Chapter 6
"Chika-chan!"
At the sound of that voice, Yasuchika whipped around as his eyes widened in horror. "Wha-what are you doing here?!"
"I brought her!" Satoshi chirped; Kagome's arm still linked with his own. The miko giggled, unlocking their arms and skipping forward to hug Chika around the shoulders. The club members behind the Haninozuka president stared wide-eyed at the girl… W-who was this?
She… she was gorgeous!
"Ack! Off! Off!" Yasuchika shouted, grabbing at Kagome's arms, only managing to pull her off a little bit. "Why are you here?!"
"I wanted to see you compete! Oo, oo, are these your members?" The miko peaked around the middle-scholar's form to the Karate club, smiled, and waved at them. They all looked at her with this dazed, flushed expression, unable to wave back, making Kagome frown. She looked back at Chika in concern, "Are they alright?"
Satoshi snickered, just as Yasuchika sweatdropped, "Yeah, they're fine." An icy glare formed on his face as he looked at Satoshi, then over his shoulder at his club members, who all hurried off to run through their warm-ups before the showcase began.
Kagome shrugged it off, then leaned forward and kissed Yasuchika right on the cheek, "Good luck, Chika-chan!"
She sauntered off back over to Satoshi, who led her over to the bleachers to watch. Yasuchika huffed, turning back around to complete his warm-ups, only to see his club members staring at him slack jawed.
The brown-haired boy's eyes twitched, "What the hell are you looking at?! Back to work!"
"HAI!"
"How come you never said you knew Mori-senpai?!"
Kagome looked up from her mobile phone, cerulean blue eyes landing on two rather irritated looking Hitachiin twins. She blinked, "Huh?" Ohh… Right… that… A smile pulled at the miko's face, "Well, it's simple! You didn't ask!"
They both deadpanned at that answer, exchanging a long glance… Kaoru sighed, sliding into his seat behind Kagome, "Still- you could have mentioned it."
"It never came up," the miko shrugged nonchalantly as Hikaru took his seat. Kagome glanced around the classroom, just as Haruhi walked through the door. A smile overtook her face, "Hey, Haruhi! Over here!"
The honor-student sighed as he set his bag on his desk, "I don't know where else I'd sit. You do realize we have assigned seating right?"
"Well yeah," Kagome wasn't ashamed in the slightest, unlike most people who would be flushed in embarrassment… Haruhi was pretty sure by now that Kagome didn't know what embarrassment felt like.
The honor student settled into his seat, just as Karou leaned forward, a few sheets of paper already on his desk. "Hey Haruhi, what'd you get for question four on our lit homework?"
"Uh, let me check." Haruhi pulled out a folder from her bag, while Kagome blinked.
"Wait… we had homework?"
Kagome sighed happily as she took a bite of the strawberry cake Haruhi had presented to her moments ago. The honor student snorted as he poured their tea, "I'm starting to think you only come here for the sweets."
"Hey!" the miko's head snapped up, a furious frown on her face. "That's not true!"
"It is, Kagome."
But Haruhi couldn't keep the grin from forming on his face, making Kagome glower, and his other guests giggled at their antics…
"Hey, Kagome-chan," Kaoru slung an arm over Kagome's shoulders as they walked down the halls of Ouran Academy, whispers following them. The miko didn't hear the whispers, too absorbed into watching Hikaru drag Haruhi in front of them.
But then, her attention shifted to the red-head. "Hai?"
"You're coming to the club, right?"
"Yep! Hope you've got room for one more guest today, Kaoru-kun!"
Kyoya was the only one who noticed that day the twins request rate was up.
Kagome didn't know how she got herself into this…
She looked at the delicate fine china in her hands, then over to Tamaki, who was to her left, talking animatedly about something or other… Wait, it had something to do with history. Cerulean blue eyes narrowed, "What are you talking about, Souh-senpai?"
Tamaki's purple orbs flickered to her and cast a charming smile her way, "I was merely stating how romantic the Edo Period must have been! Don't you agree~?"
"No, it was war-torn, there was no peace."
He gasped dramatically, "But all those men going off to battle to protect their lovely maidens, I can think of nothing more romantic!"
"It's not romantic, you pain in the ass!"
"AH! How vulgar!"
"What did you just call me?!"
Takashi noticed her signature white shoes immediately… After all, she was the only one who wore such a thing with the female Ouran Academy uniform. Dark gray eyes traveled upwards, over her perfect figure to her beautiful face which was contorted in a furious pout.
The senior shook his head lightly, fighting the smile threatening to form- what had set her off this time? He patted the seat next to him on the couch, and Kagome wasted not a moment in stepping past him, plopping down in the seat.
Mitsukuni sat on the couch across from Takashi, two of their regular guests on either of his sides, and immediately brightened at seeing the miko. Both of the guests started to blush lightly at the sight of Kagome…
They had seen her around the club, sitting mostly with Haruhi and the twins, but up close… Dear lord, she was even more beautiful than the rumors said. Takashi leaned forward, picking up the spare tea-cup and full pot, pouring Kagome a cup, before handing it to her, "What happened?"
"Souh-senpai's a dumbass." she replied without remorse. Kagome spotted the cookies sitting on the coffee table and scooped one up, taking a bite.
Mitsukuni giggled, "Tama-chan's not that bad."
Kagome huffed, setting her half-eaten cookie down on the side of her saucer, before taking a sip of her tea. "Um… Taisho-san?" the customer to the left of Honey, a third year named Ayumi, spoke.
That made the miko blink, "Huh? You know me?"
"Of course!" the other girl, Marika, nodded rapidly. "You were at Mori's kendo match the other week! Nana-chan and I saw you there!"
Kagome wasn't sure who Nana-chan was, but she assumed it was a friend of this girl; however, the miko wasn't focused on that… She flushed lightly, a small laugh leaving her, "I wasn't trying to make a scene. Chika-chan was going, so I just tagged along." Kagome smiled, cerulean blue eyes lifting to look at Takashi, "It was a surprise!"
A faint smile pulled at the 'wild type's' lips, "Yeah."
Mitsukuni grinned at the scene… "Ne, Kagome," he flinched mentally at the sound of her name on his lips. It was so wrong… Yet, they had to keep up appearances. "Weren't you at Chika-chan's karate match on Monday?"
"Hmm?" Kagome's attention drifted back to him and the guests, and she smiled, "Yeah! Satoshi took me! He was messing with Yasuchika though." A laugh left her. "He was so mad! The entire drive home he was yelling about his members performing poorly because I was 'distracting them' or something."
"So it's true then?" Ayumi voiced, scotting closer on the edge of her seat. She glanced between Takashi, Mitsukuni, and Kagome. "You three know each other? She's really a family friend?"
Kagome smiled brightly, "Yep!"
Both of the guests squealed.
Kagome quickly became famous among the halls of Ouran Academy.
Whispers erupted in the hallways as she passed, rumors spreading about her appearance during the Kendo and Karate Club meets, as well as her tenure in the Host Club. All knew of her name, of her beauty…
She was so beautiful… girls were envious of her beauty, and yet, they couldn't help but love her all the same. Kagome's smile was so sweet, so kind, and it was never forced. She was beautiful without even trying…
The boys loved looking at her, unable to take their eyes off her… She was captivating… They were so jealous of those Host Club members, who got to tend to her, being around her addicting aura… And yet, they as well couldn't help but love her…
It was unanimous- Kagome was the most beautiful girl Ouran had ever seen.
She was stunning.
Kyoya knew all of this, he knew how the students at Ouran adored Kagome's presence… And how her activity in the Host Club has only driven sales up. Which is why today, Kagome sat across from Kyoya at a small table in the back of the room, away from prying ears.
"So, what is it you wanted to talk to me about, Ootori-senpai?" Kagome set down her fork after taking a bite of cake, reaching for her steaming cup of Earl Gray.
The youngest son of the Ootori group smiled that host club smile of his, the one which made Tamaki and the twins nervous and the girls visiting the club swoon. "Well, in truth, I have a proposition for you, Taisho-san."
She blinked, "A proposition? Of what kind?"
"You see, whenever you visit one of our Hosts, they're request rate goes up- meaning, we have more customers." Kyoya set a hand on his black notebook that sat on the table near him. "I believe with your addition to the club; our sales would only improve."
"... You want me to join your club?"
"Precisely."
Kagome frowned… this was not what she expected… "And everyone else?"
"Tamaki was thrilled with the idea, and I'm sure Haruhi, the twins, nor Mori-senpai or Honey-senpai will have an issue with it. Besides-" the shadow king pushed his glasses up on the bridge, causing a glare. "Haruhi's gender cannot be revealed until her debt has been paid, and this way, we'll make sure you won't say or do anything to compromise that."
Cerulean blue eyes narrowed, and she set down her teacup, settling her hands delicately in her lap. "Are you threatening me, Ootori-san?"
Kyoya noticed the drop in horofic right away, yet his host club smile never faltered. "Interpret it anyway you like, Taisho-san."
He wanted her to join to increase profits, to keep tabs on her… Kagome knew this, she could see it all. She had spent many, many years dealing with people far more deadly than Kyoya was. For even with all his bravado, he was still a child in comparison.
"If I agree…" Kagome began, picking up her teacup once more and taking a sip. "I'll need time to go to all of Satoshi Morinozukua and Yasuchika Haninozuka's matches and competitions. And I want all of the guests I entertain to go towards Haruhi's quota. Not to mention I'll have to ask permission." she set her teacup down as a smile pulled at her lips. "If you can't agree to my terms, I'm afraid I cannot assist you in raising the club's profits.
"Oh-" Suddenly, Kagome's smile faded, replaced by a piercing look as she stared down Kyoya. "And if I had said nothing about Haruhi's gender already, why would I do so now? Your threats are unjustified, Ootori-san. You are standing on no ground for threats- I hope you know that."
It was like Kagome's entire demeanor shifted then. Normally, she was bubbly and bright, sweet and kind, and a bit of an airhead… But right now, Kyoya felt like he was staring down a lioness ready for battle- one whose demands would be met, or there would be hell to pay.
Some say this was the moment Kyoya's interest in Kagome truly began, others say it came later- but one thing was for sure… Kagome greatly intrigued the youngest Ootori.
"Very well."
"You're… what?"
Haruhi stared at the closest thing he had to a best friend in bewilderment. Was… was Kagome serious? They sat under the same tree where they always sat for lunch, their bentos in their laps and no twins in sight.
Kagome giggled at his expression, "I'm joining the Host Club."
"Yeah, I got that, but why?"
"To help you, of course!"
"Help… me?" Haruhi blinked once, then twice, before brown eyes turned down to look at her food. Kagome originally only came to the club to help him, and now, she was joining because of him too. "You don't have to do that, Kagome."
Cerulean blue eyes flickered over to him, then up at the sky, "Ootori-senpai approached me yesterday with an offer, we negotiated, and he ended up agreeing that whoever I hosted would go towards your quota… I figured since I'm stuck here until after the club ends anyway, so I might as well! Besides-" a bright smile lit up the miko's face, her eyes finding Haruhi's as the honor student lifted his head.
"The Host Club's pretty fun, don't you think?!"
Fun… that was right… Kagome was here to have fun. Not for a brighter future, to make her parents proud, or to become the next head of a family… She was told she was coming to Ouran with no say-so and decided to make the best of it.
Haruhi smiled, "Well, it's much more tolerable with you around."
Kagome's smile grew wider.
Tamaki was nervously bouncing from place to place, pausing and almost biting his nails, before stopping himself, remembering how improper it was- and then going back to his nervous bouncing.
Kyoya paid it no mind and continued clicking away on his laptop. But to Hikaru and Kaoru, it was entertaining as hell. They sat on the couch, watching with snickers, Mitsukuni chowing down on cake- Takashi viewing everything with a blank face.
Suddenly, the club doors burst open, "We're here!"
Kagome's heels clacked on the ground as she entered, her school bag in one hand, and in her other was Haruhi's sleeve- dragging the honor student behind her. He had a dull expression on his face, simply letting the miko have her way.
Kagome let Haruhi go, dropping her bag on a nearby table, then ruffled Mitsukuni's hair (who cooed into her touch), and plopped down on the couch next to Kaoru. "So, what'd we miss? Did Ootori-senpai tell you?"
"Indeed, I did," Kyoya pushed up his glasses, just as Haruhi came to stand by Kagome's side. Kaoru looked down at Kagome in shock, just as Hikaru leaned forward to get a look at her from his twin's other side.
"Why did you tell us about joining the Host Club?!"
She giggled, shrugging her shoulders, "You didn't ask." Hikaru sputtered, slumping forward in shock, while Kaoru started laughing. "Besides, I had to ask if I could first."
The corners of Takashi's lips twitched, and Kagome smiled at him. Tamaki then rushed forward, an excited look on his face as he looked at her, "So?! Are you joining?!"
"Yeah, I'll join- I think it'll be fun!"
"Yay! Another daughter to spoil!" Tamaki scooped Kagome up into his arms, the miko letting out a yelp.
"S-souh-senpai! P-put me down!"
"Call me Daddy!"
"No way!" Tamaki began spinning Kagome around, yelling about having a beautiful new daughter, and the miko bit back a scream. But then, she started to laugh. Her laughter echoed throughout the clubroom as the twins began to cheer.
Mitsukuni began laughing along with Kagome, unable to help himself, while Takashi watched them closely- amusement dancing in his eyes. Kyoya pushed up his glasses, a pleased smile forming.
Haruhi caught the action from the corner of her eye. Brown eyes narrowed, "You had something to do with this, didn't you, senpai?"
"Whatever do you mean, Haruhi? We merely needed a way to keep tabs on Kagome to make sure your secret doesn't get out."
The honor student turned back to watching Tamaki and Kagome, the miko shouting at him and hitting him repeatedly in the shoulder- yet a grin was on her face. Haruhi chuckled…
Maybe, this whole hosting thing wouldn't be so bad after all…