A/N: You guys really enjoy Kyoya abuse. Now I wonder how all of you are on dates? O.o lol Eh, who am I kidding? I love it! Lol By the way Kyoya and Kagome get to bond in this chapter. -gasp- Oh yeah, most of you have accurately guessed who Kagome loved. Another hint in here to those in the dark. Thanks for all the input I love reading each one and picking up on what more you guys want to see ^_^
Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran nor Inuyasha... I do own... *pulls out Hetalia costume* You know you're a cosplayer when you debate on what's more imporant: costumes or college text books?
To all of the students that passed by her, Kagome was a vision in yellow. The dress swayed with every step like an upside-down buttercup making soft rustling noises. Her long black raven hair and bright blue eyes just stood out with that yellow dress. For everyone she was a beauty to behold. For Kagome it was a living hell. The dress was made strictly for style and it was hot and sweaty with those damn petticoats underneath. She planned on slipping them off as soon as she found the nearest bathroom. Who wore petticoats in this day and age anyway? Were none of the other girls bothered by them? Why had she not just taken them off when she'd first worn them? Oh, that's right she wanted to try and give them a go. Stupid, she admonished herself. I let myself get caught up in hearing Tamaki say 'When in Rome…' Aside from the problems with the dress she was grateful there was air condition in this high class place.
Kagome tossed the petticoats in her backpack with all purposes of hawking them later for grocery money. She didn't feel the least bit ashamed for not wearing it. The money was coming out of the Host Club's pockets since they were making her a host so she had to wear 'proper' attire now as Kyoya put it. Not that she hadn't felt a pauper before, but going into the bathroom she realized it even more when she saw an attendant in there waiting should she require anything. Hell, the soft folds of toilet paper were even monogrammed.
Though she wasn't up in the social class it honestly felt like she belonged there. People were nice to her even if she couldn't open her mouth to speak; her facial expressions were more than enough considering she was very animated. And she'd been lucky to have been placed in the same class as Kyoya and Tamaki so she had them to help her. Kagome was almost always paired up with one of them.
She slipped out of the bathroom and quickly strode to her next class. It was her fourth day back into schooling and she was trying to catch up, but she was sure if she hit the books this week she'd be able to understand everything. It helped that as soon as she took her seat on that first day that Kyoya had set a binder in front of her of his copied notes. It just went to prove to her that there was a kind person under all of that stoic bravado. It just sucked that she knew she'd be drinking coffee this week studying on her first school weekend.
At the moment Kagome was noticing from her seat beside Kyoya that his agenda seemed really booked even from just glancing at it. How could he stand day in and day out with things following one after the other like that? Kagome reached over and peered at his agenda. She had a theory that she'd yet to test. Kagome believed all of the Host Club members needed help. The past few days Kagome had gleaned information that most wouldn't have been able to. It was easy considering that she was so quiet, though people loved her sometimes it was easy to forget that she wasn't deaf as she was silent. Privy information was at her disposal.
They all needed help. Hikaru and Kaoru still had problems being comfortable without each other. Tamaki wasn't accepted by his grandmother and did all that he could to please her as an illegitimate child. Kyoya was rarely accepted by his father as the third born so he had a lot to prove to him. Honey had problems getting along with his brother. Mori… well, he didn't have any problems per se, but if she could name one it would be opening up more to someone aside from Honey. Like the twins, those two cousins were stuck to one another. Haruhi was just trying to get by in this school without being ostracized for her lack of bank account.
And so she decided she'd help them because maybe in helping them she could finally help herself. Already she was doing great, at least in her opinion, since she was out of the shrine. Every once in a while she would want to run back home and bury herself in shrine work… but nothing could be accomplished doing that and so she'd hold onto that necklace around her neck and take a deep steady breath. He'd want her to move on. If hisghost were there now he would honestly be pushing her out the door with a warm smile telling her it was time to go on with life and not dwell with thoughts of him. And then he would selfishly add to take that back and think a bit on him every once in a while… particularly the fun parts. Like all men he was a lecher.
Kagome vowed to work on helping all of them, but she might as well start on the ice king. If anyone was going to take long in thawing it would be him.
All her attempts at stealing his glasses these last few days hadn't helped, he always mysteriously had a spare somewhere. She glanced over Kyoya's agenda wondering when he ever made time for himself. The answer was that there was no time to make. Back to back he had every hour scheduled for something, he even had hours written down for sleep, eating, and studying! As if you needed to be programmed for those things that should come naturally. First thing she was going to teach him, how to loosen up. Kagome peeked to see that Kyoya was still talking with Tamaki before class began about a new theme to do the Host Club up in. She pulled out her pencil and with a quick scribble made time for him. She erased his study break for today that lasted two hours before dinner with his family and replaced it.
Appointment: Meet Kagome at the Shrine.
Time: However long it takes to relax and maybe even get a laugh out of you.
Feeling like she'd done him a favor without him realizing it Kagome replaced the notebook on his desk as it had been just before Kyoya returned to his desk. She felt like laughing all morning waiting for him to spot what she'd done. She just hoped he would go for the bait. Kagome secretly had a soft spot for him even if he irked her. He reminded her of Sesshomaru with how he acted and it had taken Kagome forever to see that demonic friend actually open up.
The hosts were all pretending to be on an abandoned tropical island in the room to escape the fact that it was raining outside. The curtains had been drawn and in its place the lights of the room flooded around brightly with sand scattered all over the floor. It appeared Kyoya didn't mind a repeat of the beach theme, he just made things a little bit more like Hawaii. Mori was carrying a spear and Honey was doing the hula with his own hosts. Huarhi still adamently insisted on wearing her uniform while Kagome opted for the straw skirted hula look with a cute orange tube top and leis littering her neck. A bright white flower was attached in her hair and she was carting a tray of coconut drinks towards some customers.
And all too suddenly a weird whirring noise filed the air and Kagome's head was cocking this way and that vainly searching for the noise. Could it be coming from below her? The tiles were shaking beneath her feet. Just as the floor beneath her began to open up and gravitate upwards, Kagome standing on the precipice of the moving tiles jumped backwards landing in a fighting position. Maniacal laughter came from under it. Was someone trying to attack the school? That meant the students were in danger!
Kagome reached out and stole the spear in Mori's hand, twirling it deftly until she held it in a strong grip. Kagome instinctively jumped into the air onto the platform that had risen out and would've killed the assailant had not the yellow uniform given it away to be just another eccentric student at the school. Thankfully all of her training with Sesshomaru had allowed every detail of her movement to fall under her scrutiny. She might be a klutz in everyday life, but when it came to fighting she was deadly.
"EEP!" Was all Renge could mutter when she found the sharp blade of the very much real spear resting against the skin of her neck. "Don't kill me! Don't kill me! Don't kill me," wailed Renge. "I help the Host Club!" Kagome lowered the weapon and bashfully leapt down to find all eyes on her. Kagome dropped the spear to the ground with a clatter. She was profoundly embarrassed now and went to leave the room for the bathroom. She hated when all eyes were on her, though this time she deserved it. But just as she passed Kyoya, he reached out and gently grabbed her by the wrist… and the power went out in the clubroom due to Renge's platform soaking up so much electricity. They were encased in darkness since the curtains were drawn to keep out the not so lovely image of pouring rain outside.
Smothering inky darkness filled the room making Kagome's heart skip a beat. Kagome lurched her arm away from Kyoya and took off. For a time she ran into people and finally she fell to her knees crawling and scrambling like a bug past knobby legs, like she'd done five hundred years ago, trying to find somewhere safe. A few more shrieks hit the air every time she ghosted past someone's leg until she bumped into a chair. Not knowing what to do she stayed there on the floor, pulling her legs up to her chest. She shook. She'd never seen a room so dark. And with the cries of the female guests and shrieks it made her think back to an entirely different situation. Black holes and darkness eating at everything. Oh she loathed the dark! She covered her eyes and swiped at the tears that were pouring. Since everyone else was making a commotion in the dark she didn't restrain herself from the soft sobs as her heart pounded in her chest in fear. It brought back so many memories. The last time she'd seen him was when he was being sucked into that whirling pit of black. It had taken him away from her.
The lights flickered back on and Kyoya was caught arguing with Renge over who was going to pay the electric bill. Tamaki was petting a disgruntled Haruhi who was trying to get him to let go of her. Honey was still eating cake while Mori seemed unphased. Only two though noticed Kagome because they were sitting in the couch she'd crumbled in front of and they'd been close enough to hear her sobs. They'd seen her tear stricken face as she'd looked up at them when the lights flickered back on. Hikaru gave a nod to Kaoru and the other twin led Kagome away to the bathroom while Hikaru went to keep the others from noticing that Kagome had left for a moment.
Kaoru gently ushered Kagome to sit on a couch in the club bathroom and sat beside her, handing her a tissue to wipe at her face with and erase all evidence of tears. "Which was it? Everyone staring at you because of the spear or the dark?" Kagome's face was shameful and flushed as she looked at her hands. "Both?" She nodded. Kaoru reached up and began to refasten the flower in her hair that had gotten loose, a light touch and brush of her hair that helped steady her. It was nice when people were so kind to you, it reminded her of her former pack. Belonging to a group of people you became used to each other like family and she missed having so many people to tend to. "It's okay to be scared of things you know. Being fearless makes a boring person," he said, moving his hand to patting her own. Kagome gazed up at Kaoru with sudden interest. It really was weird getting him away from his brother. Ironically enough, Kaoru was the more confident of the two when it came to being separated.
It so happened a spider scuttled across the wall and Kagome grabbed the tissue box on reflex and tossed it with quite some accuracy squishing the bug. Kaoru burst out laughing and couldn't stop when he glanced over to see what she'd killed. Just the serious expression across her face, like she was defeating a threatening enemy, had been too much. Kagome made a face and began to scratch the back of her head. Today was becoming quite the day for her to be thrown off balance with things.
"I thought it was pretty cool the way you used that spear," smirked Kaoru before snickering at the memory. He was treating her so kindly, reminded her a bit of Miroku in how he acted, minus the whole lecher thing... well, when he wasn't with his brother he wasn't so much a lecher. "The look on Renge's face was priceless! It's about time she realizes that thing is a hazard in the middle of the floor! If it wasn't your spear it might've been someone breaking a leg or something." Kagome's face cracked a smile as she remembered how shocked that guest had been. And she found herself shaking with quiet laughter… until a small puff of air came out of her, "Kah!" A little laugh. Kagome covered her mouth in shock and looked to Kaoru. Had she been imagining it?
His gentle honeyed eyes widened in amazement at their little discovery. "Kagome! You just made a noise," cried out Kaoru, throwing his arms around her confirming her joy. "I didn't know you could do that!" She nodded her head and hugged him back just as the door creaked open. Maybe today wasn't such a bad day after all. Especially for Kaoru since he'd just realized her flesh smelled like mangos and flowers when he hugged her with nothing but designer trunks, a hula skirt over them, and fake tattoos littered all over his arms.
And that was how double trouble twin number 2 found him. "I'm not interrupting anything am I Kaoru?" Hikaru asked, mirth in his voice as Kaoru immediately let go of Kagome and stood up, his face as red as the tide at sunset. "You h'okay Kagome?" She nodded and brushed aside the last of her tears as she stood up like a soldier and went to throw her arms around both of them hugging tightly in gratitude. With her head buried in their chests she completely missed Hikaru wiggling his brows at a bashful Kaoru who ducked his head in answer to his brother's silent accusation. His face had turned brighter than his orange hair.
Kyoya was suddenly self-conscious at all of the glances Kagome was stealing as he typed away at his computer in the Host Club. He'd already fulfilled his duties, cutting short the girls he would host today because he needed to balance their portfolio on the revenues coming in with what they had to deduct with the food supply. It was almost time for the club to be over and Kagome looked like she belonged there. Adding her to the club was panning out nicely. Kagome was quiet and had actually become a very good attraction, for boys were coming to the club now and requesting her! Young men would sit there and talk to her, some would ask for advice while others would prattle on, and she listened to each of them. When she would give advice she would write it down on a slip of paper and then write beside it a charm like the ones she issued at her shrine. The guys who just talked to her would blush and always look at her to find a sweet expression on her face as she eagerly waited for him to finish talking.
Kagome had a sweet air about her and she was attentive. Actually that day Kagome had showed off a skill that people admired. They'd gradually chalked up her mysterious ability to defend up on all the qualities that made Kagome who she was. But her attentiveness glowed today. Kagome had appeared next to a certain girl sitting at the twins' table and placed a little card and a cupcake in front of her. Eyes at Hikaru and Kaoru's table were focused on the hostess who smiled at the girl. "Oh Kagome! Thank you," gushed the hostess looking at the card and the sweet message Kagome had scribbled on it inside. "How did you know it was my birthday?"
Kagome gave a little shrug and let the girl hug her before she departed. No one could hold a candle to Kagome's torch because the girls and boys who visited the club knew that there was a difference between the hosts and this single hostess. Well, aside from Tamaki who was a bit like her in this sense, though she wasn't such an airhead about it like he was. Kagome cared. About everyone she met and she didn't mind showing it. He did keep a note on how she'd moved when Renge had appeared, though it had been forgotten by the club and just chalked up as another trait to their sweet Kagome. She wasn't just sweet, but protective. Renge had brushed it off as the inner fan had gone crazy over Kagome's awesome reflexes.
At that instant Kagome came up behind Kyoya. She stood there deliberating on whether or not to tell him. Finally she sighed and patted him on the head before placing a little snack beside him and some tea. He hadn't even touched lunch today at the cafeteria focusing on homework so she knew he was probably hungry about now. She was raising a little boy after all and she had travelled with a pack of men excluding Sango. A small note was folded under his plate. Kyoya reached out to open it. Do you ever get tired of serving people Kyoya? You should make time for yourself.
He stared blankly at the note and wondered if she honestly wanted him to answer that. It was true, he hated serving people but it was the role he had to work with. He had to serve his father's wishes. He had to serve his teacher's with exceptional grades. Making time for himself was rarely unheard of. He mildly wondered when was the last time he had a day to himself. He curiously opened up his schedule when it flashed in front of him. Apparently he would have time to himself today. He looked up at Kagome with a raised brow as he found the answer to why she'd been glancing his way today. She gave a little wave before ducking her head and continuing on with her work. It seemed not only did Kagome cater to their guests, but the hosts as well.
His parents would disown him if he found out that Kyoya was spending his precious free time in a destitute shrine. Then again, maybe he was doing this out of spite. Maybe he wanted to rebel against his father. It wouldn't be the first time he took things into his own hands and acted accordingly against Mr. Ootori's wishes.
Kyoya made his way up the long steps until he was standing at the door with a bag in his hands from the sweet shop Mrs. Higurashi had mentioned. "Are you going to knock or wait around?" Shippo asked from where he was standing beside Kagome, they'd been watching him stand in front of her door for the past five minutes. Kagome had a broom in her hand that she'd been using to sweep. She wore a bright pair of red priestess pants and a white shirt. Kyoya noted that the effect was overall very picturesque and exceedingly beautiful with her black hair untidily curling around her face. Shippo wore a blue bandana over his ginger head to hide his pointy ears. The little boy also adorned what appeared to be a tail… did he like to cosplay or did he pretend to be a 'demon' for the shrine to bring in tourism? They looked like they'd stepped right out of a Edo history and myth book.
"I didn't know whether or not you'd be home," he said to which Kagome rolled her eyes. Why was he trying to cover himself? He knew she'd written it so he had to know she'd be there. She could feel his aura like she could feel the wind and it threw her off. The great shadow lord on his high pedestal of doom was nervous.
"Mama look! He brought sweets! Éclairs and sticky buns," crowed Shippo crowding around Kyoya and trying to steal a glimpse inside the bag. Kyoya did notice one small detail. Shippo had noticed that Kyoya was carrying sweets in the brown paper bag before glancing in. And he knew exactly what Kyoya had brought. Was the smell of the buns that strong for Shippo to have guessed the goodies?
"Shippo, what're you wearing?" Kyoya eyed the tail. He couldn't see the paws because that was the one thing Shippo had to fake as often as he could, hands. It was simple though to change paws to hands considering that most demons went around with fingers, take Sesshomaru for instance.
"Cosplay. It's a costume that people wear when they want to role play their favorite fantasy," said Shippo as if well versed on the matter and spouting out a definition. "I'm a fox!" His tail gave a little wag. That was something Kyoya hadn't seen a costume prop do before. He couldn't see any strings pulling the little thing and of course a shrine like this wouldn't be able to afford something mechanical… Before Kyoya could get a better look, Shippo took the bag from him and went to take off. However, Kagome reached out and grabbed Shippo's shoulder not too rough. Shippo looked up at her wondering what he did or didn't do. "Oh!" Shippo, having forgotten his manners, sprung up to give Kyoya a little bow and say, "Thank you Mister Kyoya!" He then took off with the bag to show his grandmother inside the house what Kyoya had brought. Kagome gave Kyoya a look that said 'Kids, what're you going to do about them?' She really looked like a mom with that half hearty smile.
Kagome reached out and gave the cuff of Kyoya's jacket a little tug until he obediently followed her into the house. "So what are we going to do?" He asked.
Kagome spun around and waved at Sota, who was doing homework in the kitchen, and she began signing to him. "She says, 'Whatever you want to do. This time is for you to relax and be yourself. Working is forbidden though.' Yeah, she's also telling me to hide that folder first chance you look away." Kagome cut Sota a glare as Kyoya clutched his notebook to him. Mrs. Higurashi was already fixing a cup of tea for Kyoya which she pushed towards him in a cup that was mismatched from the others. At least they had cups.
"Kagome told us that you rarely have time for yourself," tutted Mrs. Higurashi.
Kagome pushed him away from the seats in the kitchen and towards the comfy couch after he'd had a nice conversation with Mrs. Higurashi, Shippo, and Sota while drinking his tea. Throughout the interaction he'd made note of how quickly Sota and Shippo were to sign or translate with Kagome to include her in the conversation. She was actually very 'talkative.'
She sat on the floor crossed legged and very comfortable whie he was swallowed by their old couch. "What do you have-" Before he could finish she held up a movie with eyes asking if he wanted to watch it. He shrugged. He could care less. He was just curious about what exactly they'd do. Kagome signed to her brother who signed right back. Sota wiggled his brows and began signing and Kagome tossed a pillow at him making Sota laugh. Now this was interesting. "What-?"
"I was just teasing her about a guy being in the house. Asking if she wanted alone time," sniggered Sota.
Kyoya's hand itched towards his notebook conveniently sitting beside his knee, but Kagome smacked his hand. He pushed his glasses up, something she found meant he was mildly irritated, and flat out asked what was on his mind. "How did you learn to sign?"
Kagome and Sota both looked up at Kyoya whose interest was honestly peaked at their secret language. This was a language that was used universally by people. There were actual patients in his family hospitals that were deaf, mute, or blind. He mildly wondered how many people they had on staff that could actually 'speak' to them. How many other businesses didn't have help for people who couldn't speak? How much revenue would that open? Another thing… would students at Ouran like to learn it? It could count as a foreign language elective. First he had to see if he could get Tamaki's dad to agree to it. "We paid someone to teach all of us. It cost per month so we tried to learn as fast as we could. Kagome even checked out library books so we could communicate."
Kagome scooted over until she was sitting in front of Kyoya. She tapped on his knees until he was looking down at her. Kagome signed very slowly while Sota murmured what she was trying to say, "If you want, I can teach you." She did the next letters very slowly for his name and Sota let him know it. "K-y-o-y-a. Kyoya."
He could've left at any moment. Could've gone in pursuit of doing something actually useful. But this was actually interesting to him and for once it had nothing to do with business. An hour and a half had passed and Kagome had taught him the barest of the basics. She drilled him. Slowly spelling out questions with her hands instead of simply signing them like she usually did with the easier hand motions for single words. Kyoya was quick to pick it up. And for once Kagome was having a conversation with someone outside of her family. Sure, it wasn't as fast and he didn't know the single word signs, but the alphabet helped and she was happy that someone was actually taking the time to 'talk' to her in a way that she could talk back. Kyoya could see the joy shining on her face at this prospect and he wondered how thrilled others like her were when they found someone who could sign so they didn't feel left out. Though the den had been incredibly quiet a conversation had been going on since Kyoya had gotten there be it learning the language or actually using it. Sota had long since left a notepad beside her with a pen if she needed to explain anything to him.
"You honestly look becoming in it," Kyoya voiced after Kagome had been signing how horrible the yellow dress looked. Said yellow dress was hanging in the kitchen to dry after her mother had washed it for her. Mrs. Higurashi had already gone to bed. The two teenagers sat on the floor comfortably, a pillow lying in Kagome's lap and Kyoya leaning his back against the bottom of the couch. She'd never thought Kyoya would look at home in her house but it was like he could be placed anywhere and fit in.
'Like a banana.' Though they were only using the alphabet and Kyoya sometimes had to watch her hands and write out the letters on his notebook, they were doing relatively fine passing the time together.
'A pretty banana.' He signed back.
She punched him in the arm, making him wince just slightly, before she signed back. 'It's tacky.'
'Unique.' He rebutted.
Her eyes flickered from the dress to Kyoya and she waved a hand at the dress while signing with her free one. 'You wear it.'
A small flick of the lips. Could that be a small smile on Kyoya's face? '… Ok. It's tacky.'
Kagome spared a glance to the television screen realizing that they'd had the volume down so low this entire time that you could barely hear it. 'Do you like the movie?'
"I didn't even notice it," he said, not being able to spell out quite so many letters. He was definitely going to go over the alphabet once more in front of a mirror tonight, though he was sure he'd caught on quick enough. If he learned this fast enough he hoped to learn the actual words to hand gestures to make this even faster.
'What do you do for fun?'
'Bills.' Kyoya signed back. Kagome's face contorted up and he could almost hear the giggle that would come out of her mouth if she had a voice. She repeated the question waiting for him to actually reveal something about himself. 'Swimming.' He rarely did it but Kyoya enjoyed it in his spare time. They had an indoor pool at his house that no one ever used and often times he went there for peace and quiet. 'You?'
'Telling stories.' Her eyes lit up.
Shippo piped up from his spot on the couch eating the jelly sweets Kyoya had brought. "Mama can tell the best stories Kyoya! She could and she still can, though she tells them different now. She loves campfires!"
Kyoya glanced down at his watch and realized the time, quickly standing up to bow to Kagome and Shippo. He made a similar motion to her mother who was coming from doing the clothes in the laundry room. "If you'll excuse me I have to be leaving." He still had dinner with his family. Every night. Half the time most of them weren't there and the other half he had to deal with his father's critical comments. It wasn't as if he wanted to leave for it appeared that Kagome had done what she'd hoped to accomplished. Kyoya had felt relaxed here the entire time. The little priestess trailed after him towards the door.
'See you at school Kyoya. Stop by anytime.'
"Come back soon Kyoya," Shippo sang, tugging on Kyoya's pants leg so he'd look down at him. Kyoya's eyes swung back up at Kagome. Those pretty grey eyes and Kagome could actually see past those glasses for once. The sharp grey seemed a bit softer… and then they sharpened right back.
"Don't forget to do your homework Kagome," he instructed before spinning around and leaving.
Kagome watched him through the window to make sure that he got down the long shrine steps to his expensive car that pulled up for him. Maybe he wasn't like frostbite. Maybe there was a bit of warmth somewhere in there. Upon stepping away from her doorsteps he'd reverted back to what he was used to being. A boy with all the worries of the world on his shoulders. Though he didn't act like he cared about the opinion of others she knew if the whispers were true he did. Surely from the dual personalities he had to have cared about people's opinions if he couldn't let up and be free. Shippo looked up at his mother as she peeked out of the curtains. Shippo looked back and forth. His mother hadn't made any guy friends since he passed away. As if to help her along Shippo proclaimed, "I like him. He seems misunderstood like Sesshomaru was," peeped Shippo. Kagome nodded and patted Shippo's head, remembering the great demonic giant who'd secretly been harboring what he thought was unrequited feelings for her best friend. She pulled away from the curtains. If she'd chanced a second glance she would've seen Kyoya turn around and cast a long wistful look at the shrine before sliding into the car while his servant held the door open for him.
Not knowing why he did it… actually, knowing exactly why and ignoring it, Kyoya dialed a number on his cell phone and made an appointment for Kagome to see his family hospital. Free of charge. Kagome hadn't stomped on him, beaten him with a bouquet of flowers, but she'd just unknowingly struck a small hole in his finances.
A/N: In one corner, standing at 5' 9," we have the much abused shadow king and reigning champ over all the fangirls Kyoya Ootori! And in the other corner we have the challenger standing at 5' 9" the red haired mischievous Kaoru Hitachinn! Yes we know the winner of this fight, but Kaoru will not go down without a tussle! Lets get ready to ruuuuumbleeeeeee! *brother walks in and pointedly stares: Are you watching reruns of the Rock wrestling? -nods- Scoot over.*