~F-M-N~

Kagome walked through the town, ignoring the looks that the people were giving her. It wasn't often that someone from Ouran would be seen walking home from school, in fact, she was pretty sure it was just her and Haruhi that did. Sesshomaru did not approve and made no effort to hide his displeasure when he saw the chauffeur polishing the limousine for the umpteenth time for the lack of anything better to do. Inuyasha would just huff and puff until Rin would drag him away, one twitching puppy ear squeezed in a tight hold and Shippo just shrugged.

Kagome liked to walk.

She did a lot of it whilst on their quest for Naraku and couldn't imagine sitting around for too long even now. Though she had to admit that it did take up quite a bit of her time. Time better spent on her homework lest she wished to fail as spectacularly as she thought she might. She winced at that. Ten percent in an algebra test and that was possibly for writing her name correctly. In fact, the only subject that she enjoyed and was any good at was History.

Taking her hair out of its ponytail, she ran her fingers through it. She could already feel a headache forming from just thinking about Maths. She knew that she needed help, but who to ask?

"Excuse me, but aren't you Kagome Taisho?" a raspy voice interrupted her train of thoughts effectively.

She stopped, looking at the aged man that approached her. "Yes, I am."

The man shuffled closer, the pungent aroma coming off him threatening to take the lining off her nasal passages as he waved his hands about animatedly.

"So fortunate that I would meet you here, out of all places. Shirakawa-sama wanted me to deliver this message to your household, but perhaps you can take pity on my old bones and do it yourself?" With a grin that could have cracked a lesser being's face, the man thrust the letter into Kagome's hands before she had the chance to reply. Winking at the slightly stunned teenager, he sent out a wave of youki, his smile becoming even broader when, after a brief moment of hesitation, Kagome answered with a gentle pulse of her reiki.

"Give my regards to Lord Sesshomaru and his pack," the youkai bowed politely.

"Tell Totosai that I said hi," Kagome returned his bow with a slight incline of her head, nothing more or less than was expected.

"Certainly, miko-sama," he chuckled good-naturedly, giving an all-knowing look to the teen before walking away with speed that his so-called 'frail' bones shouldn't be able to handle.

~F-M-N~

"Welcome home master Taisho."

Kagome kicked her shoes off, walking past the bowing servants without a word. Turning the thin band on her ring so that flower insignia now faced the other side, she felt a familiar tremor run through her body as it undergone the changes. Her waist became more waspish, the flare of her hips and her breasts evident even under her school blazer.

"Tamiko," she said to the housekeeper, her voice rising an octave as it returned to its normal self, "is Shippo here?"

"No, mistress Kagome," the demoness replied smoothly without batting an eyelash at the transition from male to female that the girl has just undergone, "I am afraid that you are alone for the weekend."

Kagome shoulders tensed slightly, her eyes flashing with an emotion that the demoness could not quite place.

"I see," she said softly, gathering her hair and twisting it into a sloppy bun. "Send someone to the dojo then, I feel like putting some new moves into practice."

"Yes mistress."

As the young heiress left the room, the servants set to their work. They have been with the Taisho family for over millennia, flawless in their execution of any task set, loyal to a fault and, most importantly, never questioning their masters' and mistresses'. Yet out of all of them Tamiko was by far the eldest and the most powerful. The inuyoukai was there at the birth of InuTaisho and then his pups; she stood by her master through wars, has seen the House fall only to grow even greater than before. She remembered when Sesshomaru-sama had brought Rin to her for the first time. Such a little helpless human she was at the time.

And then, he brought Kagome. The second human arrived at the mansion looking far worse for wear than she remembered the first one to be. Dirty and painfully thin, in tattered clothes and with a heavy monstrosity of a yellow bag on her back. Yet she was not broken, far from it. In her eyes burnt the determination to survive against all odds. The girl was named the successor to the Taisho fortune the very next day, no explanation given. When Tamiko decided to approach Sesshomaru-sama about it, he simply stated: "It pleases me to do so." Kagome herself wasn't forthcoming either. In fact, in the first two weeks of her arrival in the mansion, she did not speak ten words to anyone, except Shippo.

'I guess there are some things that only time can heal,' the youkai sighed in resignation, picking the handle of the telephone up to make her daily report.

~F-M-N~

Kagome held her breath and counted till ten, and only then allowed herself to exhale. The training ended far too quickly for her liking but what else could she expect? She could still feel reiki pumping through her limbs, heightening her senses and reflexes so that they could rival that of youkai. It was a handy skill that Sesshomaru has taught her during one of her training sessions with Sango. Was it really five hundred years ago?

"You are all so weak," she looked frigidly at the twitching pile before her that looked very much like a curious version of Kerplunk.

A shoji screen slid open, making her look up at the man who entered. He did not flinch away from her steady gaze as others would; working for Sesshomaru came with the benefits of gaining immunity against evil glares and fierce glowers of all sorts.

"Mistress, there is someone on the phone for you," he bowed, passing her the telephone.

"Thank you," she took her mobile phone, effectively dismissing the servant.

She waited for the shoji screen to shut with a soft click and only then pressed the phone to her ear.

"Yes? I see…" she frowned at the babble that was just about as incomprehensible as it could get, "Give me ten minutes."

~F-M-N~

Hearing the staccato of soft footsteps, Tamiko took a delicate sniff. Giddy anticipation, nervousness, apprehension… Just what did that human was up to this time?

The girl rounded the corner and paused, seeing that she was not about to leave without being noticed.

"Tamiko, I am going out."

"Yes, I can see that," the demonness clicked her tongue, giving Kagome a once over, "I am afraid that master Sesshomaru and master Inuyasha were quite specific about not letting you out at night."

"Well they are not here and besides," she turned the band on the ring, "I can take care of myself," Kagome finished with a devious glint in his eyes. Pulling the hood over his head, now only his obsidian locks visible from underneath, the male started towards the front door with Tamiko following close behind as she tried to talk sense into the teen.

"Master Kagome I must insist-"

"Oh, I just remembered, could you give the envelope in my blazer pocket to Sesshomaru when you next see him? Don't wait up!" The boy gave the aged youkai a quick peck on the cheek before bolting out the door.

"Young people nowadays. No respect at all for the elders," Tamiko huffed, dusting imaginary specks off her kimono. As far as she knew, her having to deal with one obstinate master after another was some form of karmic punishment for her misdeeds in her past lives. Ah well, Kagome did have a point. What the Taisho brothers did not know about couldn't hurt them.

~F-M-N~

The following morning, hearing the gravel crunch under what was most likely a limousine, Tamiko did something that she did not do for the past three hundred years. She cursed in the way that would make a sailor blush in embarrassment. Going as fast as her traditional and restricting garment would allow her, she made her way to the family wing of the house. Nose twitching, she examined the scents to find, to her chagrin, that Kagome did not return yet.

"Kagome, where are ya wench!" Inuyasha screeched somewhere below, making the housekeeper change her course abruptly.

"Welcome home," the rest of the servants chorused as the demonness finally made it down the stairs.

If Sesshomaru picked up on her being slightly out of breath, he chose not to comment on it, instead busying himself with the contents of the envelope that the housekeeper gave to him when asked as to Kagome's whereabouts.

"Tamiko?"

"Yes, Sesshomaru-sama?" she bristled as the tai regarded her steadily for a few long moments. She could not help but feel uncomfortable around him, the male exuded arrogance and aloofness in the same way men would exude aftershave.

"Summon Totosai, I need to speak with him."

"Yes, Seshomaru-sama," she breathed out as he walked past.

~F-M-N~

"Kagome!" Inuyasha hollered loudly from someplace underneath the shopping bags Rin made him carry inside. Grunting as a particularly vicious Chanel one nearly poked his eye out, he set them down sharply, the staff picking the bags up and carrying them off with far more flourish than he ever could manage.

"Calm down Inuyasha, it is only five in the morning, she is probably asleep," Rin hissed at him, punching him in the arm for good measure.

"Keh, she better not be. Not after all the trouble I went through to drill waking up with the first rays of light into her."

The woman was about to protest when he and Shippo ran past her in a flurry of youki and curses, almost making her topple over, prompting Inuyasha to follow the menace. Rin rolled her eyes at her husband's antics. Five centuries have done nothing to improve his 'charming' demeanor and Shippo… Hearing a loud crash in the distance followed by growls, she sighed. At least their enthusiasm was not directed at her this time. Poor Kagome.

~F-M-N~

"Kago-" Inuyasha closed his mouth with a click at the sight of the lump of what must have been Kagome completely submerged under the covers, only one hand sticking out.

"I guess she is asleep," he said quietly, her delicate fingers clutching at the covers tightly as if in reply.

"Weak humans," he scoffed. Clawed fingers moved to pull the small gap between the curtains that allowed for the rays of light to spill onto the bed closed. "I guess I will go and see what's for breakfast."

Nodding in agreement, Shippo moved out of his way, closing the door without so much as a click. With a small amused smile he walked up to the bed.

"He's gone," he crouched next to the bed across where he believed the girl's face was located.

"Good," Kagome emerged slightly flushed from being under the covers for so long, still in her clothes from yesterday. Turning the band on her finger, she let the illusion drop.

"You lot weren't supposed to find out," she explained with a pout, shrugging out of her jacket.

"I figured," Shippo grinned at the sight she made. With dirt on her cheeks and leaves in her hair, probably there from her climbing the tree to get to her bedroom window, coupled with the defiant expression on her face she looked simply adorable.

"What did you get yourself into this time?" he enquired gently, grasping her chin and tilting her head up so she would look at him. With some reluctance, she did, taking in the appearance of her kit. He had changed so much over the years. Gone was the little demon that would demand lollypops and snuggle up to her each night. Shippo has grown into a handsome male, with the bold green color of his eyes, fair skin, wild hair and impressive physique making him every girl's dream. As Tamaki would put it, he was host club material all right.

She felt him squeeze her jaw a little tighter, a way of telling her that he still wanted an answer.

"I was bored," she shrugged. No need to tell him what she was really up to. One again, her reiki had worked its magic just in time to heal most of the bruises and even if her perceptive son did feel the minty fresh sting of purity it against his skin, he chose not to mention it.

Shippo was concerned. It seemed as though she was always the target for the wicked and the worst whenever she went. He couldn't possibly count the times Kagome had been attacked, kidnapped, poisoned, and generally roughly handled by the fools that wanted a jewel shard. At the time he was just a kit and could do next to nothing about it. Now he was older, wiser and deadly. The jewel was gone and yet she still managed to attract trouble.

"Kagome, you really got to stop putting yourself in danger like that. I know that the jewel got absorbed back into your body after the wish was made, but this doesn't mean that the demons will not come after you. The power in you whispers against our senses, it intrigues us," he murmured, brushing her hair out of her face. She relaxed, letting his fingers slide through her unruly tresses.

"I will keep that in mind."

"I am serious. I-" he stuttered, his eyes becoming hard, "I don't want to loose you, mama. Not after waiting for centuries to see you."

Kagome felt something in her chest tighten. He looked so defeated in that moment, and it was her that put that dejected look onto his face.

Suddenly, she sprang off the bed, her arms wrapping around him and effectively knocking them both to the floor. He blinked once, then twice. Snorting at his dumbfounded look, she kissed his cheek.

"As much as I appreciate my son worrying for me, I'd rather you keep in mind that I am the big bad Shikon miko," he laughed at that, making her lips twitch into a smile.

"Fine. Let's go and eat our extra-early breakfast. Courtesy of Inuyasha not being able to wait till decent time."

As they walked into the kitchen, Kagome glanced at Sesshomaru, who was looking at her with an expression that indicated a great deal of interest in the object of his focus, attention that no one in his right mind really wanted to receive, making what little bravery she had before facing him with an explanation for her nightly 'walkies' vanish.

"Ohhhhhh shit…" she whispered.

"Indeed."

~F-M-N~

Shippo was worried. It has been an hour and Kagome was yet to come out of the room that Inuyasha had lovingly dubbed the 'fifth level of hell'. Sesshomaru has mellowed down quite a lot over the years, but he still had that the-streets-will-flow-with-the-blood-of-my-enemies look on his face on occasion.

"Do you think she's ok in there?" the kitsune asked no one in particular, his tails swishing from side to side as he sat down on the window seat.

"Keh, Sesshomaru may act like a big bad demon, but when it comes to Rin and Kagome he is just pathetic," Inuyasha crossed his arms across his broad chest, his ears twitching as he listened to his mate as she bustled about several rooms away. "He'd let them get away with murder. Even if someone brought the dead bodies before him as evidence he'd just say that it was that way in the first place."

"Whatever," Shippo flipped the pages of the book on his lap, determined to find something to occupy himself with.

The double doors opened, revealing a sheepish Kagome as she was finally released from Sesshomaru's domain, the demon following a few steps behind her. Looking around, she noticed that everyone tried to look as casual as possible which, seeing as Shippo was holding his book at an odd angle and Inuyasha seemed incredibly interested in a wooden ornament, they failed at. The momentary silence was broken by the sound of an amused and ladylike chuckle.

"I see that my son is just being his usual cheerful self, friendly self. If Kagome's reaction to being around him is anything to go by," an elegantly dressed demoness laughed, standing up from her chair in one graceful movement.

"Mother, what are you doing here?" Sesshomaru sighed, thinking of a polite way to excuse himself.

"Such a spiteful child," Hatsumomo pouted, brushing past her son to sweep Kagome into a bone crushing hug.

"Fortunately, I am not here for you. I wanted to see my dear little Kagome!" she smiled, revealing her longer than normal fangs. "After all, it is only natural for a grandmother to wish to see her grandpups and, seeing as you have failed – repeatedly – over the years to provide me with any and she is your only heir Sesshomaru, she will be blessed with my undivided attention for today!"

"I can only imagine her joy." Sesshomaru quirked an eyebrow at the way the human girl was trying to push against his mother's chest. The demoness didn't even notice.

"Umph lgfme!"

"What was that dear?" She enquired sweetly, rubbing her cheek against the captured girl's face affectionately.

"Let go you are strangling me!" Kagome gasped for air as she was suddenly released, rubbing her sore arms.

"Guess what we are doing today?" The inu practically oozed glee as she picked up her bag.

"Shopping?"

"Shopping!"

"Joy."

"And you must ditch that silly illusion of yours for the day," Hatsumomo waved the girl's protests away as if she was a petulant child.

"What if someone from school sees me?" Kagome whined.

"Don't be such a party pooper. Besides, after I am finished with you, they will not recognize you!"

"That is what I am afraid of."

~F-M-N~

Despite herself, Kagome could not help but blush a little at the way Hatsumomo praised her looks as they walked down the street littered with boutiques. She didn't know what the big fuss was about. Sure, she wasn't ugly but nothing beyond that. Inuyasha had made it clear enough all those years ago and, although he admitted to being a jerk, the insults did their damage.

"-and your hair is just so luscious! I wish you would let me play with it more often." Hatsumomo finished with a happy sigh, winding an obsidian lock around her finger and letting it bounce back into place.

"It's nothing like yours."

"It doesn't have to be, dear. It is beautiful in its own right."

"Hatsumomo-sama!"

"Ah, it is Mizumi Ootori!"

"Who? Wait- Ootori?!"

"Charmed."

"And this is- Hey, where is Kagome?"

~F-M-N~

Kagome was not in a good mood after yesterday. She has almost forgotten how tiring shopping sprees with Rin or Hatsumomo could be. The two were maniacs when it came to shoes, bags, accessories and the like. It probably came with their professions.

Today the host club was held outside so that all would be able to enjoy the blooming of the Sakura blossoms. Tamaki, Kyoya, and the Hitachiin twins were dressed as waiters while Mori, Honey, Haruhi and Kagome were dressed in yukatas. All hosts but one smiled at the guests as they walked through the gates and into the beautiful garden as 'the host club flower viewing banquet' commenced.

"My princess, which cup would you like your tea in?" Tamaki asked the girl sweetly, gesturing towards the long table full of exquisite and expensive tea sets. "The Foley? Worcester? Or the Susie's Gardenia?"

"They are all so lovely, I don't know which one to choose," she complimented with a smile. "Which one would you choose, Tamaki?"

"Which one?" He repeated the question as he took her hand, gently pulling her towards himself, "well none of these compare to you, my princess."

"Oh Tamaki, I don't really know what to say…" she blushed, clearly enjoying the attention.

"You mean you've never been to Covent Garden?" Kaoru questioned the two women sitting across the table, a hint of surprise coloring his voice.

"No. All of our antiques are from Portabello."

"I think you would like Covent Garden," Hikaru interject smoothly, pouring the girl a cup of tea, " most of our Victorian pieces are from there."

"Kagome-chan, you look great in a yukata," a customer gushed, making the blue eyed host look in her direction briefly.

Kagome said nothing, sticking to her I-will-speak-to-you-idiots-when-hell-freezes-over approach when it came to the guests.

Her slender fingers playing with the fabric of her sleeves, Kagome wondered how in the name of all holly did Kyoya manage to cajole her into wearing a yukata. At first, after having witnessed some of the outfits of Tamaki's choosing, she had refused to dress up at all. She was quite adamant about it too; at least until the club's shadow king waltzed into the changing room and all but thrust the debt payment schedule into her face, suggesting that they negotiate if she agreed to his terms.

'I suppose that it could have been worse. At least a yukata is something that I have worn on a few occasions.'

Looking at the way the hosts interacted with the guests, Kagome idly noted to herself that even as waiters, they were pulling the whole thing off quite well. Tamaki was clearly in his element and even if she found his sunny disposition and sugarcoated words off putting, the women seemed to like it well enough. The twins, for once, took a break from their 'brotherly love' act and were just chatting with their guests. She preferred them when they weren't drooling all over one another. As for their pranks, she had plenty of experience with Shippo to know how to deal with the mischievous types. However, if those two thought that she would allow anyone to outwit her, they had another thing coming. Perhaps she was not the brightest out of all of them, but hanging out with Sesshomaru and Hatsumomo-sama meant that you learnt a thing or two about mind games. She smirked into her teacup. Such fun!

Today she was meant to entertain the winner of the 'guess the food blab la bla something' game but the girl has cancelled last minute, meaning that Kagome had no guests to keep amused. She took another sip of her tea, enjoying the flavor. Petals swirled gently in the air. Her eyes followed their dance until they settled on the ground. Stretching out her hand, she let one slide onto her palm.

Suddenly, there was a movement to her right as something clicked repeatedly, making her startle and almost drop the cup she was still holding with one hand. What the hell was that?

"Ah!" One of the twins yelped, making her turn. Apparently she was not the only one who jumped when they heard the clicking noise.

Hot tea dripped down from Kaoru's hand, his face pained as he brought it to his chest.

"Kaoru-" Hikaru reached for his brother, cradling the injured hand gently as he lowered his lips to it. "Honestly Kaoru, you have to be more careful..." he trailed off with a small sigh.

"Does it hurt?" the two looked up in surprise to see Kagome leaning over Kaoru, making a blush spread across the younger twin's face. Tusking in mock annoyance the blue-eyed male took Kaoru's wrist into his hands, placing the hand up to his lips and blowing gently. Unseen by the transfixed customers and the twins, a faint pink light briefly danced across the injured fingers.

"How is that?" the shorter boy murmured, his cerulean eyes half lidded as he released the much observed appendage.

"It- it's great, actually. Thanks!" Kaoru's eyes widened in surprise as he flexed his hand, slightly confused but grateful.

"Awwww," the girls cooed, inching closer to get a better look at the scene. A severe look from Kagome had them halting in their tracks and backpedalling a safe distance away.

"I think I just figured you out, Kagome." Hikaru materialized behind the two, his hand casually snaking round the shorter boy's shoulders.

"Have you now?" Kagome gave him a blank look, loosening his grip on her shoulder one finger at a time.

"We are not stupid ya know," they chorused.

"Would have fooled me."

"All of these harsh words and attitude are just a front, aren't they? Because the truth is, you – Kagome Taisho – care," Hikaru declared loudly and Kaoru grinned, both clearly pleased with themselves.

"About you two? Oh please." She rolled her eyes. Only someone as self-absorbed as these two would assume that.

"Kagome caaaares! Kagome cares!" They chanted happily, squeezing Kagome tighter and ignoring the muffled death threats.

That was the last time she helped them. Ever.

"Male bonding! It is so wonderful," a girl gushed, pressing her hands against her flaming cheeks. "And did you see the way Kaoru blushed?"

"Eeeeh! I just can't stand it! It is too much!"

"Don't look away! This may be the last time such moment will happen," another girl warned her, trying to make her turn around.

"You are absolutely right ladies." Kyoya agreed, his trademark smile firmly in place. If he was correct – as per usual – there was a sale to be made here. "Beauty is fleeting, memories can be erased by time," he continued, tilting his head to the side as he held up a small branch with a few delicate blooms. "Which is why I have put together a photo collection that captures the beautiful scenes that go on every day at the host club."

Kagome gaped as without so much as a flick of a hand on the shadow king's part a set of booklets were wiped out of nowhere and presented to the squealing girls. Each one had a picture of a host on the cover and, judging by the twin's reactions, that was the first time they've ever seen these too.

"If you buy them all, I will discount the whole set for you." He smiled as the females crowded around him while waving money in the air. They were just far too easy to play.

"Let go of me you idiots!" Kagome pushed the two away from her. Her fingers twitched as she resisted the urge to knock their heads together. She couldn't hurt them, not after just wasting her time and risking caught using her reiki.

"Well that explains how the club makes extra money." The twins spoke, finally letting go of their prize.

"That guy is dangerous." Kagome marveled, a little impressed with the silver-tongued salesman's ability to withstand constant satisfied girlish screeching for great lengths of time.

"Yeah, he could probably sell ice to Eskimos."

Kagome smirked. She could see that happening.

~F-M-N~

"So that's how you manage to pay for all this," Kyoya turned around as the cerulean-eyed boy did a sweeping move with his hands.

"Indeed." He nodded, pushing his glasses up. "But now that the customers are demanding photos of you, I am quite stuck."

"Hm.."

Kyoya's eyes slanted lower as Kagome propped his chin up on his hands, his lashes lowered over bright eyes. Once again, the older male wondered exactly what the boy's back-story was, his frustrations at not being able to find anything apart from gossip and well-known facts rising.

While the former at times had a grain of truth, he doubted very much that Kagome was Sesshomaru-sama's bastard, a runaway circus acrobat, a woman in disguise or a member of the Yakutza.

"Photo session in return for all the profit from the sales of my photos going towards Haruhi's debt."

Kyoya's eyes widened in shock. Blinking, he cleared his throat, his mind going a mile a minute at the possibilities.

"If the club will make no extra income out of it, I don't see why I should agree."

"Oh please, as if you will not find some other way to create all sorts of crap with those images that those gullible idiots will adore. Or are ya out of ideas? Losing your touch, perhaps?" Kagome taunted cockily.

It was a challenge if he ever saw one and, more than anything, the Ootori loved a good challenge. Kyoya smirked handsomely as possibilities swam before his eyes in a rapid succession.

"Didn't know that you would agree to something like that, Taisho-san." He jotted a few ideas down.

"The faster it is repaid, the less time I have to spend with Tamaki." Kagome rubbed her face with a yawn, clearly bored.

"I heard that! Oh mummy! Why doesn't our child love his daddy!" Tamaki wailed, suddenly appearing from behind a bush.

"Cos the self proclaimed daddy," Kagome shot him a steely look, "is bipolar, obnoxious, loud and just plain ridiculous," she stated offhandedly.

Tamaki's face grew pale, his spirit leaving the premises as his body retired to the corner of woe, step by heavy step.

"Jeez Kagome that was a little harsh," Kaoru tusked in disapproval.

"Yeah, it isn't the boss's fault that he is an idiot." Hikaru chimed in, patting the tall blonde boy on the head.

"You two and now you Kagome!" Tamaki shot up, swiping snickering twins away from himself. "Ah, this is just too much to take. Mummy! Make them stay away from my little girl before they corrupt her too!" He ran up to Haruhi, who was watching the exchange in confusion.

"Senpai, aren't you being a little dramatic?"

"Oh Haruhi," he clutched her shoulders in a death grip, "you are just too sweet and innocent to see their true motives!" He whispered urgently, his breath dancing over the shell of her ear.

~ Tamaki's mind theatre ~

"Kuh kuh kuh! Haruhi is mine!" Kagome embraced the petite girl from behind, throwing her over his shoulder. "Mwahahaha!" he laughed, stroking his moustache with his free hand and then speeding away.

"Haruhi, no!"

"Don't worry boss, she is in good hands."

Tamaki turned sharply, shrieking as he saw Haruhi laughing merrily as she skipped away with the twins, their hands entwined as if they were ballet dancers.

"Noooooo! Come back to me Haruhi!"

~ End of scene ~

"Um.. Senpai?" Haruhi prodded Tamaki's shoulder, a little creeped out by the way he kept staring at her, his face void of any emotion.

"Should we help Haruhi?" Kagome clicked his fingers in front of Tamaki's face a few times but got zero response.

"Nah, he will unfreeze in a moment or two." Hikaru shrugged and walked off, Kaoru following close behind.

"Kago-chan? Where are you going?" Mitsukuni smiled brightly, looking every inch as adorable as usual.

"Just wandering about," the boy shrugged, pushing his unbound hair out of his face, making the girls clutching freshly purchased booklets to their chest sigh dreamily while hearts floated round their heads.

"Well our customers are not here yet, so how about Usa-chan and I will come with you?" he offered his hand somewhat shyly. No matter how young he looked, Mitsukuni wasn't ignorant. He knew that Kagome's temper yo-yoed dramatically and was not sure where he stood when it came to the new host.

Kagome's lips twitched into a small half smile. "Sure."

Dodging the Hitachiin's grasping hands and sniveling fan girls, she followed the blonde boy to his table as Tamaki finally returned from gaga land, his body slowly crumbling onto the ground at Haruhi's feet.

~F-M-N~

Mori took a deep breath, enjoying the relative quiet of his surroundings. With Mitsukuni taking a liking to Kagome and insisting that he join them for the day, the customers – who were still ashamed by what occurred a few days prior – where blessedly quiet, even going as far as speaking in hushed tones. His dark grey eyes followed a swirling petal as it descended onto his lap. Yes, a guy could get used to this kind of tranquility.

CRASH!

No matter how short-lived.

"Come back here you terrible two! Daddy says NO!"

~F-M-N~

Wow can't believe that it is finally done! Admittedly, this chapter was going to be even longer but when I got to the 5k+ point I decided to have the physical exams in the next entry. In case some of you were wondering about Renge already appearing earlier, I decided to go with the manga timeline. It fit my purposes better, made the story flow.

Hope you enjoyed it!