Chapter 4: Dinner, a Duet of Sorts


Kyoya adjusted his time for the umpteenth time, scrutinizing his reflection in the mirror as he tried to maneuver the stifling fabric. It was Sunday night, 5:57 to be exact. This meant that in less than three minutes he would be taking part in possibly the worst part of the weekend, the Ootori family dinner. It was a horrifically boring affair that managed to last longer than an hour without anyone speaking a word.

With a final tug of his tie, it fell nicely into place. Pushing his glasses up his nose, Kyoya sighed deeply. He exited his room quietly and made his way toward the staircase. It was time.


On the other side of the city, Kagome was rushing to finish getting ready. Tripping over the piles of clothes strewn about her floor, the miko wrestled her body into a cute blue sundress. Just as she slipped the fabric over her hips, her traitorous foot caught on the edge of a shoe. With a small cry she collided with the floor in a loud thump.

"You okay, Sis?" Souta asked from behind her door. Kagome glared at him through it, telling him to go away. She could hear her little brother mumbling about crabby sisters as he left, but she didn't care as she was running late.

"Kagome, I think someone is here for you!" Mama Higurashi's voice called up from downstairs.

"Coming!" Kagome called back, adjusting the dress to lay a tad more flattering.

Grabbing a loose cardigan from her closet, the miko shot out of her room and only stopped briefly to shove her feet into a fashionable pair of wedges. As soon as the straps were secured, the miko bolted out the front door down to the car waiting for her on the street.

Back at the house, Mama Higurashi stood in the doorway as she waved her daughter off. With a wistful smile and memories of her determined girl going through time, she reentered the home.


Family dinner was as opulent as the colorful array of fruits and desserts stylishly laid out on platters. The sheer lavishness of the display served to testify to the wealth of his family if not his father's semi-secret obsession with sweets.

Scooping another bite of rich cheesecake into his mouth, Kyoya counted down the minutes until he could return to his room. Dinner had been quiet (as expected) and went by quickly (not as expected).

The end of dinner came with the Ootori patriarch standing up from his chair. Primly, he adjusted his jacket and faced the family with dark eyes. Kyoya waited expectantly to be dismissed until his father made direct eye contact with him.

"Kyoya, come with me." His father's sharp tone hit sliced through Kyoya like a knife.

"Of course, Father."

'Shit.'

0-0-0

Curious blue eyes sparkled as her chauffeur brought the car through a massive metal gate. Trees accented the long drive up to a beautiful mid-century home. The driver opened the door and swiftly disappeared into the trees. Kagome ogled the beautiful homes as she walked up a cobblestone path. It seemed that Shippo and Souten had very expensive tastes.

Just as her hand reached for the ornate fox knocker on the door, it opened up to reveal a brightly smiling Shippo. The man pulled her into his arms for a tight squeeze.

"Welcome to our home, Kagome! Make yourself at home and watch out for the gremlins," Shippo said ushering her inside. Kagome quirked a brow at him in the question of what "gremlins" he was speaking of when she was suddenly knocked to the ground.

"Granny!" A girl who looked to be about twenty years old tackled her into a hug. The girl stared at her with expectant emerald eyes. Kagome stared blankly before registering who it was.

"Satsuki! You've grown so much." Kagome brought her into a tight hug. "Don't call me granny, you're way older than me."

"You're Pop's Ma sooo not happening Granny," Satsuki snickered. With her bright green eyes and mischievous ways, Kagome realized how closely she resembled her sire. "Enough talking, let's go eat I'm starving!"

"Couldn't have said it better myself, let's go!"

With an arm held by Satsuki and Shippo, Kagome was promptly marched inside the home.

0-0-0

Soundlessly, Kyoya followed behind his father at a reasonable distance. Although his face was the picture of calm and collected, his mind was racing with the possibilities for his sire to summon him.

A butler opened the office door with a bow and the two Ootoris proceeded. The patriarch settled into his massive office chair, pinning Kyoya with a silent command. The son obliged and took a seat.

"Let's cut to the chase, shall we?" Yoshio rested his chin over interlocked fingers, staring straight through Kyoya.

"Of course, Father."

"I know this is your first year, but do remember the reputation this family has worked so hard to cultivate. We don't need it ruined by any fleeting fancies. At your age, I was enticed by the girls in my class but I never lost sight of what was important. Do you understand, Kyoya?"

Kyoya's throat went dry and words escaped him. Unable to articulate a verbal response, he nodded his head.

"Perfect, then we have nothing else to discuss. You are dismissed." His father immediately pulled out some papers and began to read.

Kyoya politely bowed before leaving the office. As he walked back to his bedroom, fists were secured in tight fists at his sides.

0-0-0

Dinner with the Kistunezuka family was a boisterous and chatty event. Although the family was small, what they lacked in numbers they made up for in noise. Half of the dinner, Kagome had barely eaten to prevent herself from laughing into a choking fit. If Satsuki looked most like her mother, she acted most like her father. The two squabbled over small pranks, occasionally tossing pieces of food when Souten wasn't looking.

"I hope you know you're both cleaning up this mess!" Souten growled hands splayed over her swollen belly. The two other family members did not seem to heed her tone or her words. As they continued their antics, Kagome hid her giggles beneath her palm.

It was strange being gathered around the table with only Shippo and his family. The atmosphere reminded the miko of times where campfires were feast tables and friends were plenty.

Once they were finished cleaning up the table, Kagome stopped Shippo in the kitchen.

"Shippo… Can we talk?" Kagome asked in a hushed tone. The redhead paused his cleaning for a moment to look her in the eye before nodding his head.

Together, they stepped outside. The smell of the forest filled her senses with nostalgia and petrichor. The pair settled down on the porch, legs hanging off the edge and feet touching the grass. They stayed this way for a few moments before Kagome found her bravery and spoke up.

"Is anyone else still around?"

Shippo stilled, his eyes drifting away to a place far away. Nervously, Kagome fiddled with the hem of her cardigan.

"Not everyone," Shippo started. "The others died centuries ago."

"I see," Kagome deflated at the statement. "What about…"

"That old dog is still kickin'. I don't think there's anything that could kill the bastard or his brother."

"Inuyasha's alive?" Kagome gasped, her fingers grasping Shippo's sleeve. The fox demon smirked at her, but it melted into a wry smile.

"Yep. Though he isn't doing well, the disease got to his mate a few weeks ago."

The miko nodded numbly, her heart aching. Shippo panicked seeing her somber expression.

"But that's why we have you! You're gonna help us through this, your powers will be an invaluable asset once you've completed your studies!" Shippo declared. Kagome watched as his smile grew broad, tiny fangs poking over his lip in his faith in her.

He put on a face of unbridled confidence but the weight of her new future, her new responsibilities weighed down her shoulders. Kagome's eyes cast down to her lap, her dinner curdling horribly in the pit of her stomach.


A/N: And the plot thickens? I got a lot of writing done today so y'all are getting a special double feature with chapters today. please drop a review or follow this story as it unwinds, and as always thank you for reading. :)