Beta: ShikiKira

Don't Trust First Appearances

Chapter Six

Kagome had made an emergency trip home. No, not to Shippo's mansion or even Sesshomaru's estate, but her true home, the shrine.

Kagome and Sota sat in a disturbing silence, neither wanted to speak while their mother was talking on the phone. It wasn't from politeness. They were quiet because of the topic of the call.

"Thank you for your time." Nodoka Higurashi hung up the phone. She solemnly looked at her two sad children. She told them, "Tomorrow at eleven." It was currently Friday morning meaning whatever was planned was to happen during their day off of school.

Kagome took a deep breath. It's up to me now, she thought, I have to watch over them now. "I'm headed off to school."

Mitsukuni stared at Kagome. He had been quiet all day not like he wasn't any other day, but something seemed different this time. The blond thought Kagome was more distant than ever before. Was it because of what happened with Tama-chan? As soon as class ended, he rushed over to the unattainable host. "Ne! Ne! Kago-chan what's wrong?" He tilted his head cutely in a questioning matter.

"Nothing..." I have to stay strong, though the blue-eyed girl in disguise.

While Mori was surrounded by a few girls, Mitsukuni took Kagome's hand and pulled her up from her seat. "In that case let's hurry to the club. I'm sure everyone is waiting."

Honey pulled Kagome a few steps away from her desk and towards the door. Kagome escaped his grip and stopped walking. She just stood there looking at the blond. "Gomen Mitsukuni. I'm not up to it today, perhaps Monday. Ja ne." She walked past him and went the opposite direction of the third music room. She just wanted some time on her own.

Honey watched Kagome's leaving figure with concerned eyes. He had seen the look in her eyes, grief, sorrow, and loneliness.

Kagome walked straight home to the shrine and went to her room without saying a word to anyone.

The next day Honey was wandering the town where all the commoners lived. The Host Club, excluding Kagome, went to visit Haruhi at her home, but she had to go shopping. Tamaki not wanting to leave his daughter alone went shopping with her. They had all been wandering when Honey got separated from the others.

It was then that the short senior saw several people leaving... from a cemetery? Had someone died? He looked over the fenced area to see three remaining people around a grave. There was some woman, a small boy, and... Kagome! That must have been why he was depressed and distant.

He watched the scene from afar. Kagome was hugging who he assumed was his younger brother. Not only was he hugging and soothing him, but Kagome was reassuring his family that everything would be alright. That he would do anything in his power to help them.

Mitsukuni thought about how strong Kagome was emotionally. He watched him wave goodbye to his family. He couldn't help but wonder though. If Kagome was being strong for his family, who was his strength?

Kagome waved to her family telling them that she would remain just a bit longer. Once she knew they were far enough away, she returned her gaze to the gravestone. Her grandpa's name engraved on it. He had suddenly died though the good thing was that he wasn't in pain as he died.

Kagome continued to stare at the gravestone as tears formed in her eyes threatening to spill. She had been so strong. She didn't want to see everyone so sad. She wanted to see them happy again, so she did everything she could to at least comfort them, but that meant she was left alone. She didn't have someone to help her through her sad times. Helping everyone else meant suffering herself.

"You can cry you know. You...You don't always have to be the strong one."

Kagome's head whipped around to where she heard the voice. Her teary eyes widened. It was Mitsukuni, though something about him seemed much more mature than he usually was. She wasn't thinking clearly. She just needed to grieve herself.

Honey's next words set her off. "You can rely on me."

Without another second wasted tears flowed free from her eyes as she fell to her knees and brought her classmate -no- her friend into a hug and cried into his chest. Her throat was both sore and dry as she cried. Her eyes and face became redder as she was unable to stop her actions. Her slim body trembled unable to contain her emotions and her heartbeat thumping hard in her chest at the heartbreak of a dead family member. When she attempted to calm down, she couldn't. Instead hiccups began and mixed in with her sorrowful sobs.

Mitsukuni felt his heart tighten at the scene presented to him. He couldn't help but return the hug. He would be the one to comfort her.

A good half hour later Kagome was finally able calm herself down. Her eyes puffy and red would take a while to calm down. She tilted her head upward, her blue eyes looking into his brown ones. Despite the situation, she offered Mitsukuni a small yet bright and beautiful smile.

"Arigato Mitsukuni."

There was a new feeling to the blond's heart. Doki. Doki.

The wind gently blew and Kagome looked back to the grave.

You may be physically gone, but you shall remain in my heart eternally.

ShikiKira here! Everyone please offer your condolences to Void-chan. This chapter represents what has just happened in her family.

DVP21: Well I am dedicating this chapter to my grandmother who recently passed away. Her funeral was today actually hence this chapter. Although she is gone she was one of the nicest people I ever knew (Seriously, you should have seen all the people who came to say goodbye one last time. I'm not just saying it. She really was one of the nicest people ever).