Chapter 8: A Moment of Truth

" I'm telling you, Highness, that girl is really so full of herself! She doesn't need anyone's help, " Hikaru told Tamaki as they made their way towards the music room.

" You should've seen her in class. Always like a mouse. Never talks to anyone except the teachers. Even teachers find her scary. She has that cold and blank look which keeps everyone away from her. Best not to go near her at all, I'd say, " Kaoru agreed with his twin.

Tamaki did not reply. It was obvious that he did not agree with the brothers.

She has a problem that I'm sure of! However, whether or not she wants to hide it from others, Im going to find out!

" Highness? "

Tamaki blinked and he looked up.

" What were you thinking about? " Kaoru asked.

" Takara again? " Hikaru continued, slyly.

The sixteen-year-old blushed, looking embarrassed. The twins looked at each other and grinned.

" Ooh, I think someone's in looooooove, " Hikaru sang.

Kaoru did not join in. He kept quiet. Hikaru stopped and turned to his brother.

" What's wrong, Kaoru? " he asked anxiously.

Kaoru looked away.

" Do you like her, Hikaru? You haven't been paying that much attention to me ever since Takara came here… " He trailed off sadly.

Hikaru enveloped his brother in a hug. He tilted Kaoru's chin slightly and stared deeply into his melted chocolate brown eyes.

" Oh Kaoru, I didn't know you were so sensitive. Do you know you mean the world to me? "

Kaoru's eyes widened with unshed tears.

" Hikaru… "

Tamaki nearly suffocated with all that brotherly love emanating from the both of them.

(Ahh, finally what intimate brotherly love!!! Squealing Refreshing point! Refreshing points! 100 points, I'd say! )

NNN

" Mummy, I'm back! " Takara announced as she dropped her bag and keys onto the glass coffee table.

Almost immediately, Yumi came out into the hallway.

" Okaeri, Takara! "

" Mummy, have you been watching Japanese anime again? " she asked, pretending to be angry.

Yumi pouted.

" Hey, but I was getting bored! What should I do? Laze around and do nothing? Besides, I wanted to test out the words that I've learnt on you since you're taking Japanese language classes. My Japanese vocabulary is limited, you know! "

Her daughter's face broke into a broad grin. Her eyes grew affectionate. Takara's cold and unfriendly façade melted away to reveal her true self. Her hidden self. Her bubbly, friendly, compassionate and warm self. The reason? Her mother.

She kissed her mother's warm cheek softly and then pushed the wheelchair into the kitchen. Once there, Takara froze. Yumi eyed her daughter while a smile bloomed on her lips.

" Y-You cooked and set the table for the two of us? " Takara spoke up, looking shocked.

" Yes, I did. "

" But, whatever for? I told you not to over-exert your body too much, haven't I? "

Yumi's smile remained intact.

" I did it for a reason. I feel that I need to tell you something, which happened more than a decade ago… "

Note from 'moi': I know that I've ended it kinda short but I've had to. You see, I've come up with a case of writer's block so I can't continue the chapter. Another thing is to keep you, readers, in suspense Cackling wickedly