It didn't take long for shenanigans to ensue within the first twenty minutes of the Host Club opening. There was something in the air, but the twins were on one that day. It started with playing the "Which One is Hikaru Game" followed by a snarky comment from Haruhi.

Kagome noticed immediately when a mischievous glint came to their eyes. After years of being friends with a fox youkai, she could sense impending nonsense from a thousand miles away. Still, she decidedly minded her own business and continued to sip her tea. If the moment called for it she would intervene, but today she did not have the energy for it.

"A-Achoo!" Kagome covered her nose and mouth with her handkerchief as another sneeze wracked through her. It had been a couple of days since filming in the rain, but her entire body was beginning to feel worse. This much sneezing always meant a nasty cold was to follow.

"Are you alright, Higurashi?" Munkata asked.

"Do you need more tea?"

Kagome accompanied Mori and Honey at their tea table that day per Munakata's request. She and another girl watched her with worried eyes, pushing the pot of tea towards her. The miko accepted it gratefully, pouring herself another cup. Sighing, she drank the hot liquid down.

"You're looking a little pale, Higurashi, are you sure you don't want to go home?" Munkata's friend, Marika Mikamo, asked.

"I appreciate your concern, but I'm just feeling a little tired. Besides, I didn't want to disappoint you all by being gone." Kagome made sure to punctuate her words with a bright smile.

"We're so lucky to have a sister figure like you, Higurashi. You're so courageous," Munakata sighed.

"I'm grateful to have such a kind little sister in you," Kagome replied sweetly.

Munakata and Mikamo squealed with delight at her words. As silly as it was, the miko was touched by the heiress.

They continued chatting and drinking their tea. As time went on, Kagome slowly felt her head become fuzzy. Her hands trembled reaching for her teacup so she decided to keep them folded in her lap.

"You don't look so good, Gome-chan," Honey said. "Maybe you should go home?"

"I can't go home if I'm already here, Mistu. I can hold out just… a little…" Kagome trailed off, swaying in her chair. Her mind was lost to the gasps of her name as she fell toward Honey.

A strong pair of hands held her shoulders upright preventing the impact, but the raven-haired girl was passed. Mori adjusted her so that she was leaning against him. Honey poked Kagome's cheek to see if she'd wake up. When she didn't move, he waved his arms to garner attention.

"She's out cold! Taka-chan, what do we do?" cried Honey, worried tears filling his eyes. "Kyo-chan, Tama-chan!"

When the two hosts turned to see what Honey was calling for, neither expected to see Kagome lying prone against Mori's shoulder. They were upon her instantly.

"My dear flower! What happened?" Tamaki asked, shaking Kagome's shoulder. Mori's hand gently removed it from her.

"She's asleep, don't do that," Mori stated.

"I will call her emergency contact, allow me a moment. Mori-sempai, would you move Higurashi to a more comfortable place?" Kyoya instructed, whipping out his cell phone.

Mori nodded and scooped the sleeping girl into his arms. His guests gasped at the action, enchanted by how he heroically carried her bridal style. Gently, he laid her on a nearby chaise and covered her with his school jacket to keep her warm.

"Kagome?" Haruhi hurried to Kagome's side. Gently brushing the hair out of the girl's face, Haruhi's brow furrowed with concern seeing her cheeks were flushed a vibrant shade of red, her skin hot to the touch. Catching this, the twins investigated.

"What's got you all huffy, Haruhi?"

"Yeah, why the long face? Higurashi will wake up eventually!"

Haruhi pinned them with an annoyed glare. Undeterred, Hikaru propped his elbow lazily atop her head, intensifying her ire.

"So what if she's asleep, big deal, right?"

"Would you get off of me!" Haruhi swatted the Hitachiin's appendage off. "I'm just worried how she's going to get home. She was supposed to come to my house tonight because her family is out of town."

"Is that so? I guess that explains why her mother did not pick up." Kyoya stated. "I think I remember she put another name down for her emergency contact."

As he flipped through his notebook, he pointedly ignored the sudden onset of agitation seeing Mori hold Kagome in such an intimate fashion. When he found her emergency contact information, his eyes widened a fraction seeing the name and number written down.

Shippo Kistunezuka, XXX-XXX-XXX.

Fingers frozen over the numbers on his phone, Kyoya stared at the name. It was one he was highly familiar with. His father had dealt with the uncouth young businessman many times when it came to specialty hospitals. Was this Kagome's mysterious benefactor?

Shaking off the strangeness, Kyoya dialed the number. It went straight to voicemail, unfortunately, but he left a message. Not even a minute later, Kistunezuka called him back.

"This is Shippo Kistunezuka, I will be coming to get Kagome as soon as I can."

Kyoya didn't have enough time to formulate a response when the man hung up on him. Placing the device down, the bespectacled host informed everyone that someone was on their way to pick up the unconscious girl.

"Poor Kagome, pushing herself just so she could spend time with us here. It's so noble," Shiori Igawa sighed. The other girls at the tables nodded their heads in solemn agreement.

"Your kindness shines bright, my little star. Shall I make a wish upon you?" Tamaki asked, bringing her gaze back to him.

Haruhi rolled her eyes at the ridiculous display. Leave it to him to turn the situation into a reason to flirt.

Unbeknownst to the brunette, a pair of bored twins were keen to the last bit of information she revealed. It seemed that she was close enough with Kagome to invite her over, so why not them?

"Hey, Haruhi.

"Let's play the 'Which One in Hikaru Game!"

A short time and one passive-aggressive sibling argument later, another new visitor arrived at the Host Club. The guests softly gasped seeing a tall, stunning man stroll into the room.

"Is this the Ouran Host Club?" The man asked, peering around the room behind a pair of sunglasses.

He was dressed finely, in a sleek emerald green shirt accented by black dress pants. Long and shiny auburn hair was pulled into a high ponytail, showing off the man's high cheekbones. With a quick movement, he removed his sunglasses to reveal sparkling green eyes.

"At least he doesn't look like he's about to curse anyone," Haruhi thought, the image of Nekozawa popping up.

"Where's Kagome?" The stranger asked a different question, brow furrowed when no one answered.

With the combining forces of his beauty and the concern he showed for the raven-haired girl, he managed to throw the entirety of the Host Club guests into a tizzy. Before it could get out of hand, Tamaki immediately slid in. Motivated by partial jealousy and curiosity, he moved quickly.

"Bonjour, handsome stranger. Are you our precious flower's guardian?" The blonde asked. The man blinked owlishly at him for a moment until a wide toothy grin spread across his face. Insert several more guests dramatically sighing.

"You must be Suoh! Great to meet you, I'm Shippo Kistunezuka!" The man took Tamaki's open palm and shook it.

"Kistunezuka, it is a pleasure to be acquainted with you. I am–" Kyoya began to introduce when the man slapped a hand into his.

"I recognize an Ootori when I see one," Kistunezuka said. "You have your father's eyes. A pleasure to meet the brains behind the business."

Ignoring the look of blatant shock on their faces, Shippo ignored them in search of his quarry. When his eyes landed on Kagome, his smile turned soft as he went to her side. Shippo made sure to spice up his concern with so many curious eyes observing him, particularly those of a young Ootori.

Hidden by the glare of his glasses, Kyoya narrowed his gaze at the man. It was interesting information that Kistunezuka was associated with her. However, he couldn't help the burning feeling slithering from his chest to his throat as he watched him gently place a hand on Kagome's forehead.

"Sh-Ship?" Kagome opened bleary eyes to look up at him.

"What have you done now, Kagome?" Shippo whispered, pulling her into his arms. "Let's getcha home."

Kistunezuka whispered something soft to her. Kagome's lashes fluttered closed as she rested her head against the man's shoulder. This exchange felt too intimate to have been beholden by so many prying eyes, but nobody could tear their eyes off the pair until they were gone. There was a brief pause in all Host Club activities as the brand-new information sank in. Everyone except Haruhi shared a meaningful, curious look.

"Do you think?"

"It has to be."

"No way."

"What am I missing here?" Haruhi turned to Kyoya with her question. She was taken by surprise at the foul expression darkening his features. "Sempai?"

"Hm?" Kyoya snapped out of his trance, his mask coming back up to present an amicable smile. "Oh, that's right. You wouldn't know the Kistunezuka name in your socioeconomic position."

"Can you just tell me who the guy is?" Haruhi grumbled. He didn't have to point out her ignorance as a result of not being rich.

"Kistunezuka owns a large percentage of hospitals in the country, primarily ones that are specialized care. My family has had the opportunity to work with him in the past," Kyoya said. "The man is an unpredictable, wily fellow."

"He's also related to one of the scariest business tycoons in all of Japan," inserted Honey. "Kistunezuka is a cousin to the CEO of the Taisho Corp."

Haruh's jaw dropped in disbelief, her mind short-circuiting as she tried to form a response. Kagome, the girl who grew up on a shrine, was associated with someone who was clearly important. Pursing her lips, the brunette tried to conjure up any mention of this man. Her heart sank a little when nothing came to mind. Next time she could, Haruhi would make sure to ask about him.

"Seems like things are going to get interesting," hummed the Ootori. Casually adjusting his glasses, he returned to his work.

Haruhi rolled her eyes at him. The second Kistunezuka was near Kagome, she could feel the jealousy radiating off of him.

"Yeah right, interesting…" the brunette mused to herself.

The next day

"Hey, are you coming to school today? The train's about to leave."

"I won't be coming to school today, I'm still not feeling well," Kagome's voice came across the line sounding very tired and congested.

"I'm sorry, I hope you feel better," Haruhi masked her immense disappointment easily with well wishes.

"Thanks, Haruuu–" the line ended suddenly with the slur of Kagome's words.

Pocketing her cell phone, Haruhi rushed to get onto her train. If Kagome was passing out in the middle of phone calls then she was certainly too sick to be at school still.

Hopping onto the train, the brunette had a strange feeling in her gut. After the events of yesterday today was going to be strange.

"What do you mean Kagome's not here today!" cried Tamaki. "Is she dying? Oh dear, Mommy, we need to go save our precious girl!"

Haruhi and Kyoya sported the same deadpan expression as the blonde went on his tirade. Host Club hours had only just started and he was on his antics already.

"It's nothing to be worried over, sempai," Haruhi comforted. "She's just got a little cold, that's it. I think being wet from the movie scenes got to her."

"Oh, just a little cold? That's nothing to be concerned about. Right, Mommy?" Tamaki turned watery eyes toward the bespectacled host for comfort and confirmation.

"I wouldn't be so sure. According to my research, Higurashi has had multiple illnesses that have resulted in her missing long periods of school," stated Kyoya, flipping to a page in his notebook. "In many instances, a simple cold has escalated to diseases that haven't been seen in many years."

"WHAT!" Tamaki screamed, his face blanching white. "You mean to tell me she could be dying right now?"

"Well, not exactly. If she just has a cold it's highly unlikely that she is dying. However, there is the possibility of it escalating like these prior cases." Kyoya stated simply.

Haruhi glanced at the Shadow King with a quirked brow. As he continued to list off the specific diseases, Tamaki became more and more freaked out. His usual dramatics close to escalating into madness as he flailed about the room, crying out incoherent sentences. The brunette considered the interaction as she gathered fixings for tea. He obviously was trying to gain a reaction from Tamaki, but to what end would it benefit him?

"Family meeting, now!" shouted the president of the Host Club suddenly.

They gathered, save for Hikaru and Kaoru who kept a wide distance between each other. While he waited for them to settle, Tamaki wore a severely solemn expression.

"Men! We need to go check on Kagome. She might not have long to live and as her friends, we must make sure her final moments are peaceful and loving," declared Tamaki, slapping the table dramatically.

As he spoke, the Inner Tamaki Mind Theater began to whir into motion. The image of a frail and pale Kagome lying in a hospital bed came to mind. She would cough gently into a handkerchief, her delicate shoulders shaking with the action. Pulling the cloth from her mouth revealed a splatter of blood.

"My flower, Daddy's here don't you worry. I've got you," Tamaki whispered wrapping his arms around her.

"I can feel it, I don't have very long. Please make sure everyone knows…" She cut off, violently hacking into her handkerchief. "Please make sure everyone knows I love the,"

"Of course, my darling."

The scene came to a close when he was met with silence.

"Are you saying that Gome-chan's dying?" Honey whispered with a tremor in his voice. Mori placed a silent hand on his cousin's shoulder as he began to earnestly cry.

"We shall never know if we investigate," Tamaki said.

"There's no way she's dying from a simple cold," Hikaru cut in with a sneer. "Why bother?"

"She's our friend, idiot," Kaoru responded with a glare. "Or are you such an asshole that you don't care about her?"

They continued to bicker with each other, so badly that furniture began to fly through the room. Haruhi and the others took cover a few yards away from them.

"Sempai, I don't think it's a good idea to bring those two to Kagome's when they're like this," Haruhi commented.

"But if we don't see her what if–?" Tamaki was cut off as a chair smacked into him. Knocked out cold and lying on the floor, Haruhi and Kyoya stared at him.

"Great, look what you've done! You killed the boss." Kaoru shrieked.

"What do you mean I did that? You're the one who started it!" Hikaru shouted back combatively.

"Kyoya-sempai, you can't possibly think it's a good idea."

Haruhi turned her sights to the bespectacled host. He said nothing, the light casting a glare onto his glasses and covering his expression. Then he turned away, pulling out a calculator.

"Perhaps not," was all he said before walking a safer distance away.

"What the hell has gotten into everybody?" Haruhi grumbled.

The day after that

Haruhi was at her wit's end. After several days of quarreling, bickering, and more arguing she was sick of the twins' fighting. It was bad enough that they argued during class, but it dragged through lunch and kept going. Without Kagome there to vent to after school, she felt lonely and more frustrated with each day of her absence.

"When will it stop?" The mental question popped into the brunette's head as she entered the club room. Running an agitated hand through her hair, Haruhi rallied herself for another day.

"Haru-chan!" Honey called to her.

Settled in a circle of chairs and couches was the Host Club sans the quarreling brothers. Lifting a brow, Haruhi opened her mouth to inquire but was stopped by Tamaki's hand.

"This is an emergency host meeting," he stated. "At first, I thought those two having a little fight was good. They need some independence from each other. But we need those two to stop fighting! It's been days since any of us have known peace!"

"That, and if the brothers can't get along we will no longer have our brotherly love host options," Kyoya continued. "Therefore making the club lose two hosts and a substantial amount of money."

"So what do you propose we should do?" Haruhi asked. Considering Tamaki's point of independence, she felt reluctant to interfere. It was never a good idea to meddle in family affairs, after all.

"Nobody knows what to do, we've never seen them act like this," Honey said.

"You mean they've never gotten into a fight before?" Haruhi asked in disbelief. The small host shook his head. "So do they even know how to make up?"

At that moment, the club room's doors burst open. The hot headed twins walking in with crossed arms as they ignored the other. It took about three and a half steps into the room for them to blow into another full on argument. It took less time for furniture and other items to start flying.

"Can you guys stop already? It's driving me insane." Tamaki interjected loudly.

"Driving you insane?" Hikaru stopped throwing to glare at him. "You know what drives me insane? Looking in the mirror and seeing his dumb face! I hate you!"

"I hate you more! In fact, I bought a cursed doll and I'm going to write your name on its back right now," Kaoru pulled out a wooden cat doll and a marker. "Now all you will experience is misfortune and sorrow!"

While Tamaki cowered away from the dark item, something in Haruhi finally snapped. With a violent burst of rage fueling her every step, she stormed upon the twins to deliver a swift punch to the tops of their heads.

"Would you two knock it off?" She shouted. They chorused sounds of hurt, but she didn't care. Taking the doll from Kaoru, the brunette rounded on them.

"What is wrong with you? You can't bring something like this into a petty fight. You're both at fault here, but what's sad is that you brought everyone else around you into your mess! Now apologize to each other now, if you don't make up I'll never let you come over to my or Kagome's house! Have I made myself clear?"

Haruhi took a step back to collect herself, her heart beating fast and furious. The twins shared a look of pure shock on their faces and she was hopeful that her words made some impact. Then the two looked at each other with a sly, shared smile.

"You mean if we make up–"

"Then we can go to your house, right?"

"And by extension Kagome's."

At a loss for words, Haruhi scrambled to say something as the twins embraced each other. Judging from their soft whispering and gentle affection, they were not truly upset with each other to begin with. She just got punked!

"A deal's a deal, Haruhi!" They reminded her cheerfully.

"Does this mean we can go to Gome-chan's house now?" Honey asked excitedly. "She hasn't been to school in almost three days!"

"Well, we did make up," said Kaoru.

"So let's do it!" Hikaru finished.

Within the blink of an eye, they opened the Host Club. Before her guests arrived, Haruhi pulled out her phone to send a quick text to her raven-haired friend.

"Be prepared. We're all coming."