Kagome walked at a leisurely pace next to Haruhi as they made their way to where the Host Club held their activities.
"So... why does the school have three music rooms? If only two of them are really being used?" Kagome couldn't help but asking. She could understand the need for more than one room with a large school, but the third music room wasn't used as one... as far as she understood, seemed a little over the top.
"I have no idea. Rich bastards." Haruhi tossed a quick glance at Kagome, before uttering a quiet apology.
"It's alright, and I agree with you."
They continued walking, talking about whatever, Haruhi pushing the doors open and talking about what her father had been talking about as soon as she got home.
"Please don't tell me, he plans on us wearing matching outfits again? While it was cute when we were younger... I don't think I could survive your father's idea of... cute."
"He actually pulled out all the photos of us when we were kids and called up your mother. I'm only saying be prepared for their plots."
"Then I say we try and throw their attention towards Souta." Kagome couldn't help but smirk at the thoughts of seeing Souta subjected to their parents need to dress their children up.
"Isn't that a little cruel?"
"No. It's divine punishment. Besides it's his turn to play dress up." Kagome turned towards Haruhi and lifted a single brow in question. "Or would you rather wear something frilly, sparkling, fluffy and pink?"
Haruhi paused for a moment, blinking a few times as memories of the last outfit she had been forced to wear. "You're right. It's Souta's turn."
"Glad you see it my way." then Kagome finally took in the room before her and froze. "Haruhi... this doesn't look like a music room."
"Just be glad that you weren't here before. They like to play off of themes."
"So they have been making you do obscene things!" Kagome chuckled as Haruhi blushed the lightest amount.
Though, Kagome would admit that it was interesting. Despite the very European influenced walls, the room had a very Japanese feel to it. Screen walls parting the room off in sections and delicate potted plants and furnishings just adding to the flair of the room.
Kagome blinked when Haruhi was suddenly whisked away and most likely forced to dress up as whatever the day's theme was to be. If from what the twins were wearing, their striped matching kimono's that were only in different coloring, that Haruhi would be wearing something similar as well.
Kagome walked around the room, taking in the details of the props that were being used. Everything was of the finest craftsmanship to look as authentic as possible. It was sort of like she had stepped into Sesshoumaru's palace back in the past. A familiar picture drew her attention and as she made her way closer to it... she couldn't help but smile lightly. It was a rather good copy, and she knew it was a copy because the brush strokes looked forced and not as flowing as the original. Not only that, she had seen the original hanging back in Sesshoumaru's palace 500 years ago, and he still owned it to this veryday.
"It's a beautiful piece."
Kagome looked over her shoulder to find out that Ootori Kyoya had moved to stand just off to the side. He too was wearing a kimono, in forest green with a deep blue green leaf pattern and dark violet outer kimono hanging from his shoulders. He held a note book supported with a clip board in his hands. She could honestly say he was handsome, but she had grown immune to a mans charms by hanging out with all the godly beautiful demons in the past.
"Yes, it is. Sadly, it pales in comparison to the original."
Kyoya raised a brow before jotting down some notes, interested that she could tell that though the piece before her was expensive, it was still a copy of the original.
"How can you tell?" he was honestly interested. He had done some digging around Higurashi's past, but came up short on any useful information. It left him rather frustrated, but also intrigued
"In the original, the brush strokes were more free and fluid. Plus, the original is hanging in my elder brothers office." she shrugged her shoulders. She turned to the young man and took him in with slightly furrowed brows.
"I was also told after my doctors appointment, that you tried to hack into my files. Was there something you wanted to learn?"
Kyoya froze for a moment, only they both turned when they heard Haruhi walk up to them.
"I think it his hobby or something. When ones such as ourselves and have interesting background attend Ouran, he's basically the first to know. Everything." Haruhi's own kimono was white, but decorated in colorful flowers and she also wore a pink and red hair piece just above and behind her left ear. She also seemed to be carrying a sprig of either cherry or plum blossoms. All in all, it was rather feminine.
"I thought you were trying to keep her gender a secret. Isn't that a little... obvious?"
Haruhi looked down at herself, she had thought that exact same thing when she was forced to put it on and then the twins added the hair piece. She let out a sigh and watched the interaction between her friend and their upper class man as said upper class man jotted down some notes and made a random comment.
"Playing off of Haruhi's more feminine side is what helps bring customers in."
Both girls watched as he walked off to somewhere or other, leaving them to their thoughts. Kagome turned to Haruhi, and Haruhi to Kagome, both wearing small warm smiles.
"I'll have to admit, you do look rather cute in that outfit." Kagome quickly whipped her cell phone out and snapped a picture. She made a mental note to start carrying a camera with her at all times again. Especially if this was really to be an everyday thing by hanging around the Host club.
"Ah! Delete that photo!" Kagome simply held her cel,l with the screen facing her friend, out of her reach as Haruhi tried to grab the small hand held device till they both fell to the ground. Kagome could only be thankful that there were a number of cushions beneath her, otherwise it would have been rather painful.
Haruhi, forgetting all about the cell phone, scrambled off her friend with her hands hovering just above Kagome.
"Are you alright? I didn't mean to push you." the slightest amount of tears gathered in the corners of her eyes as Kagome hissed lightly and pushed herself up into a sitting position.
"I'm alright. It's a good thing that my doctor said that the wraps can come off earlier. Mostly bruises right now, so all's good." she smiled lightly and patted her friends head like she used to when either one of them got hurt when they were little.
"Well, if you're sure."
"I am, so stop worrying."
Haruhi nodded her head, catching a shine off of the cell in Kagome's other hand and made a move for the thing again.
"Ah! Not so fast!" Kagome stuck her tongue out and began teasing her friend with the picture, threatening to show it to her father and whatnot.
The others had gathered and watched the two play fighting. It was odd to see Haruhi act so... normal with her friend. She was still somewhat... reserved, but she acted more freely with the new student who acted just as freely compared to his more drawn in character. There was one thing that they couldn't deny what they saw before them though, it was rather beautiful.
"Kaa-san. Our daughter is rough housing with him. Do something!" Tamaki clutched onto his classmate, tears welling in his eyes and beginning to leave large tracks down his cheeks in a rather comical and dramatic fashion.
Kyoya smiled that smile of his, that told the others that he was already in the middle of planning something, as he pried the hands off the front of his kimono and forced the over dramatic blond to stand up straight.
"I already am. No need to worry about it... Tou-san." he pushed his glasses back to rest comfortably on the bridge of his nose, the light causing his glasses to glare and hide his eyes and sending a shiver down the spines of the others. Not that they would admit it.
"In the mean time, positions. We're about to open."
Haruhi helped Kagome back onto her feet and moved to stand with the others, throwing a mock glare at her friend when she heard the tell tale signs of the cell being used to once again take a photo. Though it quickly turned into a smile as Kagome simply stuck her tongue at her again and they then greeted the students that entered and showed their designated guests to their spots for the day.
Kagome sat off to the side while Haruhi spoke with a group of girls. Haruhi took after her father in weird ways it seemed. Her friend was a natural, host, to these school girls. Ironic really. Then again, no matter how different their backgrounds were, girls were able to bond easily. Most of the time.
Not her and Kikyo, and she had tried in the beginning. Shrugging her shoulders, why waste her time when the other miko would just spit in her face rather than try and work past their differences in order to defeat a great evil?
"Higurashi-san?" a soft whispered voice drew her from her musings, not realizing she had wondered around the room again.
Turning her head, her gaze landed on a petite girl, wavy hair cut at chin length. The other girls fingers twiddled with each other as the girl shied away slightly as if second guessing herself.
"Yes?" turning her body to face the other girl fully, she gave her her complete attention.
"Well... are you part of the host club?" Kagome blinked a few times at the question.
"No. I'm not..." brows furrowing slightly at where this conversation was going.
"Oh." the girl was blushing furiously and pouted with the answer she received.
"Why? Is it your wish that I be part of... all of this?" Kagome smirked, once again feeling she was channeling that perverted monk, as she moved closer to the timid girl.
"W-we-well tha-that is to say...!" she let out a quiet squeak when Kagome reached out, tucking a few strands of hair behind her right ear.
She followed the action by leaning in closer as if to whisper, pausing a moment when she saw that her current actions were being watched by the entire room that weren't obstructed by some form of decoration or wall. Smirking, Kagome returned her attention to the girl.
"Perhaps, if you ask me too, I'll consider it an option." it was rather out of character to act in such a way, but with everything she's been through, normal just didn't cut it any more.
Haruhi rolled her eyes and shook her head at the whole thing, noticing that Tamaki look ready to tear a handkerchief apart. With his teeth. Kyoya was writing madly away something or other and she had a feeling it was all about ways to get her friend to also join. One way or another.
First she had caught how every one were using eye drops to create that teary eyed look, and then one of the girls that was Tamaki's regulars shuffle after Kagome had decided to walk around again.
Her friend was ushering a red faced, weak kneed girl back to her seat and silently offered a cool glass of water. When the girl herself was finally sitting, her hands shook as she took slow small sips, she ducked her head when Kagome asked if she was alright. Despite that her friend did put the poor girl in her current state, seemed her childhood friend would still worry for others.
As Kagome was taking her seat next to the still steaming and flustered girl, she paused and threw a playful smirk to the blond upperclassman, not at all put off that she was sitting with said blond's table with his, guests.
"What's the matter, your Majesty? Feel as if your position is threatened?" Kagome simply turned her head away before the male could answer, losing herself in her thoughts again it appeared. Haruhi hazard a guess that their current surroundings may have been a factor for such.
After a minute of huffing and puffing that come from the 'Host Club King', earning concerned and wary looks from his regulars, Kagome turned back to the blond.
"Keep looking like that, and you'll get wrinkles. Anger and jealousy don't suit you." she leaned over and flicked him in the forehead. A loud cry sounded around them, as Tamaki's hands flew up to his forehead and soon enough the two entered a playful banter. Well, Haruhi saw that Kagome was playing with the guy, while Tamaki seemed to be honestly arguing with her friend.
Haruhi knew it was only the beginning, but it was good to see her friend come out of her shell.
AN: I would just like to say, I love each and every one of you all! I would also like to give props to those that suggested bet ideas for between Kagome and Shippo! You all rock my socks off! xD
BloodCherry hakusho14 Youko's Befuddled Fox
moonlightdaisy Rissa-channn Azra
You guys are awesome! Gave me such wonderful ideas. Anyways, I really hoped you enjoyed this chapter!
~ Bunny.W.K