"Did you hear?"
"Yeah, Higurashi is coming back today!"
Kyoya Ootori listened attentively to the surprised gasps and whispering of the girls behind him. Without his guests for the moment, the young man felt it was fine to eavesdrop a little bit. If it weren't for the subject of their conversation, he would have written off the conversation entirely.
The noise of Music Room 3 was drowned out by each bit of information even if it was simply gossip. He recognized their voices immediately as they frequently requested Haruhi's services. The Natural Host had not made her appearance yet, however, so they spoke amongst each other. Kyoya made a note to inform Haruhi that her punctuality affected her debt.
"No way! I heard she saved a kid from a drunk driver and got hit. That's why she was gone for so long."
"That's not what I heard. Besides she totally would have died from that."
While the girls twittered away, the bespectacled host was lost to his own thoughts. As a man of knowledge, Kyoya kept very close tabs on the girl. He knew the extent of her injuries, the panic of her family seeing her condition. Most of all, he knew when she was released. After leaving the hospital, information on the illusive Higurashi became increasingly difficult.
Though it was difficult to get information on the oldest Higurashi child, the rest of her family's information was easily accessed. Kyoya made a point of calling Nodoka Higurashi, the matriarch, and checking in with her. Additionally, he had a meddling friend that pushed him back into Kagome's life. Kyoya recalled that night with powerful clarity, playing its events on repeat in his mind whenever he thought of the girl. Although he had her phone number now, Kyoya had not had the guts to speak directly to his savior no matter how many times Mrs. Higurashi prompted him.
"I heard she saved a billionaire's son and was kept at an institution to keep the situation quiet."
"What! Higurash's so cool, I wish she was here to tell us about it."
"Me too."
Unable to bear the conjecture any longer, Kyoya turned to offer the girls an alternative subject to discuss when Haruhi came crashing through the doors. She was breathing heavily and her hair was unkempt as though she had run through a wind storm. Kyoya made an additional note of keeping up her appearance as the guests happily gasped seeing their chosen host.
"Haruhi!" chimed the excited girls.
"Hey ladies, sorry I'm late," Haruhi apologized, casually slipping into a chair. "I was helping someone out and lost the time."
"That's just like you being so thoughtful, Haruhi," one of the girls whispered reverently. The other joined in cooing and swooning over the girl.
Haruhi chuckled goodnaturedly and brushed her hair back into place, earning another round of gushing. Eventually, the conversation turned and they chatted about random subjects over their cups of tea.
Kyoya tutted lightly and returned to his work. While Haruhi was late, she still managed to charm her clients and keep them entertained. He could give her his little reminders later.
Impatient fingers thrummed anxiously against his clipboard, Kyoya found that he couldn't concentrate on his work anymore. For the first time, the cool host found himself relieved that today was a no-costume, no-fanfare day in the Host Club. Thoughts of her slipped through his mind's defenses. Could she really be back?
Club activities came to a close a couple of hours later. Content young ladies left the room giggling and chatting amongst themselves. A sure signal of a successful day for Ouran Academy's Host Club. From the corner of his eyes, Kyoya noticed a certain host attempt to make her escape. The Shadow King smirked, catching her before her fingers could wrap around the door handle.
"Haruhi," Kyoya called for her, earning a glare in return. "We need to discuss a few things before you leave."
"Can we talk tomorrow, sempai? I've gotta get going." Haruhi spoke in a low whisper, her head swiveling to make sure none of the other hosts heard. Unfortunately, she could not be so lucky. Tamaki's and the twins' ears tuned in and immediately bombarded her.
"Who ya seeing Haruhi?" Hikaru asked placing an elbow on her head.
"Are you seeing a guy and that's why you're whispering?" Kaoru questioned her, leaning into her personal space. The twins smirked at each other with an "ooo."
"My precious daughter can't be seeing other men! How could we let this happen?" Tamaki cried out, wrapping his arms around Haruhi.
"Get off me, bastards!" The natural host growled and swatted their arms off of her. Unfortunately, the image she created by doing so likened her to an angry kitten to the three hosts earning her an unwanted group hug.
"Whatcha guys doin'?" Honey approached with a hop in his step and Mori in tow. Haruhi shoved out of the hug and hid behind the tallest host.
"I was merely reminding Haruhi of our club expectations, but it seems she has better things to do than stay here," Kyoya said. He smirked when Haruhi pinned him with a glare.
"Are you going somewhere, Haru-chan?" Honey asked.
Everyone's attention was on her now. Haruhi gulped nervously, this was not going according to plan whatsoever. Seeing no out of the situation, she sighed.
"I agreed to walk with a classmate home today. She takes the same train as I do and asked if I would go with her." Haruhi confessed, glaring at the lot of them. She hoped that they would accept the answer and drop it.
"That's weird, why–" Kaoru's arm snaked around hers suddenly.
"–would you take a train home? You could just take a family car, couldn't you?" Hikaru finished, sliding his arm around Haruhi's opposite arm. Haruhi stared at them in disbelief. The audacity of these rich bastards!
"Not all of us can afford a car," Haruhi informed them with a huff. The twins merely shrugged their shoulders and chalked it up to commoner fussing. "But that's beside the point, she's waiting on me. I can't keep her waiting any more, it would be rude."
"Well–" Kyoya began speaking, but promptly shut his mouth when the music room's door opened.
A head of wavy raven tresses poked through curiously, catching the host club's attention. Vibrant blue eyes addressed them all followed by a smile. She wasn't dressed in the girl's uniform. Rather, she sported a green cardigan, a flowy blue skirt, and a pair of black loafers. In an instant, the host club was upon her.
"Welcome back, Higurashi!" The twins chorused.
"Gome-chan!"
"Kagome!" Tamaki shrieked in delight. He easily scooped the tiny girl up and swung her around joyously in a hug. Kyoya's mouth went dry as he took in her familiar features, heart beating just a tad faster.
"Ah, Tamaki! Put me down, you goof!" Kagome cried out, her face turning beet red. She attempted to wriggle herself from him, but failed as he held her tighter.
"We missed you so much, never leave us again. Do you hear me!" Tamaki spluttered. The genuine tears threatening to spill at the corners of his eyes gave Haruhi pause. Not enough to let her new friend get vertigo from Tamaki's swinging.
"Senpai, let go of her!" Haruhi scolded. Tamaki released the girl for a moment but pulled her into a crushing hug. Affectionately, he rubbed his cheek against hers.
"It's been too long, my flower. How're you feeling? Tell Daddy anything that you need! Mommy, our girl is finally home~!" Tamaki's words tumbled out of his mouth faster than Kagome could respond. She pushed herself out of his embrace with a chuckle.
"I'm here to grab Haruhi so we can catch our train, actually." Kagome turned to look at her quarry with a beaming smile. The girl smiled back and scratched the back of her head in embarrassment.
"Sorry, Kagome, I was going to go find you but," Haruhi narrowed her gaze intently at Kyoya. He smiled innocently. "I got held up."
Kagome followed the girl's gaze to find Kyoya's eyes. For a moment, they stared at each other without words. A light shade of pink dusted across the raven-haired girl's cheek before she greeted him with a forced polite wave. Kyoya could only muster a nod as a response.
Haruhi's keen eyes observed the interaction with great interest. Glancing across the room, she noticed that the rest of the Host Club did not seem surprised by their silent communication either.
"Do you guys know Kagome?" Haruhi asked.
"We know Kagome very well," The Hitaachin twins stated with a smirk.
They promptly latched onto the arms of the raven-haired girl. She rolled her eyes but smiled at them regardless of their intrusion into her personal space. Haruhi didn't miss how Kyoya's grip on his notebook tightened.
"Gome-chan's in the same class as Kyo-chan and Tama-chan," Honey announced. "She was our hostess for the club for a while, but then she got into an accident–!"
"Mistukini," Mori put a hand on his cousin's shoulder with a warning glance. Honey pouted and hugged his stuffed rabbit tight to his chest. Haruhi tucked that small nugget of information in the back of her mind for later.
"It's been a while, huh?" Kagome whispered with a small chuckle. With a placating hand, she ruffled Honey's hair.
"Oh," Haruhi hummed and placed a finger on her chin thoughtfully.
Though her time in the club hadn't been very long, she hadn't heard of their being a hostess within the club. The Natural Host thought long and hard, trying to scrounge up a memory of a female host. Nothing. Glancing at the upperclassmen, Haruhi considered her for a moment. Why wouldn't they have mentioned her? After all, she seemed important to them.
It was a chance meeting finding Kagome. She had met the girl by accident out in the hallway just a few hours earlier. Kagome was on her way to the headmaster's office and Haruhi to class when they accidentally bumped shoulders. Several dropped textbooks and flying pencils later, they became acquainted.
Their connection was startlingly quick. After cleaning up the supplies the two walked together and they had slipped into easy conversation. Whispers had followed them down the hall, but Haruhi didn't think to pay them any mind. In hindsight, maybe she should have. But, that is neither here nor there and it is time to go home.
"Are you coming back to the Host Club, Gome-chan?" Honey hopped into the girl's arm. For a moment, Haruhi thought they were going to crash with the impact but Kagome caught him easily and swung the Lolita host in the air.
"I'm not sure yet, Mistu. I've missed a lot of school, I don't know if I would have the time anymore," Kagome said with a sad smile. "I think the club has its hands full with the current hosts."
Honey frowned at her, looking into Kagome's eyes as his began to tear up. Before he could say anymore, Haruhi decided to rescue her new friend before this went on any longer.
"Are you ready to go, Kagome?" Haruhi asked as she picked up her school bag. The girl nodded with an affirmative smile.
"Yes. I'll be back tomorrow for regular classes so I'll see everyone tomorrow!" Kagome chirped excitedly. Quickly, they made their way out of the room leaving several smiling hosts and one perturbed shadow king.
With the girls' departure came an excited feeling that thrummed throughout the remaining hosts. It had been too long since they had seen the raven-haired girl and they were excited to have her back.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Hikaru asked his twin. Kaoru nodded. They turned to the host club king who was joyfully tearing up.
"Gentlemen, could you imagine! Kagome coming back in the Host Club. Haruhi could unlock her femininity with Kagome's graceful nature!" Tamaki shouted.
The inner Tamaki Theater began to run in earnest in his mind. Haruhi and Kagome donned in flowing sundresses, walking through a flower garden. Their giggles would brighten the room as they appreciate the beautiful blooms. Kagome tucking a brightly colored bloom behind Haruhi's ear. Tamaki would approach them and they would jump into his arms. Yes, Kagome would bring out Haruhi's softer side. They would look upon him , Tamaki, with love and appreciation.
"Yes." The Hitaachin twins echoed their agreement, sharing the lovely image in their minds.
"Need I remind you that Higurashi is no longer in the Host Club?" Kyoya interrupted curtly, the film rolling in Tamaki's mind spotted angrily and burned to a crisp.
"We could invite her back!" Tamaki suggested with watery eyes. Kyoya rubbed his temple, a headache beginning to bloom.
"There's no telling how the guests would receive her after being gone for so long." Kyoya reasoned. "Besides, if she is concerned with her studies that it where her mind should be. We do not need a hostess that isn't fully invested in our cause."
"What's that supposed to mean, Kyo-Chan?" Honey asked. "All of the ladies ask about Gome-chan all the time."
The shadow king said nothing. The rest of the Host Club stared at the vice president expectantly, but still received no answer.
"He's just mad that Kagome hasn't asked him to tutor her." Hikaru said bluntly. He regretted his words under Kyoya's icy stare.
"If Higurashi chooses to come back, she may. You couldn't force her to make a decision anyways." Kyoya said cooly.
The rest of the Host Club considered him for a moment before brushing him off completely. He could try to put up a face when it came to Kagome, but they knew better. It was the one thing they could easily read from him.
Tamaki then gathered the remaining members of the Host Club into a circle. They had some planning to do.
Kyoya shook his head, he knew that he was going to be dragged into some form of shenanigans regardless of his opinion. Judging from the hushed whispers between them, they began to formulate a plan.
"Operation: Bring Kagome Back is a go!" Tamaki declared.
Meanwhile…
"Thanks again for riding the train with me, Fujioka," Kagome said graciously. They were standing in front of the brunette's apartment, the setting sun casting a warm buttery light over them.
"Of course! Any time. Did you want to catch the train to school tomorrow morning?" Haruhi offered.
"Yes, please! I used to commute alone, your company would be wonderful." Kagome grinned broadly, savoring their newfound friendship. Haruhi returned the smile full force.
"See you tomorrow then, Higurashi. Good night!"
"Good night!"
Before Kagome stepped toward home, the door to the Fujioka apartment swung open. A tall, auburn-haired woman appeared, her face brightly lit with excitement.
"Haruhiiii! Is that a new friend I see? Invite her in for supper, come on don't be shy!" The woman hollered at the top of her lungs.
"Damn it, Dad, do you have to make a scene!" Haruhi yelled back, glaring half-heartedly at her father.
"Daddy's allowed to make a scene when you bring friends home! Now bring her up, pronto!"
Kagome giggled under her palm when Haruhi's expression turned flush with annoyance. The brunette extended the offer to come inside in a much quieter way which she accepted. Sending a quick text to her mother, Kagome followed Haruhi up the stairs to her home.
It turned out that the woman hollering at Haruhi was her father, Ranka. As soon as she said hello, Kagome endeared herself to her friend's genderfluid parent.
"Beautiful and polite, my darling Haruhi has such good taste in friends," Ranka cooed. A small dusting of pink spread across Kagome's cheeks at his compliment.
"Would you cut it out, Dad?" Haruhi snapped as she brought in fixings for tea. Ranka deflated under her harsh words but bounced out of the room nonetheless. He returned ten minutes later with his hair rolled into a fashionable bun and sporting a very sparkly cocktail dress.
"Daddy has to go to work now. Take care of our adorable guest, Haruhi!" Ranka announced, slipping on a pair of strappy heels.
"It was nice meeting you, Mr. Fujioka," Kagome said.
"Call me Ranka, please!" he corrected with a smile. Waving the girls goodbye, Ranka disappeared through the door.
"Your dad is nice."
"A pain in the ass more like," Haruhi grumbled. "Here's the tea, it's not fancy just warning you."
"Warning me? My mom uses this brand too." Kagome replied, quirking her head to the side.
Haruhi stared at the raven-haired girl with a strange look on her face. A small trickle of sweat slipped down Kagome's temple.
"What's with the look, Fujioka?"
"It's just that… You're not like the others when it comes to this stuff.
"This stuff?" It was Kagome's turn to reflect the strange look. What the hell was she talking about?
"Yeah, like instant coffee and cheap tea. You're surprisingly not fazed by it." Haruhi admitted.
"Well, I didn't grow up rich like them so that's probably why," Kagome replied, taking a long sip from her cup.
"Wait! So you're an honors student like me?" Haruhi exclaimed excitedly.
"Well, uhm, not really." Kagome fidgeted with the sleeve of her uniform, feeling awkward.
Sipping nervously at her tea, the miko considered her next words. The jump from middle-class shrine maiden to student at a prestigious academy was not exactly an easy explanation. Even her modern connection to Shippo could be considered odd, especially so late in her life.
Kagome glanced up and immediately stared back at her tea. Haruhi's curious doe eyes burned into her, silently willing an explanation from her. Grasping her mug a little tighter, she made a decision.
"My grades are nothing to look at, really. To be honest, the fact I am in high school to begin with is nothing short of a miracle." Kagome stated.
"So what got you into Ouran then, if not your grades? Their honors scholarship is highly competitive and if your grades were bad how did you get it?" Haruhi questioned.
"Well, it started when I was fifteen," Kagome started. Her chest felt heavy with deceit, but she pushed forward. "There was a young boy who was alone. His father had passed away and he had no other family in the world. When I met him, he stole something from me in order to get back at the people who hurt his father. Long story short, he would have been seriously hurt if I didn't step in and has been in my life ever since."
"Is the boy the one who is helping you through school?" Haruhi asked. Kagome nodded numbly.
"He was just a child alone in the world at the time. If I didn't meet him, he wouldn't be where he is now." Kagome said.
While her story was not wholly a lie, there were significant details that she glossed over. After all, what modern girl could understand the plight of a young fox demon pursuing brothers that possessed thunder abilities? Not to mention the near-death encounter that came from saving him. Still, she detested the feeling of lying, even more so when it was to such a new friend.
Looking over her mug of tea, the miko watched as the brunette absorbed her story. After several minutes of silence, Haruhi looked her in the eye.
"I think he's lucky to have someone like you looking out for him," whispered the girl. Kagome smiled, heartwarming at the trembling words.
"Maybe then, but I think the roles are reversed now. Without Shippo, I could never have dreamed of attending Ouran. It's for him and others like him that I will do my best and study hard." Kagome said.
They continued their evening like this, sharing stories and life experiences. Haruhi listened attentively to an abridged version of Kagome's life at the shrine.
When it came time for the miko to listen, she learned about Haruhi's mother, a determined and positive lawyer. She learned about the sadness that still lurked in the shadows of Haruhi's heart, even if the brunette didn't state it out loud. Best of all, Kagome learned that she had a true friend in Haruhi Fujioka.
When the time came to leave, there was a strong, warm sensation in her chest. A flickering feeling that she hadn't felt since connecting with two boys on the first day of school. The miko stood at her friend's open door when she made another decision.
"Hey, Fujioka?" Kagome looked over her shoulder at the girl.
"Yeah?"
"Call me Kagome, please."
"You can call me Haruhi then," she replied with a smile. "Good night, Kagome.
A/N: Wowza, I think this was the longest chapter yet! Please follow, favorite, and review this humble story! It makes my little heart happy. :)
