come and talk to you ourselves. Not only that, but we also told Hiro and Natsumi to talk to Ayame and tell her the truth about this. I think it'll be for the best."

"But what if she doesn't believe them?"

Keiko waved her off. "I'm sure she's going to. I mean Atsuko has never lied to her yet... plus there's the issue with that Kikyo personality."

"Yeah, about that. Atsuko has determined that she's going to join Ayame in this journey," Maki stated as if she's become depressed about the situation.

"Oh, so she's planning on doing the spirit merging ritual?" Hiro asked as if it was a dumb issue.

"What was that tone for?" Maki asked.

"Your daughter wants to do a dumb thing."

"I know that, but I don't want to stop her. Mainly because she's deeply in love with Ayame. She's determined to do this, so I'll do the ritual but Akane it's up to you if you want Ayame to take on this task," Maki stated as a tear seemed to flow from her eye.

Akane stared at them, "Akiyama, how about we all have dinner at your house. I would love to have some of that special food of yours," Hiro said as if his statement was forced out.

"And what of the children?"

"I'll text them and let them know to walk home with Ayame and Atsuko. I would love to do this, mainly because it's been a while since we've all had spent time together. Even if it's in this scenario," Keiko said with a large smile on her face.

*****

Ayame waited around for Atsuko in her classroom. The sun was beginning to set, and the birds chirped in response to it.

"I wonder what mom is going to cook tonight?" she wore a worried expression mainly because of her worry about Atsuko. Atsuko acted weird around Ayame the entire day, and she didn't like that.

Atsuko was always weird, but today was a different kind of weird, "Atsuko you jerk, why are you doing me like that?" she voiced irritably.

"How is she treating you exactly, Iris?"

The person surprised Ayame, mainly because of who it was. It was a girl and not just any girl, it was Natsumi Matsumoto. She had short shoulder length blue hair, eyes of luscious gold they were almost soothing, a well fit figure as expected of the best track and field athlete in the school, she had fair skin, and a presence that welcomes almost everyone. She was the pinnacle of the female population in the school. Everyone loves her both male and female, she is the student council vice president after all.

Natsumi giggled as she saw Ayame staring in awe at her, "Ayame?" she questioned while she walked over to her. Natsumi whistled which caused Ayame to snap out of it.

She jumped back, hitting a desk, and causing it to rattle, "What are you doing?!" she exclaimed.

"There we go."

Ayame was always nervous around both Natsumi and Shiro the president. They had all been knowing each other ever since they could remember, but Ayame had always been the odd ball out. Her interests were different, her personality was different, her family was different, literally everything about her was different. That didn't sit well with her. Shiro always told her that she didn't have to worry about that, but it still bothered her a lot.

"I know what you're thinking," Natsumi said with a smirk.

"Well, how could you not? I mean just look at you, you're good at everything, Atsuko is good at athletics, and Shiro is Shiro."

"Ayame..." she mumbled as Ayame continued to ramble on.

Natsumi then chopped her on the head, "Ow," Ayame said in a childish tone.

Ayame looked at her and she saw that Natsumi's demeanor became slightly irritated.

She dropped her head and her shoulders drooped. "I'm sorry."

"Stop saying you're sorry, you're far from that."

Her tone was reassuring, and her eyes soothed Ayame's racing mind. "You are amazing in your own right. I mean you're smart, beautiful, easy to be around, plus you're good at kendo. Do not sell yourself short, also never compare yourself to Stupid Shiro. It'll only give you a headache."

Ayame mood changed. "Natsumi, you seem to always know what to say."

"Of course, I do, I we're friends after all."

"We are indeed," another voice said behind them.

They both turned around and they saw Atsuko there in the doorway. Natsumi groaned, which annoyed Atsuko, "What the hell was that for?" she growled as she walked closer. "You're always so stuck up when acting towards me."

"Because you're stupid."

"Says the one who's love struck by Shiro," Atsuko retorted.

Natsumi seemed to get embarrassed, and Atsuko giggled, "Look at you."

"Shut up!"

"No, I won't because it's weird that you still haven't confessed to him."

Natsumi stared at her in annoyance, "And you stilled haven't confessed to Aya..." she was saying until Atsuko covered her mouth, "STOP!" she yelled frantically.

Ayame stared at them confused and she saw another person at the door. "What are you idiots doing?"

"Shiro!" Ayame yelled ecstatically.

Shiro looked exactly like his father, even the presence he gave off. It was really something.

Ayame hugged him, and the piece of hair on top of her head called an cowlick began to move. How does she do that? Natsumi thought. Shiro gave a slight smirk as he patted Ayame on the head. Shiro was like a older brother to Ayame, because he was so mature and refined. That gesture made both Atsuko and Natsumi kind of jealous, but Shiro ignored them.

"Hey Ayame, hope you've been well?"

"I have Shiro," she stated. "I wanted to thank you for helping me with those guys yesterday, but I couldn't find you."

Ayame continued to hug him, and she got a strange feeling in the room, almost as if the temperature dropped. It made her let Shiro go, when she did, she turned her head to Atsuko and Natsumi. She saw them and her cowlick became smaller. They were both growling at Shiro as if they were feral animals.

"Both of you calm down," Shiro stated as he adjusted his glasses. The way he did it gave off a certain air, and that air made Atsuko cower, but it made Natsumi drop to her knees in bliss. "Oh, Shiro don't stare at me like that," she said with a face contorted in pleasure.

"You're really weird..."

"Be quiet."

"Both of you be quiet," Shiro yelled as if he was annoyed. "Tsukiyama, wasn't there something you wanted to tell Akiyama tonight?"

"........"

"What's that look for?"

"........"

"Well anyways, Akiyama your mother is hosting a dinner with all of us," Shiro concluded, but something about his voice was off, "along with our parents."

They all got nervous because they knew that the tension between all of them was high. They were a part of the Demon Student Council years ago after all. The scariest one of them all wasn't Shiro's father, it was Ayame's mother. She was the one that made them all tense up.

Ayame is the same in their group as well, because once she snaps, she snaps. One time she did it made even Shiro nervous, maybe it was because of Kikyo or maybe it was Ayame herself, which they found doubtful due to her nature. Either way it was a bad moment. That's why Shiro, Atsuko, and Natsumi all make it a priority to protect Ayame from both herself and from others.

Not to mention she was the youngest only by a few months, she was the smallest, and she probably had the purest heart of the four of them. She literally would not harm a fly, but can that change over time? Maybe, maybe not.

Natsumi sighed in frustration. "Man, now I got to deal with my mom and Ms. Maki arguing all night."

"Talk about repetition," Shiro mumbled under his breath.

Ayame smiled. "You know, I'm pretty happy today."

"Why so?" Atsuko questioned as they all tilted their heads in confusion.

"Because it's been a while since we've all got together. It makes me happy," she stated as her smile got bigger. "I never want to forget this type of feeling. I love you all."

They all stared at Ayame, but their eyes seemed dead. Almost as if they were dreading what was coming next. The mood in the room had changed, but Ayame still had a smile on her face. They couldn't ruin it for her, although tonight they knew it was going to be ruined. They loved Ayame, and they would've taken on this burden for her. A burden that could very well change the course of everything.

They always questioned why curse such a young girl with a fate like this? She's only fifteen soon to be 16. She's a pure girl, she doesn't deserve anything of this nature. She deserves to be protected by everyone, but here's a question they've all been wondering:

Does she really need protecting? Natsumi already mentioned that she is decent at kendo, she also is a smart girl able to make decisions in tight situations. So are they just overreacting towards the situation?

Atsuko broke the tension in the room, "Ayame, you're an angel. Please don't change that."

"Why would I?" Ayame asked. Her expression showed a sign of innocence that Atsuko couldn't help but love.

"You know time changes a person, but I'm sure you will still be our pure hearted darling."

"Of course," Shiro agreed.

"I just know it," Natsumi added.

Ayame's cowlick moved with so much enthusiasm that they all thought it was going to fly off.

Seriously how does she do that? Natsumi thought again.

"Well, shall we get going?" Shiro asked as he looked at his friends once again.

Ayame nodded in agreement still wearing the same smile. "Let's go. Also, my mom will be adding something interesting to her food tonight. So, this should be fun."

"Oh, we know." They all said together.

They walked out of the school, "Dear gods if you're there, please never take this one piece of happiness away from me," she mumbled to herself.

Little did she know that once December 21st came her entire world is going to change. Ayame Akiyama a fifteen-year-old, soon to be 16-year-old cursed with a fate that no one else can think to bear. This is her story; this is her journey. She is nothing but a sprout, but can she blossom into a majestic full-grown flower?