Chapter 7

Kagome cradled her head in growing frustration, her mental capacity for stupidity at its limits. Two weeks of anarchy within the club had the young miko at her wit's end.

First, the members had freaked out over the physical exams, all of them worrying about how to make sure Haruhi's and Kagome's true genders stayed a secret within the club. It had been a total fiasco with the members running around with their idiotic plans when all Kagome had to do was speak with Kyoya about securing a private screening for Haruhi and herself.

She could still remember the violet gleam in his silver eyes, how they had narrowed and how she could practically see the calculating plot he had prepared for her. His smirk had twisted his face in an evil serpent-like fashion. "It will cost you." It had come out as a smooth hiss of a deep baritone, made all the more ominous by his looming stature.

Just the memory had Kagome checking over her shoulder. A shiver ran down her spine as she caught his eyes that glittered intently with a Cheshire-like grin.

Her payment to the dark prince? A "simple" request that when the time came, she would have to return a favor of his choosing whenever he wanted.

Shoving down her sudden anxiety, Kagome stuck out her tongue before looking boredly back at her book. But found it hard to concentrate as her guests, who'd been studying with her, were talking about The Host Clubs movie.

She found it rather trying not to just snap at them as the topic had to do with the second most annoying thing to happen within the last couple of weeks. The psychotic french girl. She had been interfering with the club until just the other day.

It had been funny, at first, seeing as Kyoya had a human stalker. The girl had fawned over him, and because of their parents being business partners, Kyoya had done nothing to quell the girl's infatuation with him and the club in turn. It had ended in a bizarre twist in which they- the club members- had been in a movie; it had surprisingly been fun.

Kagome had been cast as Haruhi's childhood best friend, with a homosexual love for the other teen. They had been in a scene where Kagome was defending Haruhi from Mitsukuni, who'd been cast as a bully of the two. It had been fun to practice a small fight scene but come time for shooting, Renge had pushed for actual violence, and Mitsukuni had broken down into Kagome's arms, sobbing that he didn't want to hurt her. It had been nice to hold the older boy, he was so childish despite the strength that he held. For a moment, it had reminded her of holding Shippo, making the girl cry as she held him just as tight with a whisper 'I don't want to hurt you either Hani-senpai,.'

With the film ruined because of Renge's continued erratic and near impossible requests. She had left and then returned with a renewed crush on Haruhi and Kagome.

Let's just say Kagome was rather grateful when she was called to the Chairmen's office and excused from the rest of her Host Club duties.

Grabbing her bag, Kagome made her way to the office, not at all noticing the small blonde and his tall shadow that trailed behind.

Mitsukuni looked to Takahi when Kagome was called, a curious and equally worried look flashing in his honey gold eyes. His father had warned them to be on their best behavior, as the ruling Daiyoukai lord of all of Japan would be traveling to the school this afternoon.

He had only felt the Daiyoukai presence for a second. Still, it was a second long enough that when Kagome was called immediately after, the young blonde grew fearful for his friend. Mitsukuni was a powerful youkai on his own- stronger than anyone in his clan, a master of martial arts, but he would never stand a chance against the killer Daiyoukai.

With a nod to Takashi, the blonde excused themselves to follow the raven-hair host.

Kagome was led into the room she'd first met the chairmen. It was just as it had been, decorated much like the rest of the school with cream and gold filigree. The chairmen sat behind the desk, a smile pulling on the faint wrinkles on his face. In one of the two chairs sat someone with black hair, seeing as she could only see the top of their head.

Bowing Kagome quickly apologized. "I'm so sorry to intrude, Mr. Suoh; I'll wait outside,"

"That won't be necessary, miko," his deep baritone washed over her; the cool manner in which he addressed her had her heart leaping into her throat, and tears brickle her eyes. "It was this one who'd requested your presence after all."

He stood, a glimmer of magic falling like glittering petals from his tall stature. The blackness of his hair melted away to show silver moon kissed hair that fell down to his knees despite the thick braid holding it back. But it was when he turned that Kagome shuttered, her knees threatening to give out as she looked into his beautiful face and searing gold eyes.

"Sess- Sesshomaru-sama?" his name came out like a broken prayer, a whisper of air just barely audible to the imposing lord because of his demonic hearing.

He raised a brow. "I was unaware you cared for me so deeply, miko."

She shook her head, tears falling in hot tracks down her flushed cheeks. With a burst of speed, she launched herself at him, and he didn't bother to avoid her as her body collapsed into his muscled torso. Instead, he raised his arms to hug her back, one circling her shoulders as he caressed her head with his other hand.

"Of course, I missed you."

The daiyoukai smirked, a flicker of fondness in his eyes. "Of course," he whispered back. It was as if he'd traveled back to the past, intrigued by the strange human miko who had shown him such kindness despite him having tried to kill her. Such a funny creature he had come to care for all those years ago. But she looked much younger than the woman who'd disappeared and more like the child who had first stood against him within his father's tomb.

"Come, there is much for us to discuss in much more comfortable accommodations," he straightened, and with it, a glamour of magic encased his form. Silver hair dulled to black, his pale face vacant of his demonic markings, and once luminescent amber eyes cooled to a bracey brown. The daiyoukai was still handsome as a human but lacking the power and beauty of his demonic form.

With a sniff and hard wipe at her eyes, Kagome nodded, more than ready to follow the daiyoukai anywhere.

The restriction she'd put on her reiki slipped, allowing a small tendril of energy to flow out and caress the small youkai Sesshomaru allowed outside of his human glamour. She savored it, holding tight to the familiarity. Her chest felt warm, and a part of her once more felt close to whole.

All too soon, his youki was pulled back, and she felt nothing. Kagome nearly whimpered but stopped when remembering they weren't alone. Following suit, Kagome once more pulled her reiki in and masked her aura.

Sesshomaru turned to Chairmen Suoh and gave a nod. "We will be leaving,"

The chairmen stood with a deep bow, his head almost hitting his desk. "It has been an honor to converse with you today, Lord Sesshomaru. I hope that you will think over my request, "

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, a flare to his nostrils that would have easily gone unnoticed if Kagome wasn't paying such close attention to the daiyoukai. He was irritated, even angry from the look of it.

Leaving the room, Kagome followed close behind Sesshomaru. And as much as she tried to stop herself, she reached out and gently grabbed onto the end of his sleeve. The stoic youkai offered her a brief look but slowed his pace so that she could walk closer to him.

Out of the corner of his eyes, Sesshomaru notices the two boys staring at them, the two young youkai, looking on nervously and even a little afraid from the look of the young tiger youkai.

He slowed, allowing Kagome to walk beside him, her scent a mix of sadness and joy but equally depressed. They would need to speak. But not when there were so many ears to overhear their conversation.

~o.O~O.o~

Three days passed, and Kagome had yet to return to school; even in class, her name wasn't mentioned as if the teachers already knew that she wouldn't be returning to class for the time being. Haruhi had seemed worried but not as much as Mitsukuni and Takashi when Kagome hadn't joined them in the club room the next day. The human girl had said that Kagome was simply sick but did little to quell the unease within the two youkai.

On the third day, Mitsukuni felt it was time to inform his fellow club members of the person they'd seen leading Kagome out of the school.

Haruhi had been excused from club duties, and the club had been closed to guests upon Mitsukuni's request.

Tamaki sat at the head of the table, his mood gloomy alongside that of both Hikaru and Kaoru. Kyouya was the same as every, except he was slower in his calculations, showing a hint of the worry everyone was currently experiencing.

"What is this about Hani-senpai?" Tamaki asked, his eyes lazily meeting his.

"It's about K'gome-chan," the teen started, squeezing his stuffed rabbit Usa-chan, trying to take comfort from it, but no matter how tightly he held it, the worry would not leave him.

The blonde perked up just a little before slumping further in his chair. A depressed air surrounding him as he openly pouted. "What about her? How could she not tell daddy that she's sick?" he ranted to himself before looking towards two pictures, one of Haruhi and the other of Kagome, both of them dressed in their middle school uniform. "Daddy just wants to take care of you!" He cried much to the group's irritation.

Kyouya's head fell before glaring at the blonde but decided not to say anything.

Kaoru leaned forward, arms crossed on the table. "Boss, nows not the time." The group stiffened; no one ever called out Tamaki's eccentric behavior. Normally they let it run its course or just carry on. But Kaoru looked worried, tired, and even annoyed, his tone serious lacking its usual mischievous edge. "I'm worried about Kagome," gold eyes turned to Mitsukuni, gleaming with urgency. "Do you know something, Hani-senpai?"

Mitsukuni gulped as he nodded, an almost unnoticeable tremble taking his form.

Takahi placed a comforting hand on the small teen's shoulder, offering him a squeeze of support before he turned and addressed the club members. His deep voice cut through the air. "We saw the Grand Daiyoukai of the West take Kagome." Everyone froze; the panic that followed was almost palpable with its intensity.

The room fell into silence.

wolfYLady: I am happy to post this chapter, time to get angsty! I am a glutton for angst- I always find a way to work that in as of late (I wonder what that says about me). Anyway, this was a nice chapter to write as I really wanted to find a way to start the group towards figuring out that Kagome is more than what she appears (more than a woman dressed as a man).

As always:

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