Chapter 12: Let the Dance Party Commence!

One week before the Dance Party

Kagome waited patiently outside Music Room 3 for Haruhi. In a few minutes, club activities would conclude and it would be time for them to go home.

Leaning against the wall, the miko picked up the muffled sounds of the Host Club. Girls giggling, Tamaki's prominent voice, and others painted a nostalgic picture for her. Back to days of befriending Host Club guests and studying in a corner. How long has it been since she sat in that space?

She could easily walk into that room and reinsert herself. However, there was no telling how her return would be received. Fingers traced her now scarred bicep. The wound was hidden by the sleeve of her uniform, but it felt like an eyesore even hidden.

Sighing, the miko dropped her hand into her lap. Kagome couldn't muster the courage to step into that room after missing those few months of school. With all of that time in between, her "maternal" persuasion probably disappeared. After all, the girls had Haruhi and the rest of the Host Club. What could they want with her?

When the music room door cracked open, Kagome frantically hid behind a conveniently placed potted plant. Out poured the guests, buzzing with excitement and satisfaction. As they left she caught mutterings of the Dance Party which barely contained their anticipation for the event.

Once the coast was clear Kagome reemerged from the plant. She watched with a wistful expression as yellow dresses shrank in the distance until they were no longer visible. As much as she wanted to reenter this world, was there even a place for her anymore?

Shaking her head of the negative thoughts, the miko entered Music Room 3. The sooner she grabbed Haruhi, the sooner they could go home.

Opening the door, she was immediately blast with hot, humid air and the strong smell of flowers. Rather than witnessing a music room, Kagome found herself staring into a verdant tropical paradise. Palm trees stretched high into a bright blue, cloudless sky. Vibrant flowers sprouted everywhere. She could have sworn she saw a toucan… or two?

"Two-can?" Kagome thought seeing the birds relaxing on a branch. One swooped down to nest itself atop her head, catching her by surprise.

"What happened here?" Kagome asked aloud, gently shooeing the bird away. The temperature of the room began to leave a little trail of sweat on her neck. Cursing the humidity, the miko haphazardly wrapped her hair into a bun to prevent it from going crazy.

"For today's theme, we wanted to make our guests feel like they were in paradise," Kyoya Ootori's voice chimed in with the explanation. "Of course we had to go all out for our guests."

Kagome turned to respond, but the words died on her tongue seeing his outfit. The sheer amount of glistening skin he was showing was enough to make her turn an embarrassing shade of beet red.

"What the heck are you wearing? It's still spring!" Kagome said, making a point not to look at him. She crossed her arms and stared pointedly at the toucans.

"The Host Club dressed as Balinese Royalty. Is there something wrong with my state of dress, Higurashi?" Kyoya said with a smirk.

He had moved to stand in front of her, making Kagome squirm under his gaze. The humidity made his pale skin glow in the best–"WORST!"– possible way.

"Nope! Nothing's wrong, just wouldn't want you catching a cold, ya know? Anyways, I was just waiting for Haruhi so I will just go wait outside. This humidity is awful for my hair so I should step out, okay? Okay. I'll see you in class–!" Kagome's longwinded rambling ceased when Kyoya placed his hand upon her shoulder.

His touch was warm and his hands gripped her firmly. It was reminiscent of another time when he held her like that. One that she tried with all of her will to forget. That night he kissed her, she could still imagine the weight of his mouth over hers. Traitorously, her eyes flitted to his lips. It pained her to do so, even if she wished for him to kiss her again.

"Don't go just yet, Higurashi. Why not enjoy the air of paradise while it's here?" Kyoya offered. "Take a seat, Haruhi will be out shortly."

As quickly as he touched her, he let her go. Breathlessly, she collapsed into a nearby chair. Despite herself, Kagome watched him walk away. Her eyes trained upon the waistline of his singular piece of clothing. This place didn't suit him, really, but he was still devastating to look at.

"Get it together, girl! That's obviously old news and he's just being nice to you! What you felt before was a little crush and done. No more." Kagome internally struggled with herself.

Yet the warmth from his palm on her shoulder excited something in her heart. Something that Kagome couldn't deny no matter how much she wanted to. Yes, that kiss they shared so long ago haunted her. Yes, her heart fluttered each time she thought of him. Yes, seeing him so exposed made her belly light ablaze with fire.

Running frustrated hands through her coiling mess of hair, Kagome sighed heavily. It was no use trying to convince herself of something that was false. With the realization, she relinquished the hold on her hair and allowed the waves to hide her face. Now, suffering under the phantom warmth left by his hand, it was an undeniable fact.

Kagome Higurashi was in love with Kyoya Ootori.

"Hey, Kagome, I'm rea–" Haruhi said, appearing with her school things. "What's wrong?"

The raven-haired girl brushed her bangs aside with a weak smile. Haruhi's heart dropped seeing the flooding of emotion swimming within her eyes.

"Kagome? What hap–?"

"Let's go home," was all she said.

Nodding affirmatively, Haruhi grabbed the girl's hand and led her out of the music room promptly. Kagome was grateful for the action, her steps feeling heavy and clumsy all of a sudden.

As they left, a pair of dark grey eyes watched them go. Unbeknownst to the raven-haired girl, he had his own internal struggle to deal with as well.

"Haruhi~! Wait, where's Haruhi?" Tamaki's voice emerged from the changing room, the excited tone turning disappointed.

"She left with Higurashi just a moment ago," answered Kyoya. He busied himself with calculations of the day's profits in his black notebook.

As he wrote down his numbers, Kyoya tried to organize his thoughts as orderly as possible. Per Haruhi's suggestion, he was going to request Kagome to appear at the dance party. It was all going to plan: his hand on her shoulder, her eyes on him unbreaking, but then… Her typically bright eyes dulled into a stormy blue and she became distant from him. It would take an oblivious fool not to notice the pain in Higurashi's eyes after he spoke to her. Was all that pain because of him?

Memories of missed chances to send even a simple text message popped into his brain. Cursing himself, Kyoya put down his pencil. His mind was no longer able to calculate or make sense of the numbers as an immense wave of guilt washed over him.

The fact of the matter is that this whole situation was his own fault. If he had reached out or pushed past his own personal bullshit, Kagome wouldn't be so distant with all of them. She could have returned to the Host Club. She could have easily accepted the invitations to the Dance Party. She could have been close again, something he has wanted for a very long time.

Running a hand through his hair, Kyoya sighed deeply. He had a mess to fix.

Rather than going home that evening, Haruhi and Kagome found themselves at a park. The two sat in silence on a swingset, neither having spoken a word since getting off the train. Haruhi waited patiently for the raven-haired girl to say something, but it was to no avail.

"This isn't like you, Kagome," Haruhi started. "What's wrong? Did something happen today?"

"In a way, yes. But truthfully? No." Kagome replied. Haruhi's brow furrowed with the confusing answer.

"I don't understand."

Kagome said nothing, struggling to find the words to confess her secret. While she battled with her heart, the brunette tried to figure it out for herself. The only people in the Host Club's room was her and Kyoya, so if something happened it must have been between them…

It came crashing upon Haruhi that very moment. Memories bursting into her mind like a gust of sakura petals. The first time she saw Kagome interact with the Host Club, namely Kyoya. Followed by many, small moments that gathered together into a singular answer.

"Kagome… Are you in love with Kyoya-sempai?" Haruhi asked softly.

Kagome stopped moving, her fingers clenched around the chain of the swing. After a few moments of silence, the brunette was about to apologize when she was met with her friend's watery gaze. Her confession was silent, but spoke volumes to Haruhi.

Without another word, the brunette stood up from the swing and stuck out her hand.

"What?" Confused, Kagome looked from her hand to her friend's face.

"Let's go get some ice cream, I know a great spot near my apartment."

Soon Haruhi's hand wrapped around hers and they were walking out of the park. Wordlessly, Kagome thanked the kami and the universe for having Haruhi as her friend.

One day before the Dance Party

With the Dance Party being only a day away, Haruhi was launched into party planning as well as rigorous dance practice. Even though this made it so the brunette left the Host Club significantly later than normal, Kagome waited for her. In the days following the confession at the swings, the two girls had decidedly become inseparable.

So here she waited in the courtyard rather than dare go near Music Room 3 again. After her painful epiphany the day prior, there was no way Kagome could face Kyoya now. She had to wait until she stopped feeling in love with him and then maybe they could go back to being friends.

So, that is where she sat once school got out for the day. Kagome situated herself at a gazebo, watching the sun set over pink blossomed trees. Her math textbook laying forgotten underneath her elbow. Overcome by the simple beauty of the evening sky, she didn't notice a figure approaching her in the gazebo.

"Higurashi?"

Kagome started at the sound of her surname, whipping her head around to find Kyoya standing outside of the gazebo. He was thankfully fully clothed today and sporting an odd, unreadable expression. His eyes were hidden underneath the glare of his glasses.

"Ootori?" Kagome called back in confusion. She straightened her posture a bit seeing him. "What are you doing here?"

"I had a feeling you'd be out here if not in the building," replied Kyoya. "May I take a seat?"

Kagome dodged eye contact with him, suddenly feeling very aware of herself in his presence. This was Friendship 101, be nice and pretend like you're not horribly in love. He was being nice, so who was she to say no?

"Sure, let me move my stuff," Kagome said.

She pushed her things into her bag messily to quickly make room for him at the small table. With a small word of gratitude, he slipped into the seat across from her.

Neither person said anything once he was seated. Kagome looked around everywhere except for the bespectacled host, her nerves bubbling into her throat. If she spoke now, it would be game over.

"Higurashi?" Kyoya spoke her name like a question.

"Yes?"

"It's been a while since you've been to the Host Club."

"Yes, I suppose it has been a while."

"I've been meaning to reach out to you to offer your position of the Maternal Type back to you. Would you consider it?" Kyoya asked her.

Kagome nibbled on the inside of her cheek as she mulled over his words. He had been meaning to invite her back? That he had been meaning to reach out to her?

A violent, red hot burst of anger boiled in the pit of her stomach. His words echoed in her brain, pushing the boiling liquid fury up her throat. Before she stopped herself, it burst from her mouth.

"What do you mean by 'you've been meaning to reach out,' Ootori? You're telling me that your silence was on purpose?" Kagome said, her voice dangerously low.

Catching onto his error, Kyoya opened his mouth to rectify the situation. Her piercing stare shut him up. Unfortunately for him, he didn't account for Kagome's temper in this thought process.

"Don't. Don't you open your mouth and tell me more lies than you already have. I reached out to you, that entire time I was gone. And what did you do? Absolutely nothing! You left me stranded for a second time. Do you know how much that hurts, Kyoya! Especially after the kiss. I thought I meant something to you! Because guess what, buddy, you mean something to me!"

She finished her speech by pointing a finger into his face, her chest heaving with the rapturous beat of her heart. Tears fell earnestly down her cheeks, but she made no move to wipe them away. She didn't care, let him see the pain he made her go through.

Kyoya was speechless, her tirade stripping him down to his soul. Each one of her words hammered a nail into his coffin, a clean strike with each syllable.

Soundlessly, she returned to her side of the table. She refused to meet his eyes as a flush creeped up from her neck to her forehead. Without the courage of her anger, Kagome was left feeling more vulnerable than she had to begin with.

Kyoya watched her as she grabbed her bag forcefully and stalked out of the gazebo. Without thinking, he ran after her.

It only took him a few strides before he caught up to her. Grasping her wrist, Kyoya stopped her in her tracks. Pulling the girl towards him, he saw the beginning of another tirade when he wrapped his arms around her.

She stood in his embrace stiffly, unable to make sense of what was going on. Kagome struggled, trying to wrench herself from his grip and failed. Kyoya's arms tightened around her petite frame, filling her entire body with warmth. The way their bodies came together made her shiver.

"What is this?" Kagome hissed, glaring up at him. He looked back at her, his eyes softer than she had ever seen them.

"An apology," Kyoya whispered in her ears. His breathy words left a shivering trail up her spine at his closeness.

"An apology usually starts with 'I'm sorry'," Kagome corrected with a glare. She was not going to be pulled in by these shallow, flirty tactics again!

"I'm sorry, for everything, Kagome," Kyoya apologized. Eyes widening, the miko stared at him. "In truth, it has been difficult because of The Incident. But the Host Clubs needs you there. The girls whose lives you touched miss you as do the others."

"As do I." Kagome could hear the silent confession as he trailed off, settling in chin on top of her head.

It had been a long time since he had used her first name and he was apologizing to her? Kagome promptly lifted her arm and pinched herself. When the feeling of pain informed her that she was not dreaming, she lifted her eyes to meet his.

"I accept your apology, Kyoya," she said. "But! The next time you leave me high and dry, I'm kicking your ass. Do you know how much it has sucked to not be around you guys?"

"I can only imagine," replied the bespectacled host. Quietly, he released his hold on Kagome. "Would you consider returning?"

"I don't know… To be honest, I'm afraid that I won't fit into the club dynamics anymore." Kagome admitted.

"Why don't you see for yourself? Tomorrow night at the party."

Kagome narrowed her eyes skeptically at him.

"This whole thing isn't a ploy to get me to go to that party is it? Because the others have tried and I am not in the mood for schemes." Kagome said, crossing her arms.

"Nothing like that. The apology as well as the request are genuine, Kagome. I can speak for the Host Club and confidently say everyone would love to see you attend the even tomorrow evening." Kyoya soothed.

Peeking at his aura for good measure, Kagome found no deceit in the lavender hues glowing around him. Satisfied, she nodded her head.

"Okay, tomorrow. I don't even have a dress for a party like that though." Kagome said. "Besides, maybe a fancy event isn't the place for me to appear again."

"Nonsense. I'm sure we could find suitable attire for you by tomorrow, if you're willing to pay the price."

"Oh yeah? And what price would that be?" Kagome asked, a bored expression upon her face.

Kyoya said nothing, his eyes dancing with mirth as he smirked at her. Realizing the innuendo she just made, Kagome smacked his arm.

"Pervert…"

"So you'll attend?"

"I guess so," Kagome said uncertainly.

The night of the Dance Party

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, Kagome adjusted her dress once again. It was a beautiful pink midi dress with white flower accents. Kyoya wasn't wrong about the twins coming in handy with the outfit crisis. The dress was lovely and fit her wonderfully!

"Are you ready yet, Kagome?" Haruhi's voice came from the other side of the door.

"Yeah! You can come in if you'd like," called back Kagome.

Haruhi entered the dressing room, smiling at the sight her friend made. With the white heels, Kagome was able to stand at the same height as her now. Seeing the playful expression on the raven-haired girl made Haruhi happy. It hgad been a while since she'd seen such lightness upon her friend's face.

"Woah, lookin' pretty strapping there, Haruhi. Who knew you could be such a lady killer?" teased Kagome.

Referring to her formal outfit for the occasion, Haruhi rolled her eyes at the comment. What changed Kagome's mind on attending the party was kept mum, but the brunette was simply happy that she was there.

"You should have seen what Tamaki wanted me to wear. A frilly dress of all things." Haruhi grumbled. "It's like they want me to act like a girl."

"It probably would have looked adorable on you though," said Kagome.

Glancing into the mirror again, she began to fidget with her hair. Her waves had decided to be very unruly and uncooperative today. She fought with the strands to contain them into a simple hair pick to no avail.

"Here, let me try," Haruhi said as she grabbed the hair pin from Kagome. It was a simple silver pin with pink flowers. Effortlessly, the brunette grasped half of Kagome's dark waves and curled it into a bun. "There!"

The result was a half updo that looked pretty nice. Smiling appreciatively at her friend, Kagome grasped her hand and they exited the dressing room together.

"As always ladies the Host Club members are here for your entertainment," Kyoya announced at the top of the stairs. Kagome couldn't help but be impressed at how much his voice carried throughout the large room. "Tonight we will be looking for one lucky lady, judged by her dancing skills, to earn a passionate kiss on the cheek from our Host Club King."

"Good luck, my darlings," Tamaki said, blowing all of the ladies in the room a kiss. Immediately following the action, the room echoed with the girls' excited squeals.

"And as a special treat for you ladies," Kyoya continued. "We invited a guest of honor to be here for you. Please welcome back, Kagome Higurashi!"

Kagome stepped out from the shadows to stand next to Haruhi on the staircase. A brief silence ensnared the room momentarily. During that brief pause, the miko wondered if it would be too soon to run away.

"Higurashi!" cried out a familiar voice. Scanning the crowd, Kagome caught sight of a very excited Igawa. Her cry of joy was soon echoed by the other guests, creating a din of madness in the hall.

Seeing such excitement on their faces stoked a warm fire within Kagome's heart. Tears welled in the corner of her eyes. Quickly, she wiped away the offending water.

"You okay?" Haruhi whispered.

Kagome smiled, a bright and dazzling display that gave the brunette pause. Who knew someone could have such a breathtaking smile?

"I couldn't feel any better! I feel like I should ask you the same."

"Yeah, Haruhi, show some enthusiasm, yeah?" The twins appeared by Haruhi's side immediately.

"I'm just not used to these sort of things. I've only ever gone to the festivals in my neighborhood park." Haruhi's shoulders slumped further with the admission. Kagome gently patted her friend's shoulder comfortingly.

"I don't klnow if you can consider that a party or not," Kyoya cut into the conversation. Unsurprisingly, his notorious black notebook was out and he used it to take notes (of what? Who knows). Kagome rolled her eyes.

"Well, why don't we get something to eat? What's available to eat around here, Kyoya?" Kagome asked, trying to change the subject.

"We have a lot of options, there's quite a spread of options to choose from," replied the bespectacled host.

"A spread, huh?" Haruhi turned to face him. "Like fancy tuna?"

From the sparkle in Haurhi's eye at the idea of fancy tuna, the hosts reacted instantaneously. The pure cuteness of the innocent request sent everyone into immediate action: Tamaki making the order to get some fancy tuna pronto, Kyoya pulling out his phone to order the food, and the twins smothering Haruhi with a hug.

Kagome couldn't help but laugh at the sudden brightness of Haruhi's face as the twins cooed over her. The brunette was surely embarrassed by her admission and regretting saying anything out loud.

The Dance Party commenced. Swirls of fabric twirled around the room as each of the hosts swung their dance partners. It was as beautiful and elegant as it was fun.

Kagome was able to catch up with some of the girls. Igawa sought her out at the soonest oment and hugged her so tightly she thought her lungs would pop. The bright eyed heiress chatted with her until Tamaki offered his hand to dance with her.

"We better see you at the Host Club, Higurash!" Igawa teased.

"You can count on it," replied Kagome with a smile.

Satisfied with the answer, Igawa let the blonde lead her to the dance floor. Heart full of contentment, Kagome sought out her brunette friend who was lounging against a column by herself.

"Care if I join? Dancing really isn't my thing," Kagome asked.

"Of course," replied Haruhi.

Leaning against the column next to the brunette, Kagome watched as one particular host led a waltz with the slightest twinge of…

"Nothing! I feel nothing. Kyoya can dance with whoever he wants to, it's part of his job here anyways!" Kagome chided herself.

Sensing two new auras, the miko looked around the column to find two of Haruhi's frequent clients hiding. As she was about to say something, a new guest appeared.

"Haruhi," a girl's voice called her friend's name out breathlessly. "I have been looking everywhere for you. May I have this next dance?"

Looking towards the owner of the voice, Kagome found the face of a pretty girl with bobbed brown hair. Her hands were clasped in front of her and eyes staring deeply into Haruhi, expectantly awaiting an answer.

"Of course you can," said the brunette sweetly.

Haruhi led the girl to the dance floor when she was suddenly whisked away. The silhouettes of a gentle giant and a small blonde person sprinting away could be seen taking flight. Both Kagome and the girl stared flabbergasted at the space Haruhi was in only moments ago.

"Kidnapped?" whispered the girl in confusion.

Equally as confused, Kagome pursued Haruhi. Following her aura until she was in a back room. There standing by a curtain was the Host Club sans the Natural Host.

"Uhm?" Kagome made herself known, stepping forward. "What the heck is going on?"

"We're on a mission!" chorused the twins.

"A mission for LOVE!" cried Honey.

Cocking her head to the side, Kagome addressed them with a perplexed look. They were speaking words but making absolutely no sense. Turning toward the only logical person in the room, she found Kyoya speaking directly to Haruhi outside the curtain.

"Haruhi, you have about twenty minutes until the party reaches its climax. Suzushima is already waiting for you in the classroom across the hall." Kyoya gave the instructions carefully as to make sure the brunette noted each one.

Kagome wanted to demand a better explanation when Haruhi emerged from behind the curtain. Donning a simple pink dress and long brown hair, she looked absolutely…

"Adorable!" Kagome cried, wrapping her arms around Haruhi's shoulders. "Haruhi, I knew you were cute but this is ridiculous."

"Hey, would you quit it?" Haruhi huffed, blushing with embarrassment. The pinkness of her cheeks only made her cuter. Kagome gave her friend another squeeze before letting her go.

The twins brought her to sit down as they applied makeup to Haruhi's face. Kagome watched in awe at their work, they weren't too shabby with a makeup brush.

"Remind me to give you a makeover next time you visit, Haruhi~!" Kagome hummed.

"Gentlemen, what are you doing? The guests are out there waiting–!" Tamaki suddenly burst into the room sounding very urgent. He was silenced as Haruhi stood up from the chair to look at him. Tamaki stared at her, eyes widening as he took in the sight of her.

"So what do you think?" asked the twins. Tamaki remained at a loss for words.

"You look so cute, Haru-chan!" chimed in Honey.

"Why are you walking like that?" Kagome asked, trying her best to hide her snort as Haruhi clumsily walked across the room.

"My face feels heavy and it's hard to walk in these shoes, okay?" the brunette snapped. Kagome couldn't contain her giggles as her friend wobbled out of the room and down the hall.

When the girl was gone, Kagome came to her senses. She had come here to find Haruhi and got completely sidetracked!

"So," she turned to the Shadow King. "What's going on here?"

"Well, you see, Haruhi is helping out one of our guests. That girl she was about to dance with, Kanako Kasugazaki, is having a little bit of love trouble with her fiancé."

"Fiancé?" Kagome gasped. "Why would Haruhi have to dress girly to help with love trouble?"

"She's going to confront Kasugazaki's fiancé to see if he's really in love with her!" said the twins.

Kagome stared at them with an incredulous look. Of all the ridiculous things she's heard in her life, this had to take the cake.

"You're telling me that you," Kagome gestured to the Host Club. "sent Haruhi, dressed like a girl, to confront a guy who's already engaged?"

"You're forgetting that Kasugazaki is madly in love with him! But she won't admit her feelings because she doesn't think he feels the same." explained Honey.

"So you're sending a cute girl to confess her feelings to this guy who Kasugazaki is already super insecure about his feelings to her?"

"When you put it that way it sounds ridiculous," Tamaki laughed.

"That's because it is! Are you out of your mind?" Kagome scolded. "What if she sees them together, then what? Why would she go after a guy who seems interested in someone else?"

"Then it will be his decision whether or not he runs after her," replied Tamaki. "Now if you excuse me, I have a girl to make happy."

Kagome stayed silent as Tamaki walked out of the room. She felt very warm suddenly under the intense stares of the others.

"Can you please stop staring, you're making me feel weird." Kagome said.

"We've never seen you this worked up over something, Higurashi." the twins said, bracketing her.

"Oh hush, let's go back to the party." Kagome huffed.

They returned to the party where many of the guests surrounded them, asking where they had gone. Kyoya placated the ladies with a disarming smile and they all dispersed back onto the dance floor.

Kagome had found herself chatting with Igawa when the hall suddenly opened up to the outside patio. Approaching the massive doors, the miko saw the girl, Kasugazaki, from earlier and a guy she didn't recognize standing in the limelight. They looked like a pair of deer caught in the headlights as they stood beneath the shining beams.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is now time for us to begin the final dance of this evening's festivities," Tamaki announced over a speaker. "The last waltz of the night has been chosen by the Host Club for this couple."

Kagome hurried to join the others at the top of the staircase, curious about the scene down below. The boy held out his hand, whispering something to the girl. She nodded her head affirmatively and they began to dance.

The two danced as though they were the only two souls in the world, gliding across the dance floor with ease. Sakura blossoms fell gracefully from the trees, adding to the beautiful moment. Kagome watched as the boy pulled the girl in close and whisper to her four special words. Recognizing them, the miko clasped her hand over her heart at the sheer loveliness of the scene. It was wonderfully obvious how in love the two were.

"May this awkward couple be forever blessed!" Tamaki declared spreading out his arms.

"I can't believe you were right, this is amazing, Tamaki," Kagome sighed, her eyes never strayed from the dancing couple. "Sorry I ever doubted you."

Tamaki preened under the positive affirmation.

"And now, time to announce the queen of the ball!" announced Hikaru, who had taken the microphone. Glancing over her shoulder, Kagome glimpsed a loose banana peel in his hand.

"Congratulations, Princess Kanako Kasugazaki," said Kaoru, who also carried a banana peel in his hand.

"And for her reward, a kiss on the cheek from the King! Haruhi Fujioka will stand in for Tamaki!" finished Hikaru.

Kagome stifled a snort at the flabbergasted drop of Haruhi's jaw and the sudden deflation in Tamaki's form at the announcement. What was one little kiss on the cheek to him?

"There is no way I can kiss her," Haruhi growled angrily.

"If you do it, we'll cut your debt by one-third," Kyoya promised, never taking his eyes off of his notebook. Haruhi complied instantly under the offer, making her way to Kasugazaki. Kagome turned toward him with a raised brow.

"You bastard," laughed Kagome. Kyoya graced her with a small smirk before turning back to watch the events unfold.

Kagome and the Host Club watched as Haruhi descended the stairs. Behind her, the twins held Tamaki back.

"You don't think this is Haru-chan's first kiss, do you?" Honey asked Kagome.

"Now that you say that, I think so." Kagome mused, tapping her chin with a finger.

"What!" Tamaki gasped, trying to wriggle from the twins' grasp. He escaped from them and sprinted down the steps.

Down below, Haruhi cupped Kasugazaki's chin. Gently, she turned to place a peck on her cheek when Tamaki's hand shoved her forward. With the accidental action, the two girls' lips connected in an unexpected kiss. Just as quickly as they kissed, the two separated, each sporting a dusting of pink over their cheeks.

Kagome covered her ears at the sudden explosion of squealing that erupted. The guests were so excited seeing the kiss they could hardly contain their excitement. Glancing toward the stairs, the miko spotted the banana peels previously in the hands of the twins.

"This wouldn't be the doing of you two, would it?" Kagome asked, crossing her arms as she raised a brow at the twins. They merely smiled mischeviously at her.

"Kyoya did say we needed something thrilling to end the night!" They answered simply.

Kagome sighed as she watched the twins hop down the stairs. Honey and Mori soon joined them followed by the crowd of ladies, leaving herself and Kyoya alone at the top of the stairs. With just the two of them, she stretched her arms above her head suddenly feeling tired.

"What a night. You guys sure know how to throw a party."

"We try to keep things as exciting as possible around here. It helps with the club's endeavors after all," replied Kyoya.

They stood together quietly then, observing the other guests danced the final waltz of the night. Kagome couldn't help the yawn that escaped her. Leaning against the railing, she sighed as her eyes trailed the dancers. The same envious feeling from earlier bubbled up in her chest which she immediately squashed. She did not want to get her hopes up.

"Kagome?"

"Hm?"

"May I have this dance?" Kyoya extended his hand to her. Kagome stared at it blankly, caught off guard by the invitation.

"Yes," she whispered as she slipped her hand into his.

Rather than leading her down the stairs, Kyoya brought them back inside the hall. The space felt massive without people in it. Stopping in the middle of the dance floor, the bespectacled host placed his hand on her waist and pulled her into a waltz.

Time was lost to Kagome as Kyoya swung, dipped, and led her through the dance. Her feet were clumsy with nerves and lack of practice, but neither mentioned music was a distant echo underneath the tremor of her heartbeat. She refused to meet his eyes, entirely too nervous to be able to look at him.

Then his hand cupped her chin and forced her to meet his gaze. Kyoya's dark eyes burned like coals in a hot fire, burning into her. Suddenly Kagome felt very warm, tingling sensations crawling up and down her arms.

"Thank you for this dance, Kagome," whispered Kyoya.

"Any time," Kagome replied breathlessly.