Oniisama E... is full of characters that have their own stories and secrets. Kaoru's friendship with Rei is perhaps a sort of secret on its own... As Kaoru has her own secrets, she knows others as well and is able to keep them concealed. Rei is one of the people she shares her secrets with as well as keeps Rei's own. Their connection was deeper than almost any of the other ones in Oniisama E... They were not separated by any hidden knowledge and were bare to each other completely. They were each other's support and in some cases all that each other had to share their grief with. If anything happened to one of them, the other would know where to look. Rei knew well of Kaoru's past, her reason for claiming she forgot something important in her past and her ailment. In turn, Kaoru knew well of Rei's past, Fukiko's cruel ways towards her, the bracelet, the scar and why she takes many painkillers. It is not through Kaoru such is revealed clearly, however. To know about the secrets, this would have to be a page on Rei Asaka or Nanako Misanoo. However, Kaoru will lightly reveal small things about Rei, but none of them are deep secrets and are usually known to everyone else but Nanako or any other new person to Seiran.  The only time Kaoru ever really revealed a secret in terms of Rei Asaka was in regards to her relationship with Fukiko and deals with the bracelet Rei wears. When Rei is sick, Kaoru removes the bracelet the woman wears. A scar is revealed. The loss of the bracelet leads to a fight. Kaoru says the bracelet keeps Rei under Miya-sama's curse! One soon finds out just how intensely Rei cares for the bracelet and Fukiko when she throws a knife at Kaoru! Another time, Kaoru had inadvertently told Nanako that Rei was Fukiko's sister, but is not elaborated. Fukiko is quite surprised that Kaoru would know such and Kaoru responds that she knows many things Fukiko does not know. This happened when Nanako overheard Kaoru and Fukiko talking by the elm tree. Nanako, however, knows to keep it a secret. Without Rei, Kaoru was alone in it all. Her courage falters. Her fears become intense. Rei is perhaps a pillar for Kaoru more so than the other way around. Rei's pillar was someone Kaoru would never be, and Kaoru likely knew that. Kaoru always kept Rei's secrets and Rei always kept Kaoru's. |