Hey everyone! Welcome to chapter 13! I hope you guys are enjoying it so far :) and thanks for reading! I really appreciate it!

"Ugh… Nhh…" A thin shaft of light broke through the murkiness of the room.

"Awake? Finally." A male voice drawled.

"Shh, be nice Kyoya senpai!" Another scolded.

"Wow, she really got him good, huh?"

"Yeah… ouch…" Other voices crowded the room.

Hiro put a hand to his aching face and sat up swiftly. He winced, but moved his eyes to the people surrounding him. He was in a plain room that he instantly recognized as one of the recovery rooms adjacent to his family's dojo. Wincing as he poked at his cheek, he saw each of the hosts. When his eyes landed on Mori, they hardened, remembering what he'd interfered with.

"You!" Hiro struggled to get out of the infirmary cot. "Where's Sora!? What have you done with her!?"

"Hold on," Tamaki's voice halted Hiro's movement, "Hold on, please. We haven't done anything… She's resting in another room. So please, don't do anything… er… rash. We just want to talk to you." Hiro dragged his glare away from Mori's still form, and looked at the blonde.

"What? What is the world could you possibly have to say that will stop me from ripping this guy apart?" He gestured at Mori, who ignored him.

"Well, we're actually more interested in what you have to say," Kyoya stepped forward, gazing at the man evenly.

"What do you mean?" Hiro narrowed his eyes.

"We want to know why you and So-chan don't get along," Honey spoke up, enjoying how he could finally say her pet-name.

"Yeah," Hikaru nodded, "Normal families really don't fight like…

"Like that… you were really going to hit her hard…" Kaoru finished. Hiro's suspicious eyes softened as he let their words sink in. It's true, he thought, normal siblings don't actually fight each other so viciously… He sighed loudly and sat back, crossing his arms.

"Alright," he looked at the group, "I suppose I do owe you an explanation." His gaze darkened, "But you won't like what you hear…"

"We're listening," Mori finally said, stepping forward from his leaning position by the wall. Hiro wanted to leap up and fight the stupid boy, but he restrained himself, taking a deep breath.

"Sora wasn't always this way," he began, "She used to be the sweetest, happiest girl I've ever known…" he smiled slightly, mind flashing back to when Sora used to wear a flower dress and ask him to play Princess with her. "Everything was perfect," he continued, "She and I used to have a joyful brother and sister relationship… Our father and mother were happy. Like I said: perfect." Hiro stopped, face hard.

"So what happened? Why does Sora senpai dislike you so much?" Haruhi asked, wide brown eyes gentle. Hiro's hand curled in a shaking fist.

"The… the reason Sora hates me…" he gripped his fist tighter and lowered his head, "Is not just because I can be the foolish, adoring brother…" He raised his eyes to the group, looking at them with a dark, pained expression, "It's because I remind her too much of our mother." He took a trembling breath and sat fully up.

"Your mother?" Tamaki asked quietly. Hiro looked at him with an emotionless smile.

"Yes. Our mother Hana."

"Sora?" A soft knock on the door made Sora blink from her semi-consciousness. She blinked quickly and sat up, noting the dryness of her throat and aching in her muscles.

"What?" Her voice was hoarse and she could feel the world sway slightly beneath her. Earthquake? No… it's you idiot. She shook her head and looked up at the person entering.

"Oh. It's you; Tall, Strong, and Stupid." She tested the strength of her hands by balling them up into fists a couple of times.

"Feeling better?" Mori entered, coming to stand beside the bed she was on. Sora winced as she stretched. Yep. That's gonna hurt for the next year. She shrugged.

Mori looked at her with a blank face, trying to figure out the deep emotion he could feel swirling inside of him. Sora continued examining her arms. Satisfied that she wasn't bleeding to death anywhere, she moved to prodding at her stomach and back. While reaching over her shoulder, she gasped in pain as a sharp, shooting ache shot up her spine. Mori put aside his nameless emotion and bent down, concerned.

"What?" He glanced at where she had just pressed on her lower shoulder.

"N-nothing," Sora's breath caught in her chest as she gently tapped the spot again. Mori shook his head and sat beside her. "What are you doing?" She asked sharply.

"Sit still," he commanded.

"Wah! Eh!?" Sora's back went rigid as she felt Mori's hand sliding slowly up her back, bringing the end of her t-shirt up with it. His fingers grazed her skin lightly as they reached the area she'd been examining. It was a deep purple bruise by her lower left shoulder. Mori's eyes hardened as he looked at the bruise. A small area of even darker skin indicated even deeper bruising. It certainly looked painful to Mori. He put a hand on it as gently as possible.

"Good freaking god!" Sora cringed as pain radiated from the spot. "For all that's good and holy what are you doing?! Are you trying to kill me?" She heard felt Mori shaking his head from behind her and squirmed where she sat.

"You'll be fine," Mori replied, dropping his hand and letting her shirt fall back down. He remained where he was though, looking at Sora's back. "This won't kill you." Sora gingerly turned around and faced him with a withering look.

"Easy for you to say Mr. Indestructible," she winced again and turned even further so that her shoulders almost grazed his chest. A sharp beat of her heart reminded her just how close they were. She could feel the inches between them, but couldn't completely process the feeling. Ow. The pounding in her chest clouded her head with worry. Oh no… now my chest is hurting! I really am dying! The panicked thoughts quickly disappeared as she thought through the feeling. No… it doesn't hurt exactly… She realized that she'd been silent for a while and looked up at Mori. He was gazing at her with deep, dark eyes, saying nothing. His stare made the feeling in her chest increase and she stuttered over what to say. Finding nothing, she covered her nervousness with a smirk.

"Hey, if you wanted to get me out of my clothes that badly you could've just asked," she grinned smugly. Mori didn't respond, his own pounding chest making him puzzled. His hand twitched, remembering the feeling of the soft skin of her back. Had he meant to do that? He hadn't really been thinking. He'd only wanted to check to see how badly she was injured. Why did I do that?

His silence made Sora's grin fall slightly. What had she just said? Her back tingled where he'd touched. His hand had been warm and strong. But still gentle. Well, as gentle as a hand could be when poking a bruise. She exhaled quietly. Had he meant anything by it? Her experience with men was limited, but she'd always known what they meant and what they wanted when they interacted with her. But him? He was too hard to read. It probably was nothing, she reassured herself.

Before she could find another snarky comment to break the silence, Mori spoke.

"Tell me about your mother." Sora's eyes widened at the question and she turned back around, hunching her back unconsciously.

"What did Hiro tell you?" She looked at her hands in her lap, noting the cuts and scrapes.

"He told me you don't get along because he reminds you of her," Mori answered levelly.

"Is that all? Did he tell you what happened?"

"No."

Sora took a deep breath and straightened up, still facing away from Mori. The memories that flashed through her head stung fiercely. They were unrelenting and she gripped her hands together, trying to make them stop. She remembered the nightmares that had plagued her for years. She remembered the last look on her mother's face. It was torture.

"Sora." A hand reached around her and cupped her own shaking hands. She blinked, cleared her throat, and turned.

"My… my mother…" Her voice broke and a tear disobediently ran down her cheek.

"No," Mori interrupted her, voice deep and concerned, "It's okay." Sora shook her head, more tears falling.

"I'm fine…" She dropped her head and watched more stupid tears drip onto the crisp, white sheet of the bed. Damn it. Why haven't I run out of tears yet? The image of her smiling, happy mother made her wince in pain.

Mori looked at her in quiet worry. He removed his hand and put it on the side of her head. He'd never seen her this fragile. It worried him more than he would ever admit. It was almost scary. He could handle her at her angriest. Even at her snappiest. But at her saddest? He was lost. Lost under that sad gaze. Completely and utterly lost at the sight of her tears. The only thing he could think to do was stop her from remembering. Stop her from feeling the pain that was so clearly written on her face.

More tears fell and a pang in his chest compelled him forward. He brought his hand from her cheek to around her slender shoulders. He wrapped her in his arms and pulled her closer, feeling her rigid form soften and her own arms respond by wrapping around his neck.

"Someday," she whispered, voice muffled by his chest.

"Someday?" Mori asked, breathing in her warmth. He closed his eyes and held her tightly, thinking back to the 'H' she'd carved. It hadn't been for Hiro. It had been for Hana.

"Yes… Someday I'll be able to tell you."

Ah goodness... it is so much fun to write fiction. I've been having such a tough time writing for other non-fiction things... like history. History papers are awful *tears of depression over writing skills* If anyone has any super-amazing writing secrets that they want to share.. I'm all ears! *more tears*

Anyway, I hope you liked this chapter! Soon, more about Sora and Hiro's past will come out... but for now, thank you awesome readers and reviewers! *virtual hug of love and puppies and rainbows... and... oh might as well add unicorns in there* ;)

Until next time!