Chapter 9: A Forgotten Memory

Takara suddenly found the food, unappetizing. She had lost her appetite to eat although it was her favorite. Miso soup and onigiri. Her stomach was doing an odd dance of its own. She felt extremely apprehensive, as she got ready to fear the worst possible outcome. Her mind raced with horrible scenarios. Quickly, she pushed her plate away. She swallowed and she fidgeted with her fingers, her eyes locked on them and not meeting Yumi's eyes.

" Takara, do you remember Mrs. Westmount? "

She stopped her finger fidgeting and she looked up.

" My guardian? "

Yumi nodded as she sipped the lukewarm water in her glass.

" Actually, she is my best friend. What was her name? Her full name? "

Her daughter looked confused but she answered her mother's question, " Mrs. Sarah Westmount. "

Her mother shook her head slowly.

" That was just her alias. Her real name is Lethia Jane Montgomery. However 'Montgomery' was her maiden name. She got married to someone from Japan by the name of Suou. She became Mrs. Suou- "

Takara's eyes widened as everything suddenly made sense now.

" S-Suou? But th-that's… " She stammered, looking shocked.

" Soon after, she had a child named Tamaki. He was your childhood friend when you were a toddler. At that time, we were living just next to each other although we had never met Lethia's husband. Then, your papa and I had to leave for Japan. We had no choice because our work got in the way. I became busier and busier until I didn't have the time to contact Lethia. I had to juggle my life between being an actress as well as being a mother. I was in tight spot. Despite this, she still emailed me frequently. So in a way, we remained in touch with each other. But, something happen about two years ago. Lethia's son who just turned fourteen had to come here, to Japan, and was forbidden to ever meet his mother again. It seemed that her mother-in-law provided her with funds to live out her life. Lethia had no choice since her health was really delicate. She was ill most of the time and she was in no condition to bring up her child. "

Now, it makes sense to me why Tamaki had said that! He was separated from his mother two years ago! All his life, he was living in France! But what I don't get is he being my childhood friend. That, I have no recollection of.

Takara decided to voice out her thoughts.

" Mummy, I just don't get it. You told me Tamaki was my childhood friend but here I am, having no recollections of him in my life. "

Yumi smiled, " Honey, we were in France for about four months before we left. You were only about a year old. He was two, I think. You should have seen yourself when you were young. Always so bubbly and warm that almost instantly you and Tamaki were like two peas in a pod. "

Really? But if we were, then why didn't he recognize me, the moment we met each other?

(I don't think so. Tamaki is just too dense, already! His skull is too thick!)

NNN

" Why are we constantly talking about Takara? " Kyouya inquired.

The twins shrugged their shoulders.

" It's not us except him. "

They pointed at Tamaki who sat in an overstuffed chair, talking animatedly with some of Takara's classmates. Obviously, they were too busy admiring him so he had to do all the talking.

" Man, how loony can he get? " Hikaru complained, looking irritated.

" Instead of just checking it out from afar, why not find out what he's up to? " Kaoru urged. " I'll call Haruhi to join us. "

He turned to Haruhi who happened to past by the two scheming brothers.

" Yo, Haruhi! You wanna join us and find out what Highness is up to? "

The brown-haired girl backed up a step.

" No, thanks. I rather not. Is it necessary to stalk him? "

Hikaru and Kaoru slung their arms over her neck.

" Of course! It's for his own good! "

Haruhi rolled her eyes.

Don't they have anything better to do? I think Tamaki is at their mercy for their entertainment. It's rather for their own good.

" Aww, come on Haruhi, don't be spoilsport! "

Without even waiting for her answer, they dragged her over to the group.

" The new girl? She's always quiet in class. Never talks, always in a world of her own. "

" We know nothing about her except her parents. "

" Instead of calling someone to pick her up, she chooses to walk home. "

" In my opinion, she's too arrogant! Maybe she thinks she's much better off than us. "

Kaoru whistled.

" Those comments are way too harsh even for a girl like Takara. "

Hikaru agreed with his brother.

" What do you think, Haruhi? " he asked the other Host Club member.

" I think she has a problem which she wants to keep to herself… "

Note from 'moi': Hey, roxaschick! Sorry about that! I was just kidding but some parts of it were true…

Giggling Oh yeah, I'm sorry to say this, bringme2life but I've written it as long as 27 chapters and…it's still continuing. Don't worry about it so much!