Chapter 7: Just Another Day

They made it home quickly enough after school. He was still in a sour mood after that confrontation with that rude third-year girl. Her attitude had been atrocious and not something Kagome deserved. Kagome was always nice to everyone and had never done anything directly or indirectly to that Tsubaki bitch, as he would call her. He wasn't really one to call anyone a bitch, but the term fit her to a t.

"Don't worry so much about it, ototo," Kagome told him as Nasaka packed away her homework. "I don't let the words of a pitiful girl affect me."

"She was going to throw hot tea in your face," he nearly snarled back.

"Mitsukuni stopped her though," Kagome said.

"Someone tried to hurt ane?" Nasaka asked, tears in her eyes.

"Nothing of the such was going to happen," Kagome assured the young girl with a smile. "Your ane is psychic." She winked at the girl.

"Really?" She looked excited.

"Don't put ideas in her head," Nana said.

"Someone had a bad day," Kagome said. "Do you want to talk about it?" She gave her sister a pleading look. "I might be able to help."

"Why would I talk about anything with you? Not like you can do anything about it anyways." She looked outside the window.

"Don't mind her, ane. She's probably just on her period." Nana bristled at his words.

"That isn't it," Kagome said. "You can't blame female's behavior on their periods, ototo. That isn't right." She was scolding him, and he looked away. "But really, Nana, if you need anyone to talk to, I am here." She looked just as upset so Kagome turned away from her. "And how was your day, imouto?" She looked at the girl with a smile.

"It was okay, I guess," she said, smile fading. "I aced all of my tests, but a boy was picking on me." She seemed genuinely upset about it.

"Oh? What is this boy's name?" She was looking for any possible way to make it better for her imouto.

"Tatigawa Hibiki," she said.

"I will have a talk with his brother tomorrow, okay?" The young girl nodded and got out after the limo door opened. She headed in with her siblings. Mori couldn't tutor her today because he had a kendo class he had to teach for his family. She could understand. They all had family obligations.

"Ane, can you play with me?" Nasaka asked her.

"I'm sorry imouto, I have to go setup my room." She watched Nasaka get disheartened. "But if you want, you can come with me." She brightened up.

"I want to see your room," she said excitedly.

"Alright, just try not to get in my way, okay?" She nodded quickly, and they headed up the stairs.

"You know she cares, right?" Naosuke asked Nana.

"It could all just be an act," she commented.

"I doubt it." He seemed to shrug. "She's helped me a lot, Nasaka looks up to her, because you ignore her. I think you should at least try to get to know her. You'd be surprised." He headed up the stairs. "I'm going to get changed." He waved over his shoulder.

"She took everything away from us. Why can't you see that?" She whispered. She was sad now that everyone was gone.

-Scene Change-

Kagome heard her whispered words and sighed. She knew her sister was having a hard time with this. Change was hard, but she wanted to show her that change could be a good thing. She just went back into her room and had setup her large futon in the area she was going to sleep in that was up the stairs in a loft like area of her room. She set up the partition to give that area more privacy and placed on it some linens. She had a short stand next to it with a picture of her mother, Souta, and her grandfather. Miroku's rosary was sitting with it in a glass case. It was a gift from him after the defeat of Naraku. Inuyasha's necklace was with it and a pendant from Sango with it. There was Shippo's favorite wooden top in a corner of the stand. She smiled sadly at the relics before going back down the stairs into the main area of her room. She set up an armoire under the stairs and stored inside of it some of her dried tea leaves and medicinal herbs. Inside the closed doors was a kettle and tea pot with some tea cups. In one of the drawers was a calligraphy set with strips of paper to make ofudas and other good luck charms. In another drawer was spare cushions for kneeling on. She had setup a table by the armoire and next to a partition. There was a cushion placed with it. There was another low table with cushions placed on each side with a partition on the right and wall on the left. Going back into the larger portion of her room, she saw the Zen garden she had setup in a corner, the tools for it set in a small cabinet next to it. It was only a four by four box with several rocks surrounded by sand. Next to the shed was a set of shelves, some bonsai tree set on it. Another partition was setup and after it was a place to burn incense with a cabinet with different incense. There was a bamboo fountain and a cushion for her to meditate on. Another partition was set up, and after that was the kotatsu and several shelves of books and Knick knacks she had. There were a few pictures and a few antiques she had gotten her grandfather to give her. There were a few traditional musical instruments in this area. After that was the door that led to her private bathroom and walk in closet.

"Are we done now?" Nasaka whined. She was tired of moving things around.

"Yes," Kagome told her with a smile. Nasaka gave a small cheer and finally looked around. It seemed warm but there was a spiritual feel about it all and she could see all the fairytales and myths that lined her sister's shelves.

"Sugoi! You have a lot of books." She looked excited and bounced over to the bookshelves. "Grimm's Fairytales?"

"Yes. They are like snow white and beauty and the beast, but slightly darker. You shouldn't read those until you are a bit older." Nasaka nodded and continued to look.

There was a knock on the door and Kagome went to answer it.

"It's dinner time," the maid said, and Kagome called Nasaka over and walked down the stairs with her. The maid peaked in before closing the door.

They made it to the dining room with Nasaka talking quickly and excitedly. She was asking for a story before bed and Kagome was more than happy to oblige her sister. They took their seats as their father came in and took his seat. When everyone was seated, the maid placed food on the table and left quickly and quietly.

Kagome listened to Nasaka talk about her day, but she had her attention on Nana. She was upset, but no one seemed to pay her any mind. She wanted to find out what was wrong but knew Nana wouldn't say anything. It seemed everyone here just paid more attention to themselves or the youngest in the family. Nasaka was very much loved and she could see how the doting she received rubbed Nana the wrong way. Maybe someone at school would know what was wrong. She would have to see.

"Ane has traditional Japanese instruments in her room," she managed to catch. Nana tried to hide her interest, but Kagome caught it, even if she didn't make it known.

"I didn't know she played," her father commented. He looked at her.

"I only dawdle," Kagome said, a blush on her cheeks. "I don't have too much time for it, with everything else that is going on." She placed her chopsticks down. She was already finished eating and was waiting for her father to dismiss them for the evening. She couldn't help to notice that no one really spent a lot of time together, as far as their parents went. She spent some of her time with Naosuke and Nasaka. The rest of her time was spent at school, on homework, or in the garden she recently started with the items her father provided. The tea was just sprouting.

Her father's phone rang, and he stood to take the business call. He walked out, and they took that as their queue to leave. She left through the backdoor. She was already in her work out clothes. She kept her running shoes near the back. She pulled them on and took off on the recently paved path. It was easier to run the perimeter now. She loved running through the forest at the back of the house. She explored the forest a bit to see a hot spring. She would love to take a dip but she didn't have a towel. There were a few deer that she had seen and a family of foxes. They had a burrow near a cluster of wisteria trees. She usually brought the foxes some scraps of meat, fruits, and veggies in the morning. They often greeted her because of it. She liked them.

She came back to the front of the yard and stretched as she pulled her running shoes off. She walked in and up to her room to see Nasaka asleep on the cushion she used for meditation. She picked her up and walked to her sister's room. She tucked her in and walked back to her room. She closed the door and took a quick shower before changing into a pair of shorts and a tank top. She lit an incense and sat in a meditative pose. She would do this for thirty minutes then head to sleep. She was more comfortable now that the room was setup how she liked.

~Scene Change~

Kagome looked around the group in her section to see a new face. She smiled at the first year and poured him some tea. She offered him some mochi. He declined and listened as a third-year girl complimented her on the tea and desserts. He was shy, but he really wanted some advice about girls. "Is there something in particular you need?" She looked at him. He was blushing.

"Ano, if I could speak to you in private, Hisagawa-senpai," he said.

"Hai. Ototo, see to these gentlemen and ladies, and I will be back." She placed her tea cup down on the saucer and stood. He stood up and they left the room. He guided her down a hall and stopped outside a door. It was cracked a little and he looked inside. He blushed. "There is this girl I like, but I don't think she even sees me. How can I get her to see me?" He looked back at her.

She looked in the door to see her sister playing the violin. She smiled and looked at the boy. She moved back. "Well, what do you know about her?" She guided him away from the door to not disturb them.

"She has mastered five musical instruments and is working on three more. She's dedicated to everything she does. Her favorite color is royal blue, even though she claims it is magenta, like her friends." He blushed. "She doesn't feel like she has a family." He seemed sad. "I think it is because they haven't shown up to a single recital." He lowered his head.

"What about her favorite flower?" She wanted him to be happy again. This was also her chance to learn more about her other sister.

"Well if you ask her in front of her friends, she would say roses, because that's what they like, but if you catch her alone, it is apparent that she prefers anemone. She likes dark chocolate over any other chocolate or candy. She prefers tea over coffee, but only drinks coffee in front of her friends. She's smart, but she doesn't want to come off as too smart, especially with her friends. I am sure she is a completely different person than what she puts on for her friends." Kagome nodded.

"I am assuming you are talking about my imouto." He blushed and lowered his head. "It's alright, I won't tell her." She smiled. "Start leaving her small gifts with a note, but don't leave your name. It'll get her to start wondering who it is. The gifts could be her favorite chocolate, her favorite flower, a small trinket, things you think she will like. Write her some poetry. You can leave little hints that it is you without actually saying it. She should be able to piece it together." She patted his shoulder. "I rather she dates someone like you as opposed to who she thinks her friends would want her to date." He nodded. "I have to get back now."

"Arigato, Hisagawa-senpai," he said with a deep bow and she ruffled his hair before leaving him alone in the hallway.

~At the Same Time, Back in The Host Room~

He looked around the group his ane left him with. There was a number of males waiting for his ane to return and a group of females, ranging in age. They were mostly regulars with the occasional new person that was curious about his and his ane's dynamic. Some of the girls looked at him with blushes on their faces.

"Ano, Hisagawa-kun," a girl said shyly with a blush on her cheeks. "Do you have a girlfriend?" She couldn't look at him.

"Iie." He took a sip from his tea cup.

"What do you look for in a girl?" It was another first-year girl he knew.

"It's changed a bit since my ane came into the picture," he admitted. "Before I would have just said someone I found attractive. But now, I would have to say someone that could cook. Yes, a chef's cooking is good, but nothing beats the taste of love when it comes to food. Someone smart and sure of themselves. Someone that is beautiful inside and out." Some of the girls blushed at the determined look on his face. "Someone I can have conversation with, that challenges the way I think and see things. Age doesn't really matter, but I would probably say someone older than me." A few girls looked disheartened at what he said. "Until I find that one special girl, I am not opposed to talking to any of you lovely ladies." He gave them a smirk and they blushed even more.

"Ototo, you weren't breaking too many hearts while I was gone, right?" His ane said from behind him.

"Of course not, ane." He looked up at her. "They asked a question and I answered it as honestly as I could." She nodded as she came around and took her seat again. She sipped her tea and the girls looked at her. To them, it sounded like he wanted to date someone that was like his sister.

"Ah, Tatigawa-kun," Kagome said, seeing the second year that was always here.

"Hisagawa-chan, you can call me Satoshi. We are in the same class, after all." He looked at her and smirked.

"Only if you call me Kagome." He nodded and sipped his tea. "Satoshi-kun, I believe my younger sister, Nasaka is in class with your brother, Hibiki." He nodded. "She told me your brother was picking on her."

"I apologize. I will have a talk with him when I get home."

"Thank you." She smiled. "What did your grandfather think of the tea?"

"He enjoyed it and wanted to know the process and ratios of what you used. He would understand if you didn't want to reveal your secrets."

"A lady doesn't reveal her secrets." He nodded.

Club hours had ended, and it found Kagome walking down the hall to the music room her sister had been in earlier. She noticed that only the director was in, so she came into the room after knocking. He looked at her, not recognizing her.

"Can I help you with something?" He took his glasses off.

"Actually, I heard there was a recital coming up."

"And you want to fill a slot?" He looked at his clipboard.

"No, my younger sister, Nana, is she participating?" He scanned over his clip board.

"Yes. She is playing five different instruments. The ocarina, violin, flute, piano, and the harp." He looked at her. "There was a rumor to there being another Hisagawa sibling. You must be her." She nodded. "Did you want to get a ticket for the recital?"

"I wanted to get five. I know that my father, brother, sister and step mother don't usually go, but I think I might be able to get them to go. Please don't tell her. I want it to be a surprise."

"Alright." He got five tickets and she paid for them before slipping them into her bag.

"Thank you." She bowed before running out of the room. She didn't want to keep her siblings waiting too long.