Update: I noticed this chapter didn't post properly as it didn't post my reply to Foxluna! I had uploaded it from my phone and just noticed that it didn't add that response. The rest looks okay so nothing is changed from this chapter.

Authors Note: Hey everyone! I am truly sorry I didn't get a chapter up last week. I was bedridden with a super bad cold! it was awful. I had zero energy and spent most of my time asleep. That being said, as an apology I added in some most excellent fluff into this chapter. Some unplanned fluff that wasn't supposed to be there but I felt like you guys deserved it after being so patient with me! Thanks for sticking with this story!Also I am still looking for some suggestions of male fighters (preferably ones who don't rely solely on magic) to compete in the tournament! I'm hoping to start the tournament chapters in the next chapter or two! Let me know who you would like to see fight in the tournament! Or even two character pit against each other that normally would not have been!

Reviewer Response:

Kagomeshipper: Thanks so much for your suggestions for the tournament! I am going to use all the ones you suggested and based on my research of those character so far, I think it will definitely make for some very interesting battles! I look forward to writing them and I hope I can do your favorite characters justice! And thank for your interest in my story! I definitely do have a lot of fun writing this!

Foxluna: Thanks so much for your excellent suggestions! I had planned to use some of the ones you suggested, but didn't even think of others! So thank you! Unfortunately I can't use any of the female suggestions since this tournament is supposed to be male only and Kagome is the exception for the story. But maybe I can do a fic in the future that is a tournament mash up of your favorite suggestions for your dream tournament using characters from different anime. Like a fantasy football roster (If i have any clue on how that works as I don't follow football. LOL) Hopefully you get what I mean. Thanks so much for sticking with my story!

Kagome stared with mild horror at the ridiculous costume in front of her. "You want me to what?" She hissed, her annoyance slipping past that careful Taisho mask that was getting harder and harder to control the more time she spent with these boys.

"We want you to be the Saloon girl that serves everyone!" Tamaki grinned, both hands held out towards the red atrocity of a dress that they had somehow procured for her. The thing was retina blinding scarlet with waves of black lace as the only coverage in a slit up to the thigh. But that wasn't even the worst part. Of course not. The host club never did anything in halves. The worst part was the extremely low cut red and lace corset, that served no further purpose than to BARELY cover anything sensitive. They even had lace up high heel leather boots, and the matching red and black fascinator hat with the mesh black veil and feathers. She refused to even look at the mesh tights on the mannequin. The mere thought of it made her shudder. The twins had matching devilish cat like grins, and she suspected that they were somehow behind this atrocity of a costume. she very briefly wondered how they managed to convince Tamaki that such a thing was a good idea. Hani then lifted up the mannequin that held the school girl Victorian costume meant for Haruhi, who had already rejected wearing such a girly frilly thing.

"I think this would look better on Kago-chan!" Kagome's eyes drifted to Mori, who was watching his cousin intently and then watched with inward alarm as Mori's eyes drifted back to the red satin dress in front of him. He couldn't look away from it. Her gaze turned wary on her romantic interest, who clearly seemed to like the skimpy costume. That was unexpected and she didn't know how she felt about it.

"Yeah, you should definitely wear this! It's a saloon girl costume," Was Tamaki even aware that he had just repeated himself? "And it would make it much more realistic if you served us like this since we are trying to go for an authentic old west experience!" He said proudly, complete with a ridiculous finger wiggle.

Her eyes drifted to Mori who now looked at the red dress and nodded his appreciation. "Hn." Oh Kami, he actually LIKED the thing.

"Hell no." She did not feel the need to mask any of her cold fury in the words and the room stilled instantly. The twins watched her in alarm, even Kyouya, the cold shadow king, had the sense of mind to take a step back, though he had been noticeably not a part of the entire attempt to try and persuade her to wear the dress. Likely aware already that she would never in a million years succumb to such an outrageous request. Tamaki visibly turned white and flinched back, stone still in his pose of shocked self-preservation, arms blocking her and a leg up. Her cold stare that promised death, was locked in on Tamaki.

"You just cursed at us..." He was feeling faint. Her evil stare was even more terrifying than Kyouya's was.

"And I will do so again. Gladly. There is no way in hell I am wearing that THING." She hissed through clenched teeth. "You don't make Renge wear such costumes and my position within this club is a behind the scenes sort like hers." Her hands were clenched so tightly together that they were white.

"Yeah, well she is an otaku, she dresses up in cosplay every day!" The twins retorted. Her glare swiftly turned on them and silenced them. The whole room felt like a frozen wasteland, and Haruhi briefly wondered if Kagome had met and taken lessons from Kasanoda-kun as being the walking blizzard.

"W-why won't you wear it?" Tamaki attempted to negotiate, and Kagome felt the attempt to be pitiful.

"Not ONLY does it represent the sexual oppression of women, who at the time did not even have the right to VOTE, which should tell you a lot about how they were treated back then; but an authentic western saloon catered to males and your club caters to females. Most females do not want a SCANTILY CLAD FEMALE TO SERVE THEM THEIR FOOD. These girls come here to fawn over you, not other females. If that WERE the case, they would attend that absurd Zuka club Haruhi told me about." She was seething, her whole body trembling in irritation.

"You know, you were the one to accept the position within the host club, and we do frequently dress up in costume. So if your position is required to wear a costume as well-" Kagome swiftly shut him up with a glare. A shocking feat in and of itself that had the whole club gawking at Kagome. She stalked forwards, and all but ripped the white lace and cotton apron with ruffled sleeves off the mannequin meant for Haruhi.

"I will wear this then. If you are so damn insistent that you would try to blackmail me into anything." Kyouya just sighed and shrugged, writing in his book. Leave it to a Taisho to find a loophole in the middle of a threat.

"But that was for Haru-" Tamaki scurried out of the way as Kagome took a threatening step towards him.

"Keep it up Suoh and you're a dead man." Her eyes narrowed, and the most minute of movements out of the corner of her eye made her angry blue eyes flick up towards Mori, who had taken a step forwards, for what purpose she did not know. Her glare hardened, and he visibly froze that such a look from her was directed his way. Her disapproval clear. Though whether it was towards his acceptance of the dress, or that he had stood behind the others to try to get her to wear such a thing, was not wholly clear to him. But either way, seeing her so upset and it being directed at him left him reeling and feeling like his whole world was shifting. He stumbled and tried to brace himself on the closest object, which was the mannequin with the source of her ire. It toppled to the ground and he went with it. Clearly shaken.

"Mori-senpai! Get a hold of yourself!" The twins tried to encourage him. Hani just patted him on the head in understanding reassurance.

She let out a long suffering sigh, closing her eyes and then turned swiftly and hid in the prep kitchen. She didn't slam the door, but the heart stopping silence in the room made the soft click of the door echo in the room louder than any slammed door, and resulted in the group all flinching.

"I think you're lucky she didn't kill you all." Haruhi deadpanned. "Honestly she isn't required to dress up so why are you trying to make her?" She looked over at Kyouya who merely pushed up his glasses his expression blank.

"She isn't as behind the scenes as Renge is.." Kyouya started.

"Yeah and she dresses up to her own fancy all the time anyways!" The twins protested again.

Haruhi glanced between them and then over at the costume on the floor. "Didn't it ever occur to you that there is a reason she is only allowed to be a part of the club in the way that she is?"

"What do you mean Kago-chan?" Hani asked her, Mori didn't lift his head but his eyes slide over to them.

"She is supposed to become engaged to whoever wins that tournament right? She can't go around wearing stuff that makes her look like a hooker. I don't know much about how these things work in your world but she made it pretty clear that either her father would force her to quit the club or the press would catch a hold of it and it would cause a problem for her father right?"

"She has a point Tamaki." Kyouya sighed, crossing his arms and looking at his dimwitted best friend. "It would put her in a bad position either way."

Tamaki just sighed and dropped his head until he heard the twins snicker. The reaction was immediate as he yelled at them incoherently and chased the devilish twins across the room.

Haruhi knelt on the floor next to Mori who looked up. "You should go talk to her. I get the impression she wasn't actually mad at you." She smiled and tilted her head and then he nodded and stood.

Kagome dropped the apron onto the counter, then slowly and purposefully placed her open, trembling palms on the flat cool surface of the counter. Leaning over it with her head bowed, she closed her eyes and silently counted in her head to calm her raging nerves. The real reason she had been so angry, was not truly because of the dress. It had been risqué and frankly a little insulting that the group of boys would even attempt to get her to dress so immodestly for the sake of a role that would honestly only be appreciated by them, and even then not all of them. She was frustrated because of the conversation that she had with Sesshoumaru the night before. She had confessed to having a moment alone with Mori, but only to tell him the rules she was now placed under. Sesshoumaru's expression had been a very careful mask of voided emotion. It had unnerved her and he had expressly told her to not let herself find herself alone with him again. And as he had left her to sit in his office, he had imparted one final rule.

"Kagome. You are not to tell him of your involvement into the tournament. And if you are to face him..." He had turned and his golden eyes penetrated straight into her heart. "You are to show no restraint."

His words had left a heavy weight on her. Her mind had been confused and she knew, she just KNEW, based on the look he had given her that she now found herself in a test under Sesshoumaru's meticulous observation. If she failed, even slightly, she couldn't fathom what he would do. She owed him everything, and the thought of disappointing him created a sorrow so deep within her that she knew she would have to once more bear the weight of the Taisho mask. She wasn't completely sure when it had slipped, but as soon as she walked in to see that atrocious dress she had felt the mask snap back into place almost painfully.

She heard the door close with a quiet click, and looked up to see Mori standing there, and dare she say he looked very reticent, most likely guarded from how angry she had seemed to be at him only moments before. Standing straight she grabbed the apron and scooped her arms into it, turning away towards the refrigerator at the same time.

"I'm sorry Takashi... I wasn't really angry at any of you... I shouldn't have let my anger get the best of me." Because she was turned away from him she didn't see his shoulders visibly relax as he let out a soft breath.

"It's fine Kagome." His voice was so close, and she whirled around, her back pressing into the refrigerator as Mori was only a foot away. Out of reflex she held a fist out and gently pressed it into Mori's torso, stopping his approach. She looked up at him, a blush staining her cheeks.

"I'm sorry Takashi... but I have rules I have to follow... You can't be here right now..." His grey eyes were warm as he stared down at her. One large hand coming up to hold her fist, which was trembling. His other hand lifted and fingers brushed across her cheek.

"Thank you." He murmured a gentle smile on his face. She looked up at him with wide eyes and then scowled at his shirt as her gaze dropped away from his.

"Thanks? For what? Being a cold hearted jerk?" She muttered bitterly. Mori's eyebrows drew together in concern.

"You are not like that, Kagome." She frowned in response as she looked up at him.

"You barely know me Takashi... how could you possibly know what I'm like?" Mori lifted a hand and braced his forearm on the refrigerator and pressed in close, his other hand in his pocket, but his presence alone was nearly suffocating and she couldn't breathe, nor could she pull her eyes away from his.

"You are the kind older sister who dotes on your younger siblings, and the same person who would do anything to protect them. You are selfless, which is why you are finding being a Taisho so difficult. Your anger and cold behavior is what the Taisho name expects you to be. You can be both. I know you will find a way to do so." Her blue eyes were wide, reflecting the lights of the room in them as she stared at him with a well of emotions swirling around in those stormy blue eyes so quickly that he couldn't identify a single feeling as they flickered through her so fast. It was entrancing.

Without even realizing what he was doing he lowered his head, and a spark of surprise and alarm flickered through her eyes that he couldn't look away from. She tried to pull away only to be stopped by the fridge at her back.

"Takashi, you can't-!" Her words were muffled as his hand pressed up gently covering her mouth. She watched with wide eyes as he pressed his lips against the back of his own fingers that were pressed against her soft lips. A secondary kiss, the only barrier being his own hand, and they both felt when she sucked in a breath in surprise. They couldn't look away from each other, dark grey staring into sapphire jewels.

All she could hear was her heart pounding in her chest and she prayed he couldn't hear it. After a tense silence he pulled away and let his fingers graze over her soft lips, sending electrifying sparks through the touch, forcing a shiver to run down her spine. Her hands both came up to cover her mouth as she blushed heavily. He offered her a warm smile, before patting her head and then pulling away. She let out a shaky breath that she had been holding since he had closed in on her.

"Takashi, if... if things continue on like this between us... I probably won't be able to keep being a part of the club..." She said sorrowfully. Mori's gaze was unreadable, a single hand returning to his pocket.

"When it is for the right reasons... sometimes the rules are worth bending." He told her sagely. "But I will stop if you ask me to."

Her body was rigid with the tension between them. If she asked him to stop, she knew that he would give up whatever it was between them. It would be the verbal confirmation that she was giving up on him and he should give up on her too. But if she didn't do that, then she would be breaking the rules by working around them as Mori had just shown her. A kiss between them without being a real kiss. But Sesshoumaru demanded obedience from her. She knew she was in a precarious position because of these rules and the whole situation.

As her silence stretched, and he watched the ever growing conflict grow in her face. He stepped towards her and cupping her chin he looked at her with serious eyes.

"You asked me to fight for you." He murmured, she nodded in understanding and he smiled. "Then it is only fair for me to ask you to do the same."

Her eyes widened as she let out a shaking breath. "I will." She couldn't have stopped the words from tumbling out of her mouth, even if she had wanted to. He smiled and released her, stepping out of the room and letting the door softly click closed behind him.

"What have I gotten myself into?" She exhaled with a shaking voice, lifting a hand to her face as she let her head drop almost in defeat. Mori had either given her the key to victory of the championship or the key to the demise of her heart if she were to lose. She felt like a waterfall. Water slipping past safety and falling, tumbling through the pull of gravity as the water crashed against rocky surfaces, never falling in a straight line and all white misty energy from the momentum and force as gravity pulled it away from the safety above. She only hoped that once she reached the bottom, there would be something worthwhile to catch her in a serene blissful calm at the end. That she would be part of something peaceful and bigger at the end of the fall.

When the limo pulled up in front of the Morinozuka residence after school Hani frowned at the unfamiliar limo already in the driveway. Mori's younger brother Satoshi was standing by the door.

"Hey Takashi. Father wants you to head to the meeting room right aaway father is in there with uncle already. There is a guy here to meet with you." His brother nodded his own spikey black haired head.

"A guy?" Mitsukuni tilted his head in confusion.

"Yeah. I think his last name was... Taisho? Long silver hair. Gold eyes. He was both scary and cool looking!" Satoshi looked up when Mori stopped in alarm at hearing who the guest was. "What did you slight his daughter or something?" Satoshi smirked in good humor. His grin falling when he saw the intense expression on his brothers face. Takashi and Mitsukuni shared a look before Takashi strode past him without a word.

When he entered the room mori's father, Akria Morinozuka, was sitting at a low table sipping green tea across from Sesshoumaru, and his uncle, Yorihisa Haninozuka, was sitting to Akira's right. Their game of shogun interrupted and moved to the side. Mori kept his gaze neutral as he entered the room and sat on the cushion left for him beside his father.

"Ah. Takashi. Taisho-san here has something he wishes to discuss with us." Akira informed his son who merely nodded, an idea of what it might be regarding already forming in his mind.

"Would you like privacy?" Yorihisa asked them, taking a sip of his tea.

"No, you may stay. I believe what I have to discuss should be brought to your attention as well." Sesshoumaru's golden gaze slid from uncle to father to son. Yorihisa nodded and waited in silence.

"I must admit that I was quite surprised at your wanting to meet. And with the Morinozuka's and not initially with the Haninozuka's. Their side of the family is more reknown for their martial arts prowess." Akira admitted, watching the infamously cold and cut throat business man and martial artist.

"I have come in regards to my adopted daughter, Kagome." Sesshoumaru's gaze gave nothing away, though his golden eyes flickered to Takashi briefly.

"Ah, yes, I read about her. The upcoming tournament you are hosting is to be held in her honour isn't it?" Yorihisa took a sip of tea.

"Yes. It is a tradition for the members of the Taisho clan to prove their worth at these annual competitions. I have been entering on behalf of the family until this year. In the case the heir is a female, the competition is a proof of strength and the daughter will become betrothed to the winner."

"I had heard the rumors, but forgive me for saying so our families have never, historically joined those competitions. We have simply had other priorities." Akira responded respectfully.

Sesshoumaru hesitated then offered a dip of his head. "Yes, however this year I have been informed that will change." He intoned his eyes sliding over to Takashi, who sat a little straighter, hands curled into fists on his knees.

"Takashi?" His father asked in surprise. Yorihisa's eyebrows raised in surprise at his nephew.

Takashi met his father's gaze. "Yes." He replied, answering his father's implied question.

"My, this IS a surprise. I would never have expected... Takashi, does Mitsukuni know about this?" Yorihisa asked his nephew.

"Yes." Takashi dipped his head respectfully to his uncle. His uncle frowned,this is the first he had heard of this. And not only that it was the first time that a Morinozuka had ever entered such a competition, at such a young age, without the Haninozuka companion to compete with. Akira and Yorihisa shared a knowing look.

"I am here, "Sesshoumaru spoke slowly, drawing the attention of the three males back to him, "to inquire as to what your intentions are towards my daughter?" Sesshoumaru's penetrating golden stare was now trained on Takashi. Takashi met the gaze with unwavering grey eyes.

"You asked me to protect her, Taishi-sama, and I intend to. She is frightened of Imagawa, and I never break a promise. Not only that, she asked me herself if I would fight for her in the competition." Takashi replied honestly and bluntly. His father, who had been taking a sip on his tea sputtered and choked on it briefly. He set the cup down and clearing his throat he looked over at his eldest son.

"She asked you herself to fight for her hand in the competition?" He asked in awe. Takashi dipped his head in confirmation. His father sighed. Again this was the first he had heard of such a thing.

"You are aware, Morinozuka Takashi, that to fight for her hand would mean that you are fighting for the right to marry her in the future." Sesshoumaru's gaze would have made any liar break in an interrogation, but still Takashi held his gaze steady.

"Yes."

"What are your feelings towards her?" Came the immediate reply.

"I love Kagome. And to fight for her hand would be a great honour." Takashi clenched his fists tighter. Both his father and his uncle gaped at him. They had never heard so much emotion and speech come from Takashi before. And the blunt declaration of his feelings for this girl they had never met, was somewhat of a shock.

"Are you aware of Kagomes feelings for you?" Sesshoumaru blinked, breaking the spell of intense study between them.

"Yes." He replied simply. Here it would do neither of them any favors to go into specifics. Thankfully most of these questions had been yes or no answers.

"She has not expressed them to me implicitly but I am well aware that she returns your feelings. However..." His gaze was sharp now, protective. "She is not allowed to act on those feelings until such a time that you would be proclaimed the viktor. I am not pleased with Naraku Imagawa's involvement in the competition. Unfortunately I cannot do anything to prevent him from joining. I have however, come up with a possible solution. Kagome will be entering this tournament as well."

"What? Is this tournament not meant to be only a males centered competition?" Akira asked in concern. Concern for this young female he had never met.

"It is. However the tradition is that in the event of the heir being adopted they can compete To prove their worth as the Taisho heir. Kagome was adopted and the rules of the competition have never specified what gender the adopted child would be." Sesshoumaru finished his tea and set it down.

"Ahh... There is the infamous quick Taisho thinking." Yorihisa chuckled, drawing his cup to his lips. He glanced at his nephew in a new appraising way. This was most unexpected. He stroked his greying blonde beard as he though about his nephew.

"Forgive me for saying so, but you seem to be going out of your way to prevent the Imagawa heir from winning your daughter's hand. May I ask why? Does it have something to do with her feelings being with my son?" Akira asked him, hand on his chin, covering his neatly trimmed black and silver goatee.

"No it does not. It stems from the Imagawa's being a historically dishonorable clan. Naraku Imagawa is a dangerous young man, and though we do not have proof YET, we believe that he is somehow involved in the death of her family."

Takashi's eyes widened as a cold chill froze him in place. The atmosphere surrounding them was tense.

"What? Taisho-san.. that is a pretty serious allegation." Yorihisa murmured, his own features hardened in a glare towards the young man not present.

"It is. I have a private investigator working with the police force to dig up any and all clues. All we know is what Kagome has told myself and her foster mother. Naraku was stalking her for months before the death of her family. And he finally made a direct approach to her the day before, which she flatly refused. The next day she was the sole survivor in impossible odds. We have long since suspected him either directly or indirectly. And we do know he will go to extreme lengths to have her complete focus. I cannot go against the tournament traditions and promises. However by having her compete I promised her the choice to choose her suitor out of the second and third place finalists."

"To have a female compete against all males... I'm not being sexist when I say typically males are stronger than females. Do you believe she has a chance to win the tournament?" Akira asked the normally aloof martial artist and business shark across the table.

"Given the proper incentive and motivation I would say she has a chance. She knows her weaknesses and strengths compared to those of males. My purpose for having her compete is not to see whether or not she wins. She is at a disadvantage given she has only been training in our martial arts for less than a year. My purpose is for her to compete by giving it her all and to fight with her heart." Sesshoumaru admitted.

"I see." Akira had frowned at the thought of the girl having so little instruction and being pit against those who had been training their whole lives. It was not a promising thought, no matter how skilled or gifted she might be.

"To that end. I have given Kagome the instruction to not inform you of her entering the tournament." Sesshoumaru addressed Takashi. The younger male frowned in confusion. "She is currently being put through a test, of sorts, in relation to the tournament. She is not to tell you of her involvement and she knows there is a very high possibility that she will have to face you in the tournament. It is imperative that you do not tell her you know she is competing, and I would ask of you the same thing I asked of her. When you both face each other in the competition, you will show no restraint. Regardless of your feelings for each other."

Akiras eyebrows shot up as he looked over at his son who nodded and then bowed to the floor.

"I will honour your wishes." Takashi promised him, his gaze trained onto the tatami may floor.

"Thank you." Sesshoumaru nodded at Takashi as he sat up. And Sesshoumaru was impressed with the steely resolve he could see in the boys eyes that reflected his desire to protect Kagome.

"I wonder, Taisho-san, if it would be alright with you, if I invited your daughter to spend an afternoon and a meal with us? I realize you likely will not want her to show favoritism towards any of the competitors, but hearing everything like this, for the first time, I would be very interested in meeting your daughter. It is no secret that it is in the Morinozuka blood to obey the wishes of the Haninozuka's. It is... Unusual, to say the least, for a Morinozuka to go to such lengths away from the Haninozuka's. Usually the marriages in our family are arranged, a part of our desire to continuously serve and put the Haninozuka's first. I have never seen such a dedication in a Morinozuka member towards anyone outside of either family." Akira held the golden ethereal gaze of Sesshoumaru Taisho.

"If the request is from you, I will allow it." He conceded. "If there is nothing else I must be getting home to see to my younger children's training."

"Of course. I will see you to the door. I hope that no matter the outcome of the tournament, that our families can become friends, at the very least." Akira bowed his head to the other man, Yorihisa and Takashi following suit.

"Hn." Was the noncommittal response and it didn't dissuade Akira in the slightest.

They all stood and Akira showed his guest out.

Takashi couldn't help but shake his head to try and think clearly. The news of Naraku's involvement in Kagomes life, and the worse speculation of his actions, was truly shocking and horrifying. If such a thing were true he could see exactly why Kagome felt as broken as she did.

On the other hand, he couldn't help but feel that sesshoumaru Taisho was rooting for him to be the winner. And that felt as good as acceptance in his eyes.

Steeling his resolve even further he vowed he would protect Kagome from the vile Naraku, and he would earn the honour of winning her hand.

He would not hold back. He would help Kagome prove her worthiness to be heir to her father's legacy.

Authors Note:

So my inspiration from Mori liking the dress came from when I rewatched the anime and he actually NODDED at the swimsuit that was just straps when the twins forced her to pick a swimsuit at Kyouya's water park. So he is the strong silent type, but he is a boy after all. LOL I died of laughter when I noticed! And of course I couldn't NOT include that somehow in this story. Ever the gentleman (who may not always know how to deal with situations) but he likes stuff like that apparently. LOL.