So the darkness shall be the light, and the stillness the dancing.

Chapter Five: Foreboding Injuries

Life is fragile, and in a moment it can be wiped away and like a thread breaking in a spider web all the other points it's connected to weaken and droop. The delicate balance that keeps people steady in their own lives wobbles when one of the people they're connected to ceases to be, though it doesn't destroy the whole web, a spider can always go back out and start to build again…

Kyoya tossed down the magazine into the trash can in disgust; it wasn't at all what he needed to be reading right now. The young boy was still without his jacket as he lingered in the waiting room of the hospital, he couldn't believe they would keep that drivel here. It certainly wasn't making him keep his mind off of what had happened or alleviating his apprehensions as to how bad her injuries could be. Thinking back he couldn't help but be angry with himself. How couldn't he have noticed that idiot speeding through the parking lot?

He got a slight scrape on his hand and ripped his pants when Kagome shoved him, then he heard the sickened crash followed by the squeal of the rubber on the concrete as the offending driver stopped his car. He pushed himself up just in time to see Kagome just hitting the ground again several feet from the car and rolling like a rag doll over the ground. Her blood was all over the ground and the worst part was that she was lucky she hadn't been drug under the low riding car. Kyoya was dialing emergency services even as he ran toward her, able to act level-headed even though he was mollified at what he'd just witnessed.

"Kagome! Kagome can you hear me?" He didn't want to touch her and possibly make anything worse. "Hello, we're outside the Amatsume mall and my friend was just hit by a driver in the parking lot, she's not responding to me and she's bleeding heavily. We need an ambulance."

Perhaps it was partially shock that kept him able to explain things and answer questions, he checked her pulse for the man on the other end of the line and affirmed she still had one and that she was breathing but she still wasn't answering him. It wasn't until he heard the ambulance in the distance that she started to open her eyes. He was still on the phone with emergency services but wasn't paying attention.

"Kyoya?" She asked, trying to focus her eyes, but there were so many lights dancing around that she immediately closed them again. She started to push herself up but immediately winced.

"Don't move Kagome, you need to stay still, the ambulance is almost here." Kyoya immediately said, taking her hand when she started patting around the ground. "You were hit by a car."

"It feels like a bus…" Kagome mumbled, closing her eyes again, her head was still spinning though she'd been able to see clearly it was just easier to close her eyes. "Are you all right? Did I get you out of the way."

"You idiot…" Kyoya sighed, wanting to be angry at her but knowing it wouldn't help now. "…you should have let them hit me. Why did you do that?"

"I couldn't just stand by and let you get hit...what sort of person you think I…" Kagome half answered before unconsciousness took her again as the E.M.T.'s were running up to them. The Ambulance parked just next to where she was on the ground.

Kyoya was waiting in a private room the hospital had provided as a member of the family that owned the hospital. He glanced up as a doctor opened the door, fearing the worse information as he'd asked for an update as soon as it was available.

"Mister Ootori, your friend is in stable condition at the moment but she'll require some screws and a rod added to her left femur, it is broken completely through and pieces appear to have fractured off completely. Otherwise she suffered a concussion and dozens of other abrasions and bruises across her body. We're prepping her for surgery now; her mother is in the offices signing the needed paperwork." The doctor explained. "Despite internal bruising on her lungs and some other organs there are no open bleeds. When her mother is done I instructed a nurse to bring her here, I figured you wouldn't mind."

"No that's fine, thank you." He didn't have to think to voice the polite reflexive reply. "Are her nerves all right?"

"As far as we can tell she is not paralyzed, her feet and hands reacted normally to tests for someone suffering so much damage to the body. She can feel as well as control her fingers and toes, though movement is expectedly painful anywhere in her left leg." The doctor replied. "She'll be under for a while for the surgery and then we'll wake her later tonight. We could keep you posted if you wanted to go home, I know you are a busy young man."

"No I'll stay here." Kyoya didn't hesitate; he had no intention of just leaving her after she took the hit for him. As it was he could have suffered even worse wounds or been killed if she hadn't leaped in the way for him.

"Right…if there are any changes I'll make sure you are made aware." The doctor nodded to him and vanished out the door again. Kyoya sighed. His failure to look after the girl that could be his ticket to being taken in as his family's heir was exceptionally frustrating. Worse that she'd been put in such a position rescuing him; father was bound to be angry.

"Kyoya." The soft voice of Kagome's mother drew his eyes from where he'd closed them to try to push away the forming migraine. He earned a smile for standing up for her. "Don't worry Miss Higurashi, the doctors say she'll be fine with some time to heal…I'm sorry, it's my fault. If I had been paying attention…"

"It's not your fault." The mother smiled at him wisely, shaking her head. "You couldn't control a man getting drunk and getting behind the wheel. Kagome's always been headstrong and when she sees the chance to do the right thing she does it. I'm worried for her and I wish she didn't have to be in pain, but I'm not sorry she's a good person. I…hate to ask you this, I know you must be busy, but I can't get out of work without losing my job and I have lots of shifts through Tuesday. Can you look after her?"

"Of course." Kyoya said immediately. "There's nothing I can't do from the hospital network that I need with homework. I'd like to request you allowing me to take care of her in my family's home while she's recovering."

He owed Kagome a lot for her vexing rescue, and if he could start to return that by looking over her for her mother he didn't mind at all. As it was if he could get her to stay at his home then his father might forgive this mistake. "Let the hospital know and don't worry about the billing, if you get anything let me know. I'll make sure it is all covered."

"I already gave them my insurance information, but thank you, you're quite the gentleman. If Kagome agrees I wouldn't mind you looking after her for a while. Sorry to impose and then run out on you like this. Thanks for being a friend to her." The older woman offered an apologetic look before vanishing. Kyoya only felt worse, apparently her family wasn't as well off as he'd like to think if the mother was still concerned about working at a time like this. He still had a while before they'd come and get him with her still in surgery though, so he tugged out his computer, getting into the network at the hospital and checking his email.

One of his waiting messages involved the same girl under the knife. Though most of it seemed generally things he'd seen before until he read a little further in. Her tuition had been paid by the private accounts of the Inutenko name. It was an ancient name related to money just as old, they didn't come out often but rumor had it that they were related to one of the lines of the old emperor's of china. Either way they were a leading name in any sort of antique trade, they had their hands in a large variety of companies and owned a leading investment group that had done well since the turn of the last century. If they touched something or approved it even vaguely people leapt to do the same. Though the family that ran the successful investments and businesses was rather reclusive much of the time, Kyoya had heard a rumor that they were subject to some rare disease and had trouble being out often, preferring to work from a quiet background. Nonetheless, it instantly explained his father's interest in Kagome; he must have known it was the elusive and exclusive family backing her. The Inutenko family was rumored to be in the top hundred richest families in the world and easily the richest within Japan itself.

Why did such a well off family care about her? He doubted she knew he'd heard her express concern that her mother would never be able to pay this off prior to this new message. So likely Kagome wasn't aware, but he'd have to dig deeper, though carefully. Suddenly he had even more reason to be concerned about his actions today, the Inutenko were also notorious for destroying the business ventures of the people that crossed them, the other nasty rumor about them was that they were related to the yakuza.

While, his own family had dark secrets, it didn't compare to some of what surrounded the mysterious benefactors behind his student. Just who was Kagome Higurashi? He pushed himself past that shocking fact to continue reading the information that had been in the email.

One glaring issue that stood out was something that there was a lack of. Medical records, despite the fact that all the rumors, and all her old friends and acquaintances as well as the school she went to before this reporting her as sickly there were no medical records beyond a the yearly check-ups anyone would be expected to have. There was no paper trail to cover the stories about being sick for so long? So why lie to the point of nearly failing? Her mother and family did the same; did they have some clandestine reason for it? There were all manner of possibilities…if the Inutenko family was backing her then was she distantly related or a bastard child like Tamaki?

They didn't appear to be helping Kagome's mom with other things, just covering her tuition at the academy and getting him as a personal tutor for her. Was Kagome a better liar than he thought? More than likely she wasn't aware of whatever the reason was, she might not even know who the family is. Though why she lied for a year about her health and failed her classes was the most surprising thing. She really seemed to want to do well now, and generally seemed sad and guilty about failing the year before, so what had she been doing?

"Kyoya!" Tamaki's voice pulled him from his concerns, his eyebrow twitching slightly as the blonde jumped across the room and hugged him, rubbing his head against Kyoya's chest. "I was so worried when I saw the news! Is Kagome okay?"

"The news?" Kyoya's face darkened and he pushed Tamaki away as he reached for the television in the room to turn it on and switch to the news. It was on a commercial so he turned back to the still tear filled eyes of the host club president. "What did you see Tamaki?"

"The twins sent me a text to watch channel two and there was a story about a commoner getting hit by a car for one of the Ootori children. I could tell by the video that it was you and Kagome even though it was quiet." Tamaki explained, sitting down and staring at his friend. "Are you all right?"

"Thanks to Kagome," Kyoya replied with a sigh, so much for keeping the story quiet, the news had already gotten footage from the mall apparently. "She's going into surgery soon but the doctors think she'll be fine."

"You want me to stay too?" Tamaki saw through right away that Kyoya was worried and while it annoyed him how easily Tamaki could read him he was a little appreciative.

"No, I'll be fine." Kyoya answered with a shake of his head. "The most injured thing is my pride, but it's strong enough that it will recover."

"All right, I'll talk to the others and make sure they know that tomorrow's trip is canceled and ask Haruhi and the twins to get all of her homework sent over first thing on Monday. I'll do the same thing for your work." Tamaki was normally over emotional and a little ridiculous but he knew when to tone it down too. Now was one of those rare times where he was doing so. "If you need to talk you can call me."

"Thanks Tamaki, like I said, I'll be fine." Kyoya repeated with a nod. "Thanks for the help. I'd like to just be alone for a while though."

"Mister Ootori." A nurse popped her head into the room. "We have a room ready that we'll be bringing Miss Higurashi to when her surgery is over and she's been woken up. Would you rather wait there?"

"Yes." Kyoya offered Tamaki a short nod and followed the woman off, leaving Tamaki smiling a little behind him.

"Pity it took something like this to make him realize he cared about someone." Tamaki said with a sigh as he pulled out his phone to start making calls. Glad at least that Kyoya was putting someone else ahead of him for one of very few times.

Kyoya turned on the television in the room, frowning when he caught the news story just in time to see Kagome dive forward to shove him out of the way and go flying off the screen of the security video when the car hit her. He winced at watching it, it looked awful, and he was surprised she wasn't worse with how quickly the car had been going. He flipped the channel, not wanting to deal with it, when his phone rang.

It was his father, he'd been expecting this and he closed his eyes as he answered with a small. "Hello."

"What were you doing Kyoya?" Yes, his father wasn't happy; though his tone was controlled the underlying rage was clear. "What a waste, I'll get her a new tutor soon and you can leave your clumsy hands off of this."

"Don't." Kyoya retorted, and then rushed after a moment of his own surprise at the way he's spoken back to his father. "I messed up, it won't happen again. No other tutor can help her like I can. She's doing better in her classes; she's already made huge leaps in understanding. Her mother just asked me to look over her for the rest of the weekend. She also gave me permission to move Kagome to our estate and get her private care while she recovers."

The long silence made the young man more nervous than he cared to admit, it wasn't full proof as Kagome could still refuse but he'd have to make it work. Pressure had him bluffing it as a possibility before he could completely think it through.

"This is your last chance Kyoya." The answer was begrudging and a click followed it. Kyoya let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. He slid the phone closed and into a pocket as he sighed. Things were much more on edge than he would prefer. He hadn't been able to put much time into managing his personal investments and while he wasn't losing anything, he hadn't really been making much money since he started teaching Kagome either.

The door opened and he had to stop feeling sorry for himself. Kagome offered a weak smile and he mirrored it only through years of practicing emotions he didn't feel. There were bruises all over the side of her face and her left leg was suspended upward with a cast covering it. He could see other bandaging and bruises and he waited until they got her bed in place before taking one of her hands.

If the man wasn't already in prison, he'd of been tempted to send the security forces to beat him to death.

"Hey, how are you feeling?" Kyoya asked lightly, squeezing her hand gently after she squeezed his. "I already spoke to your mother and she's fine with it, I'd like to have you moved to my home after your recovery is complete. It will be more comfortable for you and easier for us to work together on school work."

"Mmm? You don't have to do that. I don't want to be a bother Kyoya." Kagome answered with a tired smile. "Where's my mom?"

"She had to work and asked me to stay. It's my fault you are torn up like this Kagome; I would like to repay that. Besides, if you need further reason it will be easier for me to be able to teach you from my home than coming here all the time. I will be able to arrange the teachers to come and give you the exams and any lecture easier than the hospital. It would be more convenient for everyone involved." Kyoya hadn't had much time to prepare an argument, but this worked well.

"I…guess." Kagome accented. "If Mom's okay with it, I don't want to take anymore of your time. I'm glad you are okay, I was worried you might have been worse."

"Kagome, you idiot. You're the one that got hurt, don't cry, it's over now." Kyoya replied, leaning forward to wipe tears from her eyes with his free hand.

"I'm sorry." Kagome sniffed and did her best to push the desire to cry away. "I think I'm just tired…I'm going to try to sleep. You should go, I'll be fine."

"I'll manage here." Kyoya replied. "I told your mother I'd look after you, what sort of gentleman would I be if I left."

"Don't you need to study for your own classes?" Kagome asked, wondering where the time suddenly came from. There was no way he could afford spending all this extra time with her. "I don't want you to suffer for my sake Kyoya."

"I can study while you rest, unless you need something specific. The school has already been informed of the accident and I have someone bringing my work here. When school starts on Monday you will stay at the estate and I'll bring home work to you when I come back." Kyoya actually thought it would work well; most of his family wouldn't even be there. Generally they were up early and back late, only his sister was likely to be around and she did her best to be good company. Usually weekends were very empty days; he usually wasn't at the house himself unless it was to study so it wouldn't be much of a change in schedule. He'd have to let Tamaki and the others help the first few days so they didn't get the wrong idea, though rumors were likely to result he didn't particularly care. No one could blame him for taking care of her after what she did for him.

"Fine, fine…" Kagome relented; in truth she was glad to have someone there even though she was already losing consciousness again. The drugs were working on her system. It was sort of a pity that there were witnesses or she could have used her powers to heal herself. That was one of the few things she was good at with her priestess abilities but she had to hide those.

"I wonder what he'd think of me if he knew the sort of things I can actually do?" Kagome thought as her eyes closed, drifting closer to unconsciousness. "It's too bad I can't tell anyone, it's sort of cute whenever he acts really surprised. Though, he'd probably just decide I was a crazy person instead of believing me unless I showed him."

Kyoya held her hand until she passed out, and then started as he noticed another man standing nearby; he hadn't heard them step in at all. He offered a light nod politely but the man ignored him, they were still looking at Kagome and were difficult to read.

The fellow was about the same age as his oldest brother, mid to late twenties, he had long black hair pulled into a pony tail and the same shadowed bangs hung just over deep blue, cobalt colored eyes. His flesh was a pale cream color and without a single blemish, strong features and a frame that could easily had made them a pretty penny if he was young enough to be in the host club. He wore a suit of exceptional quality, obviously specifically tailored for him. It was a white color with a crimson tie, and cufflinks with a cherry blossom pattern.

Kyoya started to say something but the man turned toward him and there was a warning in that gaze froze the younger man. The mysterious stranger then paused, looking back toward Kagome again. Following that gaze back Kyoya frowned again, without a syllable having been uttered Kyoya could feel the disapproval.

By the time Kyoya found his voice again the mystery visitor had left again, as silently and quickly as he'd arrived. The young man sat down in the chair he'd tugged closer to the bed with a small swallow, the pattern on the cufflinks was the one the Inutenko family used as its house crest and in its business dealings. So the connection that he'd been informed of was real, and they were certainly looking after her, that short visit had been a subtle warning…

End Chapter

I did a lot of editing on this chapter; I had to have changed and deleted a couple paragraphs at least ten times! So, I'm sure people can guess who the mystery guest in Kagome's room was!

-Nera

P.S. Again, I have to thank you all for your support and love of my fiction. Without it I certainly wouldn't have gotten this far. It's a hard fic to write for, I think if I only wrote this one for me and not also fans, I wouldn't write it at all. I apologize for any grammar issues in prior chapters, I will attempt to return to them if I ever get the time for it. I know it's been a long while since I first posted them. For those with concerns about Kagome's actions, I feel like being hit on by new men is different than growing adjusted to getting hit on by old ones. (I.E. Kouga) Also actually liking the person makes you more likely to become embarrassed imo.