Chapter Twenty-Three: Preparation

"A gentleman doesn't pounce he glides. If a woman sits on a piece of furniture which permits your sitting beside her, you are free to regard this as an invitation, though not an unequivocal one."

-Quentin Crisp

Kagome was shaking lightly, despite her earlier hopes of being alone she was relieved when arms wrapped around her from behind. She recognized the slight scent of Ishida, anymore she was learning the scents of cologne and aftershave of many more men than she ever expected to. Still, the comfort was coming when she most needed it, and he didn't push, just held her as she sobbed for a while and then offered her a box of Kleenex so she could clean up her face.

It was a while and nearly the entire box of Kleenex before she managed to fall asleep, happy to have arms to nod off in. It wasn't until she woke that she realized that it might not have been the wisest course to accept the comfort regardless of how much she wanted it.

It wasn't until the next morning as she started to stir that the warmth beneath her sent off small alarm bells. In her half-awake state she blinked at the still slumbering face of Ishida and smiled a little tiredly. He was cute with his face at rest as opposed to in the scowl he so often wore out and about other people. His hair was interesting as well, the dark blue locks scattered about his face, she reached up to push them out of his face, smiling at how soft they were, she'd always assumed his hair would be stiff given that he often slicked it back.

Of course she very close to him when his eyes opened and she found herself staring into the azure eyes of her tutor. She bit her lip, she knew it wasn't the best idea to linger, yet she found herself drawn to him despite her knowledge it was a better idea to draw away. Ishida smiled after a moment of surprise, reaching up to push some of her own hair back behind an ear in a mirror of her first impulse, though his hand lingered on her cheek before pulling her down into a light kiss.

Unlike so many of her embraces lately there was a gentle pull as opposed to the fiery insistence. Without being energized she found an unexpected sanctuary in his fragile caress that left her breathless when they withdrew, her eyes closed and her head leaning against his chin lightly, she felt his body tremble beneath her then the room spun and he was above her, his hair a half cerulean curtain around their faces as he lingered only a moment before pressing his lips into hers again.

Whatever hesitation that had been there was replaced with the passionate insistence she had grown more accustomed to. Kagome's guard had been lowered by the delicate approach and now that the bashful moment had transformed into an assertive demand. She was so dizzy by the forceful embrace that she didn't notice his free hand (the one not pinning her wrists above her) was trailing along her body until it cupped her breast.

"Ishida…" Her whisper was more heated than Kagome meant it to be, her attempt for a protest sounding more beseeching. The only reply she earned was a vague growl mixed with a moan from her sapphire eyed seducer. When she tried to move his fingers had curled tighter around her wrists, keeping her pressed against the mattress firmly as he broke the kiss and took his lips down to where he'd exposed her breast.

Somewhere in the foggy lustful exchange he'd deftly unbuttoned the shirt she'd borrowed from him. His free hand was pressing between her legs, teasing her womanhood through the smooth fabric of her borrowed pajama bottoms. Kagome gasped and muttered an incoherent half objection as she shivered; there was little else to focus on but Ishida's fingers and tongue being held down as she was.

He dropped her wrists to reach down and pull her pants free of her, lifting her legs slightly, his eyes like blue fire as he stared at her from between her legs. Though the pressure in her abdomen was flared, she found herself dropped as there was a harsh knock on a door further along the hall.

"Master Uryuu, if you don't get up soon you'll be late for school."

Kagome wanted to tell him not to stop but he'd already dropped her legs and was fleeing from the door was she was trying to catch her breath to say anything to him all. The ride to school was awkward, Ishida was quiet and didn't look at Kagome, and Kagome wasn't sure what to say, it wasn't as if she'd stopped him. His life was being as controlled by the spell as her own, she wasn't sure what she could say to make him feel any better so she just remained quiet after reassuring him earlier that she didn't blame him.

Later at the high school…

She was glad to get off at her stop, though her life was just as complex, her body was more frustrated even than before, her heart was a jumble of emotions, and her head was trying to puzzle out how to deal with all of the above. The day went by in a blur as she failed to get any further into knowing what to do with all the boys after her.

It was after a meeting in the auditorium for a seminar on not drinking or doing drugs that Professor Curtiss came out onto the stage to make a separate announcement.

"In regards to the winter formal…" Those starting words got a whisper of interest across the crowd whose eyes were mostly glazed until then. "The school is short on funding, calm down, calm down. We will still be able to have it if some of the students in the school would be willing to auction themselves off to other students. If we make enough money for the fundraiser then we'll be able to still hold the formal. People who successfully win the bid will get a dance with the young man or young woman they purchased during the event regardless of who they attend with. Each person may only buy a single dance, and any volunteer will only have seven slots open, the cost hasn't been decided yet but should be announced by the weekend. If you wish to volunteer, please come to my classroom and sign up after school. From there we will start selling tickets for your dances next week."

There was an eruption of whispers around the auditorium when Professor Curtiss stepped back to speak with one of the other teachers, a lot of people seemed interested in the idea. Particularly the very popular kids, it seemed just what they would be interested in. Other students were mostly indifferent; a rare few had the teenage rage against the machine attitude going. Overall it seemed to mostly interest people though. Kagome didn't think much about it, and certainly never considered volunteering until Lezard commented.

"You'll make the full amount easily." He leaned over to whisper to her. "If they make the tickets high enough you could fund the whole dance."

Kagome felt herself flush and she shook her head. "I don't know. I don't know if I'll go."

"And disappoint all your fans?" Lezard perked a brow at her curiously. "You should go I'd be glad to be your escort for the rest of the evening when you aren't helping the other boys with charity."

"If I go it'll be alone." Kagome said immediately. She could just see how much people would start fighting if she decided to go with a specific of her many suitors. No, she was wise enough to immediately know that was trouble. "I guess I could volunteer though, I don't think I'd sell all seven tickets but at least I could help and still get to go out."

"Now now, there are more details." Professor Curtiss stepped back up after a moment for the kids to discuss among themselves while he whispered with a frustrated seeming Ghaleon on the stage. The pale elf like Professor annoyed that Curtiss had changed the plan without telling him. "The theme for the winter formal will be a masquerade. Those that volunteer need to tell us what they'll be wearing ahead of time. People that have dances with the volunteers will have tokens to give them, to add to the sense of mystery."

There was more of a buzz that followed that part of the announcement. They wouldn't have long to make or buy costumes but people seemed really excited by the idea. Kagome sighed to herself; she wasn't even sure what she would do. Perhaps she shouldn't go at all. It would keep things from being worse, but then she supposed the spell would be taking even more control of her life. Was she going to become a hermit? She couldn't just avoid social situations completely.

After the event she did sign up after school to sell off dances, though she doubted all seven would sell like Lezard predicted. Ghaleon couldn't buy one being a professor, Sephiroth wasn't in school either as far as she knew so he couldn't. Lezard, Albel, and Kaiba could…Ishida might be able to as well. Other students had significant others at the high school so she assumed they would be allowed. Hojo might, though she hadn't talked to him more than in passing between classes in a week. Even if they all did, that left two tickets she doubted would sell unless they lifted the limit of one dance per student. The popular kids were more likely to sell out than she was.

She thankfully didn't come across Ishida on the ride home, likely he was embarrassed as she was and she couldn't blame him. It wasn't his fault, or hers, but that was hard to take into account on either side. It was difficult to believe there was some spell behind her actions, she felt like a slut even if she hadn't gone all the way with any of the various men after her it wasn't because she hadn't considered it a few times now.

Kagome sighed, heading into the house, she had to make dinner tonight as mom would be home late and Grandpa in the kitchen was a disaster. She'd have to worry about the dance later.

Later…

Kagome was blinking curiously, it was after dinner, and there had been an unexpected knock on the door. Ishida had come to visit; he brought her a gift and said it was to make up for the incident that morning. She hadn't been able to say she didn't hold it against him, or that she actually thought it was more her fault. He'd opened the bag he'd brought with him to reveal a lovely white gown with folded wings along the back and a small halo hanging from it as well. There was even a box shoes that looked as though they were made of crystal. It was a angel costume.

"I heard you were going to your school dance from the committee members at my school and I wanted to make you something so you wouldn't have to worry about an outfit." Ishida said, though he wasn't looking right at her, he was pushing his glasses up and had a small blush on his pale cheeks.

"Ishida…it's lovely…" Kagome managed after staring at the dress for a while. It looked very expensive, the fabrics were obviously of a high quality, and while there was more glitter than she might have picked for a costume of her own it gave the whole thing a shimmer that accented an angelic theme well. "…You made this?"

He'd mentioned that he could sew but this wasn't quite what she was expecting.

"I hope it fits well, I didn't have exact measurements but in general I'm good at guessing just by looking over the person I'm making something for. If it isn't right I can make adjustments before the dance." Ishida replied. "But I shouldn't stay; I still have home work I need to work on."

"Ishida…thank you." Kagome smiled at him, giving him a hug. It was such a kind hearted gesture. "I love it, I'm sure it'll fit fine. If it doesn't I'll let you know when we you come over to tutor me during the weekend. Thanks so much, I don't know how I'll be able to do something so nice for you."

"Don't worry about it." Ishida shrugged lightly, at least trying to remain cool about the whole thing. "I'll see you later Kagome. Good night."

He was out the door shortly thereafter and the girl had to shake her head, she didn't know what to do about her various suitors. Should she be worried about more gifts? She shouldn't mention the kindness from Ishida to anyone else, particularly as he didn't seem quite as strong as some of her other 'suitors'. She wasn't sure what else to call them, and suitor was nicer than 'bewitched men'.

She picked up the pieces he'd given her for the costume and carried them up to her room to try them on. At least that was one less thing she needed to worry about getting, the costume had come to her.

The Next Day

She was glad that she already had been given a costume by Ishida, even though he must sew like an Olympian to have finished it all in a few hours. Apparently he wasn't the only one that had ideas as to what she should wear, several other people offered to help her pick out a costume or buy one for her and she was able to tell them she already had something else that was hanging in her closet she planned to use. It wasn't a lie, just not the complete truth.

Her life was becoming a range of needed dishonesty because of fear that this curse she was under would suddenly explode. It certainly felt like it was turning into a powder keg, she feared that this dance might turn into something dangerous but it was too late to back out now.

Thankfully she managed to get through another week and a half without any intimate encounters with her various suitors. She did hear early the next week that her tickets had already sold out, she could guess most of the dances she would have, but the last couple she wasn't certain of. Perhaps she had even more secret admirers in the school, or others under the spell – she didn't want more people interested in her. She had more than enough of them now and she didn't know what to do with those.

The dance was in a few hours, she was getting ready and nervous as to what would happen. It was the last event before the rest of the winter break. She'd finished her finals for the semester that day. She wouldn't learn what she was graded until she got back after the New Year but she actually felt pretty good about her tests. She'd spent a lot of her time away from the others studying. She still wasn't sure what to feel about everything, but for now she had to get herself ready so she'd get there on time.

End Chapter

The winter formal is next chapter. Most of the guys will be dressed up for the occasion. Should be fun! Though I am going to be busy for a while as my hubby gets home from deployment in a couple hours! Yay! So folks are aware. The count stands at: Ghaleon – 7, Lezard – 1. It's looking like it'll be Ghaelon that sticks around. Poor Lezard gets no love.

-Aura

To my reviewers:

Anon – LOL, glad you noticed that. Yes, Curtiss will come up with a scene of his own one of these chapters. More bleach characters should come in sometime; I have a tendency of getting easily distracted by others. Thanks for the review!

Winter's Hime – Thanks, and sorry that you seem to be outvoted with Lezard. Though he still has some time left!

Lady Gina GotW – LOL, Lezard gets so much hate.

Tohru78 – Thanks, I'm glad you enjoy the story. I'd feel sorry for Kagome but she has a harem of guys I fan over so that makes it hard to pity her.

Mimiru – Always, it might take me a while but I enjoy this story too much to ditch it.

Jesswolf22 – Thanks!

Black Firelight – Albel is awesome. And Lezard is sort of a creepy dude, I still like him regardless of his strange obsession.

Greyfire – I'm glad that you are enjoying it. And there will be more larger plot twists to come, after the defeat of Naraku I figured Kagome deserved some time without a huge villain to further complicate her life.

Kuroneko388 – Your picture is such a cute kitty. The host club as well as Hakuouki will be gaining some representation in my story soon.

The-Lone-Star's-Southern-Belle – I enjoy the observation about too much violence. It's pretty amusing. I have your vote counted though.

Sin of the Fallen – They are, I like all the guys in my fic though. I figure as I'll be adding more soon at least one has to go.

Kakashixangela – Both? Ishida made her a costume! I do enjoy the counterpoint chapters, they're a lot of fun to write. They'll be even more so once more guys are put in the mix.