Chapter 12: Secrets

Nana came into class the Monday following the recital. She could see her other friends standing around the front of the class gossiping. Apparently the three of them had gone to the movies instead of her recital. They had tried to get Satsuki to go with them, but she had refused, knowing how important these recitals were to Nana. She had tried to convince them to go with her, but they refused, saying there was always more recitals, but a chance to hook up with their boyfriends was not going to happen as often, seeing as they were college students. Satsuki didn't see it that way. Her best friend was only second to her family.

She bypassed them and sat at her desk. There was a little package on her desk and a note. It was simple in text. I saw this over the weekend and thought of you. She opened the box to see her favorite NPC from the game in chibi form in the box. She smiled and closed it. It was really cute and the note was nice, though there was no name. Who knew her well enough to get her something like this? She looked to Satsuki and she shook her head. If it wasn't her best friend, who was it?

~That Afternoon~

Kagome came into the Host Club room and moved towards the changing room. She had made a different dress for the club. It went past her knees and was a sapphire blue. It looked similar to the school uniform without the fluff of several skirts underneath. She was comfortable in it and it was the right type of modest. She thought it was cute.

She came out to see Naosuke setting up their area. She smiled at him and then approached to fix his appearance. She unbuttoned the first few buttons then loosened his tie and tossed his hair. Once satisfied with his appearance, she went and brewed a pot of tea and set it up in her area. They got into position before the doors opened and they welcomed their first guests of the day. She and her brother went to their section and a few of their regulars sat with them.

"What desserts have you provided us with today, Kagome-chan," Tatigawa Satoshi had asked as she served them tea.

"I made some strawberry cheesecake tarts and blueberry cheesecake tarts from strawberries and blueberries I grew," she said as she pulled the cover from the tiered tray she had in her section. "I picked two blends of teas for today." It was proved by both pots being on the table. "I do hope they are up to your standards."

"They always are," he commented as he sipped the tea. He closed his eyes and slowly rolled the flavor over his tongue. "I can taste the subtle taste of white tea with fruity notes of strawberry."

"Close. It is white tea and strawberry, but you missed the slight hint of hibiscus." He took another sip and nodded. He took a bite of the strawberry cheesecake tart he had picked out. It was good and he gave a hum.

"The creamy texture of the cheesecake is good." He looked at her as she sipped her tea. "Grandfather says he wants to meet you. He didn't exactly say why, but he does."

"Perhaps the weekend," she said. "I should be free." He nodded.

"Ano, can I buy some of the previous batch?" The third year girl, whose name she never got asked. "I shared it with my mother, and she liked it. She said it gave her the energy she never seems to have."

"Of course. Ototo, please entertain these gentlemen and ladies while I go get the tea." He nodded and threw both his arms along the back of the chair and placed his right ankle on his left knee.

"We didn't quite catch your name," he said to the third year girl. She was attractive with her dark hair and green eyes. She was slightly shorter than him and seemed well long dark hair was up in a ponytail, bangs brushed neatly over her eyes. Her face was slender and her lips looked plump and was glossed with a light pink.

"Ah. I am Hisoka Niki." She looked at him. He looked relaxed and there was a peek of his chest. It seemed toned enough. "My family owns a chain of resorts around the world." He nodded.

"I think my family took a vacation to one in the Maldives when I was younger. It was fun and mother said the spa treatments were top notch. We've wanted to go to another one but we weren't sure which one to go to."

"Oh, father is opening another resort in Australia. I'll see if there is anyway to book it in advanced. I know it isn't open yet." She seemed happy about the interest in their resorts.

"That would be great." He smirked towards her and the girls seemed to blush.

"Hisagawa, what do you do to stay so fit?" One of the guys asked. "I want to get bigger, but you know, not bulky or fat."

"Huh. Nothing really. Recently I started to run. Ane had my father pave the perimeter of our backyard since she likes to run everyday. Since then I took to doing it too." He shrugged. "I have put on a bit of weight since she started living with us."

"Are you accusing me of making you fat?" She asked in indignation as she approached.

"Of course not, ane. I'm not fat, but if I don't get a bit more active I might end up getting fat." He looked up to see her holding out the satchel of tea to who he learned was Hisoka Niki.

"I could always change your lunch to one similar to what I eat," she commented as she sat back down.

"That won't be necessary, ane. The lunches you make for me now are delicious." She nodded but her attention was on the third year girl.

"Are you okay? You seem sad. Is there something I can help you with?" She looked over her aura. There was a great sadness there.

"I'm fine," she said.

"Whatever is bothering you, I might be able to help you with," she said easily enough. "We can go somewhere else if you want to talk." She had her catch her eyes and she seemed to hesitate.

"Please." Kagome nodded and they stood. She stood and they moved to the changing room. Kagome discreetly placed a barrier to keep their conversation secret. They took a seat on a bench that was in the room.

"No one will hear you in here," Kagome assured and placed her hand on one of her hands.

"I recently found out my mother has cancer," she took a deep breath. "The doctor said that she may only have a few months left to live. She's been there with me for everything and now she can't even come home." She had a few tears come down her cheeks.

"If you want, I can come see her," Kagome said gently. "I might be able to help her. I might be able to find a way to at least ease her pain."

"Alright," she murmured. "I go everyday after school. I wanted to get her more tea before seeing her."

"It's fine. I'll tell Naosuke to let our father know."

"I'll drop you off afterwards," she said and Kagome nodded. "We can go back."

They stood and made their way out of the room and went back to her section. Naosuke looked upset and she looked across from him to see the three mean girls.

"You really don't know how to dress," Tatsuya Tsubaki said to him. "You look like a whore trying to gain attention." His eyebrow twitched and Tatigawa Satoshi scowled at her.

"If you are going to be rude, why do you keep requesting the Hisagawa siblings?" He sipped his tea and tried to hold in his anger.

"Why are you trying to defend a bastard commoner?" She replied snidely.

Kagome sat and placed her hand on her brother's shoulder to restrain her. His body was tense and she knew he wanted to get up and attack her. "Settle ototo." He clenched his fists and huffed before slouching back, arms crossed over his chest and he turned his head to look at anyone but Tsubaki.

"Would you two like some tea?" She offered the two girls. They were taken off guard and nodded slowly. She poured them tea and they picked up their cups and took a slow sip. It was sweet and fruity with a light floral note.

"Don't drink that," Tsubaki said before slapping the cups from their hands, the cups shattering on the table before them.

"That was uncalled for," Kagome said, eyes narrowed on her. "I already know you don't particularly like me, but there is no need for you to take out your anger and hatred on your friends or my siblings." She set her tea cup down. She crossed her legs and sat up straighter. "You hate me for something I had no control over. If you hated me for who I was, I would understand, but you hate me for the situation I was born into. You do not even know who my mother is. You only settled on me growing up on a shrine as a commoner. You do not care to get to know me, and that shall be your down fall." Her warning was ominous but it caused Naosuke to smirk dangerously. "I ask you to leave peacefully." The whole room was watching, wondering what would happen now.

Tsubaki stood anger on her face she reached for the tea pot and made to throw it at Kagome, but Kagome had moved quicker than they thought she would and she grabbed it from her hand easily enough, ignoring the slight heat and Naosuke took it from her as Kagome twisted her arm behind her back. She started to lead her towards the door, one hand securing her wrist and the other held her shoulder. It was enough pressure to hurt but it wouldn't leave any lasting damage. Honey opened the door and Kagome released her in the hall. The door closed with a resounding click.

~At Kyoya's Table - Before the Incident~

He looked around his table to recognize five of his usual girls, one of which was related to two of the hosts. "You are Nana, correct?" He asked the girl and she nodded. "We were at the recital on Saturday. You performed splendidly." He smirked at the blush on her face. The host club didn't usually go to such things, but when they found out Kagome's sister was going to be performing, they decided to go. "Your piano piece had Tamaki in tears. He had said he had never heard something so beautiful."

"Thank you, senpai." She bowed her head, feeling the glare of one of her friends on her. She didn't know why they were glaring at her when they had a boyfriend.

"If you wouldn't mind, we wouldn't mind you playing here occasionally." He looked at her from under his glasses.

"Of course. Just let me know when." She blushed as he smirked. He wasn't always like this, but when he was, you couldn't help but blush.

"We have a theme on Friday, if you wouldn't mind. The piano would be perfect for it." She nodded. "We'll provide you a costume, of course." She blushed and nodded.

It was at this moment the incident happened. The other hosts were tense to see how this unfold. Mori and Honey were ready to spring into action, but she seemed to handle it, remaining unharmed and removing the offending girl without her hurting her or breaking anything. He had charged the girl for breaking two of the tea cups and had made a note to black list the girl. She would no longer be welcome in the club from this day forward. They didn't need violent clients.

The end of club activities ended and it found Kagome out front. She was explaining to Naosuke that she would be home letter. Nasaka was upset but understood, and Kagome made promises to tell her a story tonight. She nodded and Kagome vanished inside the same car as Hisoka Niki. Something about that girl was attractive and he would work towards getting to know her better.

They pulled up to the hospital and the driver promised to wait for them. They moved into the hospital and she recognized that this was one of the hospitals owned by the Ootoris. They moved past a nurses' station and moved to the room.

"Hey mama, this is my friend, Hisagawa Kagome. She wanted to come see you." She smiled at her tired looking mother.

"Senpai, do you think you can brew your mother some of the tea you bought?" Kagome looked at her. "It might help her get a little energy." She nodded and left the room. Kagome watched her close the door and she came closer. "I need you to keep secret what is about to happen," Kagome said. "I know you don't know me, but I want to help you." She looked serious.

"Something is telling me to trust you." Kagome smiled at her and then Kagome placed her hands over the woman and concentrated. Her palms lit with pink flame and she directed it into the woman. It went into her and when she sensed the third year girl approach, she called her powers back into herself.

"You should feel and look a bit better tomorrow. I will have to come back a few more times to finish with healing you." She nodded and smiled as her daughter came into the room.

"Here, mama." She handed the cup to her mother and sat at her side. "How are you feeling today?"

"Oh, you know. Tired." She smiled and took a sip of tea. "I want to just be home." She ran her hand over her bald head. All her hair had fallen out. She had decided to stop chemotherapy when they said it wasn't doing anything to her cancer. If her daughter's friend could save her life, she would appreciate it. She wouldn't reveal the girl's secret. She was a sweet girl that just wanted to help her.