High ceilings, highly polished walls, floors and windows shined and sparkled in the golden sunshine. The scents of perfumed girls and freshly cut roses tickled her nose, and the soft chatter of students, teachers and their shoes on marbled floors echoed around her.
She stood there, her eyes taking in the mere inside of the school. She had been struck stupid when they approached, but now they were pushing it as she stood just inside, waiting for whoever was going to lead her to the chairman's office. And already, she could hear the whispers concerning her.
Letting out a tired sigh, she rotated her shoulders, careful of the strap of her bag and her ribs. This was perfect. All that was missing was a royal parade with the whole shebang.
"Higurashi-san?" looking over, she met the gaze of a taller boy.
She had to hold back another sigh, the boy had an air about him very similar to Sesshoumaru. So much so, it sort of frightened her. Cool slate gray eyes looked from behind frame-less glasses, and black hair in a business cut fell just over his brow. Everything about him was sharp, crisp and in place. She had to squash the sudden urge to muss up his hair to make him appear more human.
"Hai?"
"Ah. I've been appointed to take you to the chairman's office. Follow me."
She raised a brow, not even an introduction? How rude. Her fingers twitched even more, knowing that he would most likely be displeased if anything about him was out of place. Shrugging her shoulders lightly, she followed after him, taking in everything around her.
The walk to the chairman's office was silent, and the old Kagome would have done anything to strike up a conversation, but spending the amount of time around Sesshoumaru taught her to enjoy and accept silence just as much as talking.
She followed him as he led her into a waiting room, a secretary tucked to one side of the room, while lavished seating was to the opposite. Were they as comfy as they looked, or was that a ploy to trap unsuspecting visitors? Shaking her head, a hand rose to tangle with the short ponytail at the base of her skull. She should probably focus on the matter at hand.
"Ootori-san, what can I do for you today?" the woman's smile was all business, yet still held some form of kindness behind it.
"The chairman asked me to bring the new student, Higurashi, Kagome, in."
"He's in his office. You're free to return to your own class Ootori-san." said boy nodded his head, turned on his heel and walked right out of the room. Both occupants left behind watching it all, until they turned to look at each other.
"Go right ahead. He's been expecting you."
Nodding her head, Kagome did just that, but of course she knocked and waited until she was allowed to enter. Her Mother did teach her manners after all, unlike some people it seemed.
The Chairman's office was just as excessive as the rest of the school, though with all the family pictures and little touches here and there, it was much warmer. The man behind the desk though had a surprisingly blank face. Dressed in a white business suit, with a gold stripped purple tie and a matching handkerchief in the breast pocket above his heart. She could say he was handsome for his age. Surprisingly light colored hair, a sharp looking face with a few laugh wrinkles and his eye color reminded her of Miroku's own. A deep brown that seemingly had hints of violet mixed in.
Looking up from whatever work that had his concentration, he smiled warmly at her and motioned her to come closer. His entire being relaxed and opened up, making him a whole different man completely.
"Ah, Higurahi-san, welcome to Ouran High School Academy. Please take a seat." smiling lightly, Kagome took one of the two seats and made herself comfortable.
"I was surprised when Taisho-san called to set papers up for you to attend. I was not even aware that he had a younger sibling."
"He adopted me into his family. Our families have been tied for... many, many generations." Kagome shrugged her shoulders. "Short of marriage, this was the best choice to sort of rejoin our families."
The man hummed, there really was nothing to say or comment to what she just explained. There was a moment of silence where he took her in, and decided to take in the rest of the office, wondering what else he could want.
"Well, either way, we're glad to have you attend our Academy. Come, I'll take you to your class." both stood, while Kagome waited for him to lead the way.
"So, what do you think of Ouran so far?" his hands met behind his back, as he glanced down at her with a warm smile.
"Big. Really, really big. And shiny. It'll take a while to get settled in, but I'm hoping to enjoy my time here and take whatever opportunity comes my way while attending here." she glanced at him from the corner of her eyes when she heard him chuckle lightly. When he saw that she was looking his way, he raised a hand to cough into it, perhaps hoping to hide the fact that he was enjoying this conversation, and at her expense.
"Yes. I can understand that. We have a scholarship student, whose been here only a few weeks. Fujioka Haruhi, mentioned the same thing when I spoke with her."
Kagome paused at the mention of her old childhood friend's name and her eyes widened fractionally as stayed glued to the man. He continued to walk until he finally noticed that his newest student was no longer following him.
"Is something the matter Higurashi-san?"
"Haruhi attends Ouran?" her question paused the man himself, his own eyes widened and both blinked a few times before he once again smiled.
"You know Miss. Haruhi?"
"My father and her mother worked together and we grew up together."
"Ah, then it pleases me to tell you that you'll be in the same class Haruhi. A graced blessing in disguise. This way you'll get better acquainted with Ouran and our own standards."
Kagome nodded her head, not noticing that she was smiling warmly. Looking back up she began to follow the man once again, answering any further questions he had.
"And what do you plan to become with the education Ouran provides for you?"
"If you had asked that questions a few years ago, I would have told you that I was dead set on a job that helped people. A lawyer, doctor, maybe even a teacher, something along those lines. Now, maybe something that involves history, specifically Japan's. I'm still not sure."
"Well, you still have some time before you truly need to chose. But before that, we try to encurage our students to also partake in some after school curriculum, have you already decided on which one you've decided?" he chuckled once again, and Kagome couldn't help but smile lightly. It did help that Ouran did have all the perfect electives that tickled her interests, she was sure to look through them after the day ended.
"I'm afraid not. There were far more, clubs, than I had originally thought. I'm still going through the list as we speak. Would it be alright if I checked some out while contemplating which one I would like to join before coming to a conclusion?"
He blinked at her before looking forward and paused before a door, most likely her class. She watched as he raised a hand and rubbed at his chin, contemplating her request.
"I don't see why not, if it'll help you, then you may. But I do expect to hear which electives you are going to stick with at the end of the week. Agreed?"
"Agreed."
"Good! Well then, here's your class, I must get back to work. Good luck on your first day, and once again, welcome to Ouran." both bowed, and Kagome watched as the chairman walked back the way they came.
From the time she spent with him, and watching him now, she could tell he was a good man. He was a proud man, but he didn't seem to let his pride blind him. A truly caring person, and she didn't miss the wedding band on his finger, nor all the pictures of one boy growing up throughout said boys life in his office pass her by. A loving father, that seemed to be clouded by a certain sadness.
Turning, she could hear voices and some other ambiance coming from behind the door. Class must have started not to long ago. Raising a hand, her knuckles met against solid wood as she knocked. As was to be expected, all noise ceased, and she could only guess was the the teacher, making their way to the door.
A middle aged man, well dressed, but also typical for something a teacher would wear, opened the door. Said door blocked her view of the class and thus the class' view of her.
"Can I help you?"
"My name is Higurashi, Kagome. This is my first day, and this is the class I was assigned to." usually, new students would have to hand over some sort of slip of paper to confirm such a fact, but it seemed her teacher had already been informed.
"Yes, Higurashi-san. Please wait a moment so I may introduce you to the rest of the class." she tuned out the teacher's interruption of the students chatter, her mind going on how she didn't put two and two together about where Haruhi was attending high school. But like the chairman said, it was a blessing, and now she didn't have to wait till whenever she got some free time to get reacquainted with her old childhood friend.
When she spotted the teacher motioning her to enter, she took a deep breath and did all that she could to hold back the smile. She could already see the look on Haruhi's face. Keeping her eyes forward, she walked into the classroom, ignoring the soft whispering the started up upon her entrance. Lips twitched as she felt Haruhi's aura; shocked, confused, and excited all at once.
Facing the class, her eyes swept over all the faces of the students at their desks, a mix of girls in buttercup yellow dresses and boys in cornflower blue blazer jackets. Haruhi along with them, the boys uniform that is. Interesting, then again she did mention something about her needing to wear the boys uniform for a club. Either way, Kagome personally thought her friend looked adorable in it.
"Class, this is our newest student Higurashi Kagome. Higurahsi-san, please introduce yourself."
Bowing from the waist, Kagome began her introduction.
"My name is Higurashi, Kagome, but please call me Kagome. I have many interests, so please feel free to ask about them. Please take care of me." straightening back up, trying her best to look as nonchalant as possible.
"Very nice. Higurashi-san, you'll be sitting behind Fujioka-san. Fujioka-san, please raise your hand." said girl, still in a slight daze raised her and Kagome couldn't help but playfully smirk at her childhood friend as she made her way towards her new desk.
Hands in her pockets, she meandered down the aisle, her steps somewhat slower as Haruhi's hand dropped. She leaned down and quietly spoke to her friend, not exactly a whisper, but still loud enough that others could hear.
"Just like old times, eh Haruhi?"
After she uttered those words, a few things happened, though only one of them had her complete attention. The girls in the classroom either squealed or sighed, she was sure she heard one falling out of their chair. Two boys, from what she could see within her peripherals, stiffened and a slight twinge of alarm seeped into their auras. Interesting. But the whole time, Kagome kept her face on Haruhi.
"Yeah, it kinda is." her friend's face bloomed into a warm smile, that certain one that always made her smile just as brightly in return when she was a little girl. Instead, her smirk turned into a soft, small smile.
Kagome nodded her head and resumed to her desk, the few steps it required were quick. She removed her bag from over her shoulders as she moved to sit down, getting into a comfortable position and pulled out what was required of her for this class. Which she was happy to notice, was not math.
AN: Here's the latest chapter! And on another note, I GOT ME SOME FANART! I feel so happy, soooo~ sing-along and dance along gay sort of happy! Aaaaa~ thank you inluvskags1! I loves it soooo~ much! Just copy and paste the link provided! It's so cute!
On a, not so happy note, I learned my computer ate a back-logged chapter, and now I have to rewrite it. Based on memory alone, and make sure it runs smoothy with the chapter before it and the one after it. ~Shakes fist~ Curse you computer for your blunder.
http:/ inuluvskags1. deviantart .com/gallery/#/d5061p3
~Bunny.W.K