Due to the nature of Kaoru's affliction she is well aware of her condition and that she probably only has a short time left to live. Not only does Takehiko Henmi love her, she loves him in return! Their love was automatic and abiding. Only few seem to know of their secret past. Before the cancer was found, they were engaged and ready to live their lives together in happiness. When tragedy befell her, however, she felt it was best to let her love go because she would not be able to stay by his side as they had dreamt. They broke it off, or perhaps more like she broke it off due to reason she found to be justified. Despite that, they never ended up disliking each other, much less hating each other. Truthfully, they still loved each other deeply despite perhaps more than a year had passed since their relationship was put to a halt. Because she loved him, she felt she had to leave him and forget everything that they had shared together. It was a tragic romance. She did not want him to trouble himself over her and thus decided to live alone. She decided this after she underwent surgery. She showed him what was happening to her, what had happened and hoped he would understand what was going to happen. If he understood that, then he would realize she would not give him much of a future. Even if he could love her despite all of that, she still did not want him to waste his future on her. It would only lead to him to pain when she was dying and grief when she died. If she forgot him and what they had... then she would be able to go through with it. That is why she did it. She left the man she loved because of the cancer, because she did not know if she would have a very long life before her anymore. She did not wish to be a burden to him. Therefore, she wished him to find someone else he could share his dreams with. They would live separate lives. Sadly, she did not realize that by doing that, she was making him suffer.  The only people who knew the reasons behind the buried relationship were Rei and Kaoru's family. There is a likely chance that Takashi knew as well, but it is not completely certain. Fukiko likely did not know, but she was aware that Kaoru and Takehiko were a couple once. Secrets Kaoru knew about Takehiko were that his father was Professor Misanoo, he had a sister, and he knew of Rei's relationship with the Ichinomiya family. The only time she ever really revealed a secret in terms of Takehiko Henmi was in regards to his sister. She had inadvertently told Nanako that she was his sister. It was not by blood, but she was indeed his stepsister. Their relationship was because Takehiko is the son of Professor Misanoo from his first wife. Nanako is Professor Misanoo's adoptive daughter from his second wife. It was revealed after Nanako found out the illness Kaoru suffered from and why her relationship ended with Takehiko. |