I have come to believe that there are infinite passageways out of the shadows, infinite vehicles to transport us into the light.

Chapter Four: Atypical Rescue

"Sorry…" Kagome mouthed at Kyoya as her mom gestured Kagome to follow. God, what sort of idea was she going to give him now? Kyoya had enough women ready to chase after him without him thinking she'd jumped on the fan bandwagon. She was giving the most apologetic look she could muster as she followed her mom. At first she thought to correct her mom but before she could bring it up Kyoya reached past her to pick up a couple of the bags of groceries himself. He offered a pleasant smile to her mother when she offered thanks and then glanced back to Kagome as he was heading back inside.

The slight glint in his eyes and the cant of his brows gave her a look that swore he would pay her back for this. It wasn't as if she hadn't been willing to correct her mom, but the woman seemed so happy with the wrong idea that Kagome couldn't bring herself to do it before Kyoya had played along. Kagome was heading out of her house with the premise she was going to see a movie with her tutor before she could completely catch up with how it happened.

"I'm –so- sorry." Kagome hissed as they headed away from the house. "I didn't think that mom would get that idea…I…"

"Don't worry about it." Kyoya answered calmly, his usual composed self as he shrugged off the apology. "It seemed to make her happy and you can pay me back by acing your exam on Tuesday."

"Uh well…thanks cause it did seem to make Mom happy but I can just take the train and go to the mall." Kagome said with a shake of her head, amused at how much he was looking for a reason to push her. He must have been getting well paid by the school.

"I've been meaning to find the time to get out to experience a commoner theater for myself; this is as good an excuse as any." Kyoya replied. "Generally I wouldn't attend one connected to a mall in this sort of an area but I figure it will be educational."

Kagome looked at him quietly, shaking her head when she realized it wasn't a joke, there was certainly something unique about the people at the school she attended now. It was sort of funny.

"Well, I'll do my best to ace the exam on Tuesday without your hosting involvement. No offense, but I'm not interested and I think we see enough of each other already. Don't you have an event for the host club tonight anyway?" Kagome asked, walking with him down the stairs as she kept up conversation.

"I suppose that is true enough." Kyoya nodded lightly, he wouldn't force his presence on her if she didn't want it. "Though, I think it would be best if I at least gave you a ride. Then I can pick you up and bring you home."

"I think that still gives the wrong idea." Kagome said with a sigh.

"Isn't that the point of us leaving together?" Kyoya asked with a knowing smirk on his face, holding the passenger door for Kagome. "It doesn't bother me, it isn't as though your mother frequents any area with the rest of the parents from the Academy and if she is feeling better it will rub off on you. You'll do better at your classes if you have less to be concerned about at home."

"Aren't you taking this good tutor thing a little far?" Kagome eyed him distrustfully before sighing and getting into the car. Buckling her seat belt as he walked around to get into the driver's side, frowning as she looked up behind them up at the shrine, she could barely make out the top of the tree there. "What are you getting out of teaching me exactly? I know they said you are getting a favor from the school but this seems like a lot of effort, are they paying you as well?"

"Yes. The higher your grades the more I'm paid." Kyoya answered, it wasn't the complete truth, but it gave reason enough for his actions and efforts.

"I see." Kagome nodded. It was logical she supposed, and fit with all the rumors she'd heard about him. He was a nice guy on the surface but beneath that he was just out for the best networking and profits. A corporation given human form that was Kyoya Ootori at his truest if all the rumors were to be believed. It seemed sad considering how charming he came off.

"Thanks…I know you're getting paid, but you didn't have to help with my mom and I still appreciate what you're doing to help me even if it's for the money." Kagome said with a small smile. Looking out her window to watch the city as the car headed onto the highway that would lead to the nearby mall.

"Well, I'll see how you do before I accept any such sentiment." Kyoya answered, he still wasn't certain how Kagome would manage her classes or if he'd have to put in more time after the opening round of tests next week.

Which reminded him he had to push his information group more, he'd barely gotten any information beyond the original files. Only that some mysterious benefactor had been the one to fund her tuition at the Academy, Kyoya assumed it was this same person that had interested his father.

Kagome got quiet during the rest of the drive, and she had that same expression as though she wanted to cry that he'd seen on their first day working together. It wasn't as clear, she covered it well, but the girl obviously had some deep issues he hadn't even touched yet. He dug out his cell, driving and talking at the same time.

"Tamaki? I'm not going to able to make it today, I have other business I have to take care of." Kyoya commented, smirking slightly at the surprised expression Kagome sent him. "You'll be able to handle it without me, you have before. I'll see you on Monday."

He slipped the phone away as he took the turn into the mall's parking lot.

"Why did you cancel your meeting?" Kagome asked, eyeing the way he was circling to park instead of drop her off. Didn't she just say she didn't want to hang out with him all the time? Regardless of her question she was a little pleased, even if she knew it was to try to encourage better grades out of her.

"I already explained that I wanted to see a commoner's theater." Kyoya replied. "I just decided it seemed more enjoyable than an evening of Tamaki and the Twins. We don't take breaks from each other much."

Kagome could have pointed out that she and he had seen more of each other than he had of the host club since she'd started as his pupil but she decided against it. Instead she just walked inside with him, looking over the movies playing and not really seeing anything that jumped out at her.

"Not much really playing right now that's worth the money." Kagome commented thoughtfully. "And no, I don't want to be treated by you…I already feel like I'm in your debt even if you are being paid by others, I'm still the one benefiting. The Dairy Cream is new, you want an ice cream?"

"So…I can't offer to treat you to a movie in the same statement that you offer to buy me ice cream?" Kyoya asked, amused and not about to protest. He would much rather she pays than he did. He had wanted to see a movie but he would trust her assessment of the options, not complaining about the change in plan. "I suppose it sounds fine, shouldn't you eat a normal lunch first, there's a sushi place there."

"Hmm…well I just had breakfast a little while ago. I figured I could get an ice cream and then just wait until dinner…don't give me that disapproving expression, aren't I suppose to enjoy myself sometimes so I don't burn out?" Kagome said, getting in line at the DQ.

"Using my words against me already?" Kyoya asked. He was a little amused at the idea, it didn't come up often for him, most people seemed afraid to push him and most others were never clever enough to get the chance. "I'll take a small M&M Blizzard with mint, and thank you for the gesture Kagome."

"Yeah. No problem, I don't really use my allowance for much." Kagome answered, looking over the menu and glad she didn't have anymore people behind her to rush her. "Ah, I want a medium cone dipped in chocolate."

She handed over the yen and got some change, putting it in her purse and then leaning against the counter. "So, what do you usually do with your free time anyway? I can't imagine you get much of it."

General conversation, it would keep things from being really awkward in Kagome's opinion. She didn't wanna see a movie and she highly doubted he'd want to follow her around shopping so talking and walking around for a while seemed the best way to go. It was still a nice break from nothing but studying, it felt strange not to have a book in front of her and a pencil in her hand.

"I enjoy painting, though as you say, I don't have much time for it." Kyoya replied, picking up his blizzard and stirring the ice cream around a moment before pulling out the spoon to take a bite. It was unlike him to relax like this or discuss his painting at all, he'd just said it before thinking about it.

"Yeah? I didn't picture you as an artistic sort." Kagome smiled as she took a bite from the top of her own cone. Seeming to enjoy it as she started walking, Kyoya falling into step, then she added. "I think that's great, I figure if someone can be an artist then they have beauty they can add to the world. That's a good thing."

"Mmm." Kyoya commented, he was pondering just how differently other people viewed it, she was surprised but she took him at his word. Other people he'd told had demanded him paint something to prove he was any good, why he usually didn't say anything, but she just accepted him at his word.

"Well, I just figured you spent all your days doing nothing but reading…not that there would be a problem with that, but it's good that you have something else. Sorry, you don't seem to want to talk about it, is your club planning to do something specific for the upcoming autumn break? I know a lot of people plan do things with their extra few days off." Kagome said, color coming to her face as she sighed; taking another bite of her ice cream as she chided herself. "I sound stupid. This is a horrible idea; I should have just sent him on his way. He must think I'm just another dumb commoner. I wonder what he'd think if he knew what I was, but I guess if I told him I was a priestess with mystical powers he might try to get me mental help. I can't tell anyone, they'd probably want to put me in a lab somewhere."

Kyoya noted that she still looked exceptionally sad while seeming like she wanted to say something, but he wasn't going to push her, the girl was more fragile than she let on if he was any judge. If he didn't treat interactions delicately she might not keep up with things, she seemed like she was ready to break sometimes and others like a rock wall. Instead he decided to keep up with the conversation.

"We're taking a group of our usual customers out to a beach resort in Okinawa, it's been planned since the year started and such trips are usually large money makers for us. It should help pay for several events through the year following it." Kyoya commented thoughtfully, explaining a little about the economics of it, he might as well teach her with day to day conversation. "Usually the teachers don't give much homework but there are things I'll have for you to study ahead and others I think you still need to catch up on."

"Should have figured this would be more lessons," Kagome winked when he offered a surprised expression. "No no, it's okay, it's good, I do suck at economics so the life example is actually nice. I think its good you get to get away for a while, even if everything is all business it has to be nice when it's with your friends."

"I'm sure everyone will have a good time. Are you really completely disinterested in the host club? I know it's not for everyone but you haven't really given us much of a fair chance. If you were interested we could write off your first visit for free." Kyoya commented, curious as to the thoughts of the commoner. They'd managed to get Haruhi to help based on her mistake and it had taken time for her to warm up to them, she was still pretty nervous around them and he wasn't sure how she would take being kidnapped tomorrow for the test run of his family's amusement park he had planned. Another reason he hadn't planned to work with Kagome tomorrow and was glad he'd gotten it out of the way this morning.

"I dunno, I guess it just still comes off as strange." Kagome answered thoughtfully. "And most of you guy's and your 'draws' don't actually interest me too much. I'd rather get to know someone before I'd think about really being attracted to them. I think a lot of it's a little creepy, Honey is a bit young looking, and the twins…well, you know how I feel about that."

Kyoya smirked a bit, he'd heard as much as anyone else about how much Kagome just didn't react well to the twincest act. To him he knew it was an act, but he wondered how much she thought it was an act or was real. Enough of the fans that requested them certainly seemed to believe it.

"Which leaves Tamaki and Mori." Kyoya commented, he didn't really consider himself a common option, or one that Kagome would be interested in.

"Tamaki is too loud, Mori seems all right but in contrast he's pretty quiet. I dunno. I think if I had to pick a host to go out with it would be you. You seem the most down to earth of any of them…not that you don't still have your moments of richdom." Kagome commented.

"Richdom?" Kyoya perked a brow at her new word.

"Yeah, it's what Haruhi and I call it when you guys don't really seem to know about the real world or react like spoiled rich kids." Kagome replied. "I'm actually surprised all your guys' lines work on any girls at all. Especially Tamaki."

Then wide brown eyes were staring in shock at Kyoya after he tipped her elbow up a little when she went to take a bite, she got ice cream on her nose and gaped at him, more shocked at his action than the cold. Thankfully she pulled back quick enough to only get it on the tip of her nose and not all over her face, blushing and trying to sound angry but only managing a little irritation mingled with her shock.

"What was that for?" She dug in her purse looking for a handkerchief, difficult when she was still trying to balance her nearly finished cone in one hand.

"Oh, I thought I was playing into character, being a spoiled rich kid." Kyoya commented, reaching up to wipe her nose clear with a handkerchief of his own before leaning in close to inspect her face. "I think that about does it, though you have a bit left on your lower lip if you'd like me to get that."

Kagome pushed him away lightly, certain she was very red all of a sudden as she shook her head, licking her lips to fix whatever was wrong. "Uh, no, no I'm fine."

"You sure are blushing a lot for someone that doesn't fall for lines Kagome." Kyoya remarked with a smug smirk as she glanced back over. "Don't feel bad, all girls like having extra attention, it's natural. It's not that difficult."

"There's a difference between being embarrassed for you, and falling for your lines." Kagome retorted smartly, if she was honest it had worked a little. Kyoya was pretty handsome, it was the first time she'd thought about someone kissing her since…and she had fallen for it a moment. Perhaps she was as bad as any other girl, but she wasn't going to admit it openly.

Kyoya grinned a bit as opposed to being insulted, that quick wit of hers was what made spending time with her enjoyable. He'd expected her to be another of the various fans but just poorer and in a different position to abuse that to try to get his time. While she had been monopolizing his time it wasn't for girlish hopes for romance, she'd taken her studies with him very seriously, as she pointed out that morning. Even now, she'd been fine with being on her own as opposed to going anywhere with him.

When she said if she had to pick a host it'd be him, it was a compliment, and after that admittance he couldn't help but tease her a little by feeding her a small act of his own. For the first time he really noticed she was pretty, she wasn't some super model, but her attractive nature was more than her body. There was an ambience of energy around her that drew people in, and he had to admit he was having a good time on this little outing.

"Sorry." Kagome's voice drew him from the moment of contemplation and he wasn't sure what was wrong until she further explained her apology. "I guess that was a little harsh. I suppose if I thought you were actually serious I might not mind falling for some of your lines. Thankfully we both know better."

"No offence taken, it's refreshing being with someone that doesn't want me to put on a constant charming air or thinks it's my job in life to sweep them off their feet and make them swoon." Kyoya said with a small dismissive wave.

Kagome laughed. "I don't think you could make me swoon even if I fell for your lines, what is swooning exactly anyway? I'm pretty sure I've never done it, I guess I'm not dainty enough to do that sort of thing."

"You seem to be out to challenge me today." Kyoya commented, not sure why he was suddenly feeling so direct. Though he enjoyed when he brought color to her face, it was different when he saw her blush and look away from the twins or Tamaki. Unlike them there were subtle hints in her face that she actually enjoyed when he teased her.

"That's not what I meant." Kagome managed with another shake of her head. "I didn't get enough sleep to match wits with you today, not that I ever do a good job of that. You should take a little mercy on me; it's supposed to be my day off."

"If I offered mercy how could I keep my nickname? Besides, it's a bad strategy to go for sympathy on lack of sleep when I didn't get much rest either." Kyoya retorted, he did enjoy winning, even if there wasn't a tangible prize when it came to such conversations.

"You're impossible." Kagome rolled her eyes at him, giving up on the conversation, which of course he quietly look as a success. "Though, we've been walking for a while, I suppose we should probably head back."

She took his empty cup and spoon, throwing it away with the paper wrapping from her cone, heading back toward the door they came in originally. "Should I expect you tomorrow?"

"No, I have other things I need to do, I left some notes as to things you should study and work on but don't burn yourself out. If you need to take some time to yourself you should." Kyoya answered seriously, holding the door for her and heading outside with her. There was a nice breeze though it was late in the afternoon and a chill was setting into the air. When he noticed Kagome shiver a bit he took off his jacket and put it around her.

It was worth the trouble to see the pink return to her face, Kagome though was quiet as she followed him back toward the car, there was a light spiced scent to the jacket, it was the same aroma she got when he leaned close over her desk to help with things. She was becoming familiar with his cologne; it was nice, with a bright citrus fresh sort of feel with a little bit of a metallic note lightly blended in a sort of creamy/soapy way. It wasn't overpowering and yet clearly memorable, probably worth more than what she would make in a few months.

Kagome noticed her shoe wasn't tied and bent down to fix it, Kyoya pausing to wait for her when he noticed she'd bent down. Though when she looked up she was surprised to realize that he was paying attention to his phone and clearly had no idea of the car tearing his way at a speed too fast for the parking area.

Kagome jumped forward before she had time to think about what she was doing. His shocked expression was the last thing she saw before the agonizing impact to her side and head. Barely aware of the sound of screeching breaks as she flew through the air, before a second slam into the ground her skin scrapping free along parts of her legs as her body rolled several times before slowing enough to stop, her eyes pressed closed as she tried to fight away the dizziness and pain.

End Chapter

Poor Kagome, too nice for her own good she is. I wonder if folks are still reading this, I enjoy this pair, even if they take a lot of building! I was glad to get the chance to write a new chapter.

-Nera

P.S Thanks again to all the lovely reviews, I think I'd of given up if I hadn't gotten so much love for this.