A/N: Wahoo! Anyone lately addicted to any cartoons? *has gotten hooked on Xmen Evolution* Also, a shamisen is basically what they play in Memoirs of a Geisha -like a little guitar-, I happily had the opportunity to hear one played a few months back.

Disclaimer: I obviously don't own Ouran or Inuyasha.

She'd only been at the school for a few hours observing and already Kagome was learning what poor Haruhi went through day in and day out five times a week at school as she stood alongside Kyoya watching the events within the Host Club. The visiting girls who visited were as eccentric as the males who hosted the club. And Haruhi had to keep her gender a secret from everyone masquerading as a boy. It seemed incredibly unfair, though Haruhi played the part well as any Viola amass a group of men could. Why couldn't she have just told the truth and asked the principal to let her dress as a boy though? Surely she could've won the hearts o the guys at the school, but of course everyone within this school was bonkers and out of their minds if they even had them.

Kagome's eyes trailed away from where Haruhi was making instant coffee for Tamaki… for the fourth time that day. It appeared the king of the club had a caffeine addiction. And then Kagome saw it! Sitting in a corner behind the piano of the once used music room. Her fingers itched to run over the simple strings. It was something he'd taught her in the past when they'd had what seemed all the time in the world. If she listened real closely she could hear the faint music, a ghost of her past that was so inviting. She could even see the ghosts of her past walking in the room, dancing sweetly and not so promiscuously as people did today. No head banging music, she could even hear his voice asking for her to take her rightful place at the instrument in question. She could feel Kirara ghosting across her ankles and purring.

Like a woman in a trance Kagome got up and was driven by an instant need, a need to touch something so familiar to her that she'd spent countless hours playing. Would this school really have a shamisen? It was so much more complicated than a regular guitar, fewer strings to play by to inspire music with. "What's up Kagome?" Hikaru asked as she strode right past the twins towards the instrument, sat down at the piano bench, and lifted the beautiful wood into her lap. A few testing plucks stirred up images of the geishas in the Feudal Era who had strummed at this instrument enticing such music to anyone who'd listen. She remembered the longing looks she'd sent the instruments until he'd quietly mentioned if she wished to learn to play he'd teach her. Kagome briefly tightened the instrument's chords with her tuned ears that listened to see if the strings were taught enough. Unlike other instruments the shamisen was tuned to the person. To Kyoya it looked like she was fiddling around with it.

Kyoya had trailed after Kagome, but then again he didn't want another commoner breaking something overly expensive and so far she had a track record of damaging his pride as well as his person. It was only a matter of time before she damaged his wallet. "Ah, I see you like the shamisen. It's as rare as it's expensive." She rolled her eyes at the man of greed. "This room originally used to be a music room before we took it over," said Kyoya as Kagome positioned it. Her fingers plucked a string or two. He thought it mere interest in the instrument when she was really checking to see if it were perfectly tuned now. "It's deftly expensive-" That seemed to be his favorite word. Why couldn't his droning shut up for a moment? "-for its age, but sadly we haven't a single student here who knows how to play-" And Kagome shut him up by drowning him out.

Pouring from her fingers swam a beautiful melody of music that you would associate with chivalry and warriors. The girls within the room leaned in on their chairs, walked over, and some even sat near on the floor to be near Kagome as she played. Kagome's eyes were closed in bliss and a soft smile played about her lips as she remembered whom she'd played this very song for. She imagined her former family.

To everyone she looked very cozy, situated playing for them on the piano bench. Kagome was so lost in her own world that she attracted others for how ethereal she appeared. Kyoya took in the number of girls that had begun to float in from outside of the halls, even a few guys hung around outside. Nekozawa was actually drawn out of his dark room to peer out like a beast tamed by music. People were flocking in like butterflies to a flower. His lips twitched as he wrote this down and did an estimate for how many people they might attract to the Host Club just if they added her. He'd never thought to add a female host, one that was out and the open about her gender. Now the idea could prove to be interesting. It would be a good idea to expand to the males in the school, but they'd have to run a test and she could very well be there test trial.

The music swelled and dipped gracefully as Kagome thought of those haunting eyes that would stare at her while she played. He'd always did it on purpose just to try and scare her into nerves. It amused him greatly no matter how he hid it when she would slip up just because she'd catch a wink from him. She could almost feel his gentle and nimble fingers that subtly caressed her own as he taught her how to pluck the strings. Hands so soft, but firm and knowing exactly what they were doing as they led her fingers to the right positions. The heat from his body as he sat near her and every so often the faint whiff of him when he leaned in to instruct her. His smell was so comforting of candles, ink, and herbs. She could see him so clearly leaning in, his lips precariously close to her face as if tempting her into the first move. It was funny because she had initially made the first move, something that a man of his stature hadn't been used to. She could practically taste his soft lips… Their courtship had blossomed with the help of this very instrument.

Once she'd finished, thunderous applause yanked Kagome out of the memory she'd been reliving. A frown marred her face for a brief moment wishing she could go back in time rather than revive a memory.

People clapped, compliments were given, and some asked where she'd learned to play it but since she couldn't answer they threw out questions. It became a quick game on who could guess the answer with Kagome and the girls. People were actually getting excited by the game.

"Did you learn how to play from your father?" She silently shook her head no.

Haruhi came to lean over her couch to pop in, "Kagome lost her father when she was young." Kagome nodded as Haruhi out and squeezed her shoulder as if to say 'just bear with these rich bastards.' That was another thing that Haruhi and Kagome had bonded over when they were younger. As Haruhi idolized Kagome she'd realized that they'd both lost their parents. But Kagome had more responsibilities than Haruhi had, which had made Kagome a superhero in Haruhi's eyes.

Another guess was thrown out. "Your mom." Again a simple shake of the head. Kagome was actually having fun with this game. It was the first time she'd been part of a group in a while where people were actually being nice to her when they asked questions. These girls were keenly interested in her.

"A boyfriend." Kagome's face lit up pink and she ducked her head as a chorus of 'oo's' went around. Girls were eagerly leaning in waiting to 'guess' more about the situation.

"Are you still together?" She shook her head, her features getting a tad bit sadder with the questions that were now being brought up. She chewed on her bottom lip. "What happened? Did he break up with you?" She shook her head, took a deep shuddering breath before taking a quick significant glance upwards. "He died?" She nodded her head and tapped on the chain that ended under her shirt to hide from the world her greatest treasure. It wasn't a locket, no, not such a trifling item. It was something of greater value that the world couldn't see. "He gave you that. What's at the end of it?" Kagome shook her head and placed both hands over the area, her face was flushed now. "Oh! A secret," Renge squealed. Not that Kagome noticed, but many of the Host Club members were eagerly listening in to the guessing game. They wanted to know about Kagome's life too. For one who was so quiet she was a complete mystery to the boisterous young men.

"Was he nice?" Kagome's brow wrinkled and she tapped her chin trying to figure out a way to 'explain' it to the girls. "Which host was he like?" "Does he look like one of them?" Kagome looked at all the host members, realizing they were just as avidly listening. She gently set aside the instrument and stood up going towards the hosts, a hand on her chin. It was hard to tell which guy was like the man she'd loved for he'd had many faces that suited him at different times. She reached out and aligned all of the hosts up. She went down them like a general inspecting the cadets one by one.

When she'd finally had an idea Kagome went over to touch Hikaru's shoulder, urging him to step forward. He was the more mischievous of the twins. Then she walked over towards Tamaki and pulled him up next to Hikaru since her love had definitely had a few Tamaki moments. She then walked over to Kyoya and pulled him forward as well. Kagome then separated Tamaki and Hikaru from Kyoya.

"So which one was he like?" Kagome pointed over to Tamaki and Hikaru. "Then why bring Kyoya up?" Kagome raised a finger to silence the crowd. She reached out and gave Kyoya's notebook a little tug, at first he wouldn't release it, but she tugged a bit more and gave him a look that said she wouldn't do anything with it. She set that aside forcing his always busy hands to stray to his sides as she inspected him. She tilted his face a bit and brushed aside some of his hair like an artist trying to peer down under a painting and see what was really there. Kyoya allowed her to do so; no doubt more girls were flocking to the room by now to see the great ice lord under heavy scrutiny. Hikaru and Kaoru were freaking out beside Tamaki, the three of them scared shitless that Kyoya might blow up at any moment and freeze Kagome into a quiet statue for all of time.

Their eyebrows are similar. And their lips. Kagome admitted to herself. Not their bone structure though. The hair if you fixed it a certain way, but Kyoya's hair is shorter.

Kagome's fingers slowly and gingerly reached out, as if waiting for Kyoya to smack her digits away at any moment, and lifted up his glasses to hook them in his pocket. Kyoya was holding his breath. This was the most intimate thing that had ever happened to him and it was in a room full of people with all eyes on him. Despite how aloof Kyoya appeared to the others, his heart was pounding in his chest at the proximity. He was on unfamiliar territory for once. But Kyoya couldn't move himself to stop her inspection. While she was analyzing him, he was analyzing her. She had dark blue eyes, like sapphires that had been made from the deepest and bluest ocean. Those eye, he felt a pain in his heart as he noticed, for a brief moment when she looked at him without his glasses she'd appeared somber. He also discovered the outline of a necklace under Kagome's shirt as it bounced against the fabric underneath. What was it her love had given her exactly?

When Kagome focused on those beautiful dazzling grey eyes staring back at her, she had to take a step back as she felt her heart thump in her chest. She'd never seen eyes like that, like grey coal with a light shade of brown, and when the light hit it just right it appeared a different color… "He looked like Kyoya!" Kagome gave a little nod and actually patted his shoulder as a sign of gratitude as she went back to sit down, her hand going to touch her throat in a nervous gesture.

It was odd. The guy she'd figured as an ass was actually incredibly handsome behind those glasses. Those eyes had shaken her though. When the light him them just right they appeared like a different color. Not exactly grey. They'd looked a bit like his eyes. And for a moment Kagome had almost forgotten herself and cupped his face. But she'd noticed something different in Kyoya's eyes. He'd been hesitant when she'd gone to pull off his glasses. She got the feeling that he was trying to hide himself behind those glasses as she was doing with her silence.

Kyoya slid his glasses back on to see Honey crawling up on the couch to sit in Kagome's lap. She clutched onto him like a safety blanket while she smiled and numbly nodded at some of the chattering females. He could tell she really wasn't listening to them. Something had thrown her off about his appearance. Did he really look like her deceased love? If so, why wasn't she friendlier to him? Or maybe that's what drove her away from him.

When it came time to end the club Kyoya looked up from his book and said, "You know it would benefit us if you made it into this school. You could join the Host Club." Was he actually offering an olive branch of peace? It was surprising that he'd want her around him more considering the wrong foot they'd gotten off.

"A female host," cried out Renge in sheer awe at the idea. "She could be there for female bonding for us to talk to! A shoulder to cry on! The bonds of female love can be just as lasting as any man!"

"You promise to become a host and we'll help you study for the test. We'll also deduct costs from Haruhi's debt," spoke Kyoya. Kagome nodded in agreement. This was where she wanted to be. She wanted to finish her education. Her past family would've wanted her to continue too now that she was home and had spent her time mourning. It was time to come out from the darkness and sadness, she'd spent enough time in grief. Kagome was ready to start over now.

"Wait, how old are you?" Kaoru asked.

"There's only one person per grade who can be granted a scholarship," explained Hikaru. Kagome walked over towards the board in the room where the club members often drew out their outrageous plans for things. She scribbled across her age and what year she should be in. She was seventeen and a junior, a few years older than Haruhi so their other commoner should be safe.

Kyoya thought for a moment and pushed up his glasses, a flash of light that made him look scary with the action as he said, "I'm sure after a persuasive meeting with that current scholarship student, he will vacate his position and promise not to test after you should you exceed his score."

"Persuasive meaning threatening," grumbled Haruhi.

"Hnn," answered Mori. It was odd how the lovable giant was unfazed by how Kyoya did business. Even Honey took it in stride as a normal occurrence while eating on his twelfth piece of cake that day. Was this really how the rich did business?

"That guys rich anyway," replied Hikaru with a shrug. "He doesn't need the scholarship," finished Kaoru.

"And if she doesn't get a scholarship for that maybe Kagome could get a music scholarship," voiced Tamaki. Stars shone in his eyes as he began to daydream of him and Kagome playing together, piano and shamisen, while Haruhi watched on with awed eyes.

Kagome balled up her fist and punched Kyoya in the arm, not so hard this time, just to get her attention. Will there ever be a moment when she isn't physically abusing me? Maybe I can start charging her for medical bills... There was a thought! It was definitely an odd feeling since normally Tamaki got hurt, though his pain was more in part to being a klutz or from annoying Haruhi. Kyoya pushed his glasses down a bit. "You don't want me to persuade him?" She wrinkled her nose and shook her head. "Fine, I wont. I'll alert him that you're going to try to take his scholarship." Playing fair and square, by the rules, would be so boring... Then again, he said he would play fair and square. That didn't mean anything for the other members of the club.

A/N: I'm pretty sure that some of you can take a guess at the guy Kagome loved. I left more than enough clues. ^_^ Hope you enjoyed.