I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA OR OURAN HIGHSCHOOL HOSTCLUB

Summary: She was originally his brother's. Then his. Kyoya never expected to be picked as best when he was used to being third his whole life. But as long as Kagome's involved, nothing always goes as it should. He's supposed to own her but she ended up owning him instead.

Not that he minded.

Carpe Noctem

Prologue

"Be sure to do your utmost best. We cannot bear to lose this opportunity." Kyoya halfheartedly listened to his father as he straightened the folds of his traditional haori, flinging imaginary lint off the expensive garment. He glanced in front of him and observed his brother Akito who nodded avidly at everything that their father said.

'He looks like a dog.' Kyoya thought.

He never did understand why Akito acts in a manner that's unbecoming for a man of his stature. The older Ootori was an obvious ass kisser, specifically, Yoshio's ass if Kyoya does say so himself. Behind his father's back, he loves playing all macho and cool, trying to channel Yoshio as if becoming like said man's the greatest honor there is. But when their father's in front of them, he automatically becomes a yes-man with his tail stuck between his legs.

It amuses Kyoya to no end.

"I also expect the same from you Kyoya. Taisho will bring his sons along and I won't have you misbehaving. Is everything clear?"

"Yes Father." ah, the Taishos.

Contrary to popular belief, the Ootori Zaibatsu is not entirely the only one on top of the Medical and Police industry. The Taisho came from an ancient line of royalties going way back from the warring states era of feudal Japan, their bloodline so potent that even the Japanese Imperial palace acknowledged them as the only remaining family from the Sengoku period. They were terrifyingly influential, quite so that even his prideful father can admit that the Taishos are one of the rare families that they can never lay their hands on.

So it comes as a major surprise to everyone when the current patriarch of said family reached out to them bearing a proposal for an omiai.[1]

Yoshio absolutely went rigid while reading the letter and it was the first time Kyoya saw his father's composure fall.

Naturally, both Yuuichi and Fuyumi are off the list considering they are already wedded leaving his remaining sons; Akito and Kyoya. It was a no brainer for Yoshio to pick Akito. After all, the remaining unwed female of the Taisho family is already twenty one years of age.

-And that no one will settle for the third son.

Kyoya pushed back the feeling of irritation that weld up inside him. It's no use getting annoyed by such trivial matters, in fact, he should be happy that he was not the chosen candidate. That gives him a certain level of control in his life. While not a hopeless romantic like a certain blonde idiot, Kyoya still has that tiny bit of hope that he'll be able to pick his own bride.

A gentle knock by the shoji door garnered the three Ootori's attention, successfully making the three men stiffen. The paper slid open and a woman entered, clad in a simple blue kimono. She bowed low towards them and Kyoya noticed a big scar by the side of her face.

"Good day Ootori-sama. I would like to announce the arrival of Touga-sama and his entourage." she straightened from her bow and slid the door wider.

The newspapers nor the television gave Taisho Toga any justice. He was immensely tall for a Japanese man, hair so ridiculously long and spun from silver silk with eyes the color of gold. His features were handsome but deadly at the same time, all chiseled lines and perfect angles. It was nearly impossible to believe that he was a purebred Japanese but records stated that the silver coloring and the golden eyes were the Taisho's stamp of legitimacy.

Following close by were the famous brothers; Taisho Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. The two resembled their father from head to toe, all silver hair and golden eyes. Sesshomaru, the older brother was more known than the younger one with him being named as the heir to the Taisho Kabushiki Gaisha. While outshined by his sibling, Inuyasha was also famous in his own right with him being proclaimed as the youngest man to ever join the ranks of the Imperial army at the age of 16.

The three men nodded cordially to them before Inuyasha turned back to reach out a hand outside the shoji doors. A pale feminine hand clasped around Inuyasha's tanned ones followed by a slender body clad in a beautiful furisode kimono.

As Kyoya saw Akito straighten in attention, he silently observed the notorious female Taisho.

Poised and absolutely graceful. He expected no less from a female bred from the Taisho lineage. She was a known genius, both excelling in medical and combat divisions,-the Taisho's specialty- and graduated from a top-tier business university at the humbling age of 15. However, unlike her brothers, she detested any sort of media and was known for being very cautious of paparazzis. They only saw a handful of photos, mainly from professional class records or the few family pictures scattered about on the internet.

But even with those few reference materials, it was already established as bright as day that Taisho Kagome is a jewel amongst rocks.

Said jewel was looking as radiant as she should, eyes downturned and meek framed with long lashes. Tresses of ebony, a trait she got from her mother, were pulled back in a tight bun skewered with family jewelries, displaying a swan like neck for all to see. Her face was intimidatingly beautiful, sharp nose with high cheekbones, truly befitting as a female of her stature.

"Thank you for accepting my proposal Ootori-sama." Touga greeted him as he settled down on a pillow by the tatami mat. Silently, his sons followed his cue and sat in their own pillows with Sesshomaru settling by his father's right side with Kagome on the other, Inuyasha beside her. Yoshio raised a brow when the woman from earlier sat a few feet away from Inuyasha, her head bowed down with her scar facing them.

He frowned.

"No worries Touga-sama. It's an honor to our family that you chose my son to ask for your daughter's hand." Kyoya held in a snicker at how Akito seemed to preen as Yoshio gestured in his direction.

Golden eyes peered at the two Ootori sons and Kyoya wondered why they seemed to observe him more than Akito of all people.

Must be curious as to why the third son is even present in this omiai.

"Shall we start?" Sesshomaru spoke up for the first time with his rumbling voice, drastically different from Touga's lively tenor. He nodded to the unknown woman who returned his action with her own before reaching over the briefcase by the end of the table. She fished out a pile of papers and stood up.

"Here you go Touga-sama." she softly whispered as she gave the Taisho head a pair of papers stapled together.

"Thank you dear." he answered back to her with a smile. As the woman gave the rest of the Taisho's their own copies, Kyoya can't help but notice something peculiar. The Taishos seem to be very friendly with their staff, treating her with what he can say, respect. Touga even used an endearment and he's the patriarch for pete's sake.

"Thank you Ms." he found himself saying as she gave him his own copy. He's not sure but he almost saw a smile tip at her lips.

Unsurprisingly, both his brother and father remained tight lipped and didn't even spare the woman a glance when they received theirs.

Typical.

As the contract signing was finally done and taken care of, the official start of the omiai finally began.

It was mainly Touga and Yoshio who were talking, idly speaking about business as usual with Sesshomaru joining in from time to time. Kyoya found himself constantly hiding a smirk when the eldest Taisho son began chipping away at Yoshio's patience with well placed hidden barbs.

As emotionally constipated as he looks, Sesshomaru Taisho has a sharp, wicked tongue.

Soon enough, Kyoya for once, was glad to be present during a family related affair. He was having a blast watching his father get verbally wrecked by someone he can't get back on via petty means. Not only that, Akito was floundering like a fish out of water too when Inuyasha started grilling him himself.

"So your family has a police force but you never bothered to learn to fight for yourself?" Inuyasha asked incredulously.

By his tone alone, it was clear that he was aiming to embarrass Akito, wanting to see the Ootori falter and make a fool of himself.

Sadly for Yoshio, Akito was never the one to read in between the lines.

"I-I thought that I wouldn't have any use for such thing."

"Such thing? Are you calling the art of fighting thing?" The Taisho was frowning but Kyoya can see how his golden eyes were swimming with mirth.

"N-No! Absolutely not!" Kyoya disguised a chortle with a cough as Yoshio pinned down Akito with a well hidden glare.

Oh this is better than watching Tamaki make a fool of himself.

"What about you?" The bespectacled male blinked when he found himself under scrutiny from the Taishos. He can barely see his father and brother throwing him a warning glare by his peripherals as if telling him to not say anything stupid.

Worry not, Akito got that department covered. He inwardly jabbed.

"My name is Kyoya and I'm a 2nd year student attending Ouran Academy." he calmly stated to his audience.

Inuyasha hmmed and turned to Sesshomaru.

"You attended Ouran during your highschool right fluff butt?" Akito choked at hearing Inuyasha address his brother as such and Kyoya bit the inside of his cheek at how moronic he looked.

Sesshomaru simply raised his brow at Inuyasha and answered.

"Yes. And are you done showing to our guests your level of poorly conceived maturity?"

"Big words." Inuyasha replied with a roguish smirk.

"Now, now, settle down children." Toga admonished his sons with a lopsided smile.

Kyoya once more took notice of the difference between his family and the Taishos, feeling a little bit wistful at the relationship between father and sons. The Ootori household felt more of a prison than home to be honest. And Kyoya had grown used to the coldness of his family members except for his sister, but even that was taken away from him when she was offered as a bargaining chip by their very own father.

"So any hobbies? Or are you as boring as your nii-san over here?" That earned Inuyasha a light slap by Kagome herself. Kyoya spared her a glance and saw that she still has her gaze lowered despite her retaliation towards her brother. She was acting as what every traditional Japanese woman should, meek and basically powerless but he can't help but to feel a tad bit disappointed. He was actually curious about the proclaimed genius of the Taisho clan but he guesses she's just average after all.

Welp, good for Akito then.

"I like handling finances and catering to people's needs from time to time. Nothing much can be said about my hobbies but I do handle various events and activities in school."

"So you're an ass kissing busybody then?" It was an obvious bait and Kyoya inwardly cracked his neck for his upcoming verbal battle.

"If that's what you call investing in people that can benefit you in the future then yes, I guess I am." Inuyasha scoffed in amusement.

"I like this one." Sesshomaru offhandedly commented as he picked imaginary dirts under his fingernails in front of a peeved Yoshio.

"Any clubs?" Akito chortled and turned to Kyoya as if someone who's proud of themselves by airing other people's laundry.

"He's a part of the host club." Kyoya did not like the way Akito mentioned his club but he won't grace his petty brother his effort of rebuttal.

"It seems that your older son needs a proper lesson about etiquette,-" Sesshomaru said once more, gold eyes half lidded and still much more interested in his cuticles than the man in front of him. "-isn't it common sense to not speak unless you're spoken too?"

"My apologies, Sesshomaru-sama." He can almost see the smoke coming out of Akito's ears.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes before turning to him.

"So a host club huh? You a ladie's man?" The question was harmless and asked in a lazy, carefree manner but Kyoya saw for the first time how Inuyasha's gaze sharpened.

"Yes. It's a recreational club and we only offer companionship to our customers, nothing more nothing less."

"Why a host club of all things?" Toga questioned this time.

Kyoya reached over to push his glasses up before answering with pride that should not be present when speaking about something degrading as a host club.

"It's a good practice. It teaches me how to handle things in ways that can benefit me when I started working in our family business. It's also a challenge I like to push on myself. If I can turn something unexpected like a host club into something favorable and useful, then it's safe to assume that I can handle whatever obstacle thrown at me."

Toga laughed boisterously at his answer and even gave him a genuine clap, looking at him in a manner similar to a father proud of his own son.

It's kinda sad he got that look from someone who isn't even his own sire.

"If only we have someone like you more these days. Life is boring surrounded with people who're trying so hard to climb on top of each other that they often lose sight of what's truly important." Toga leaned back and crossed his arms, pinning Akito and Yoshio a discerning look.

"People have eyes but they often do not see."

An uncomfortable amount of silence followed Toga's words and Kyoya spared his family members a glance and yup, they're pissed/humiliated alright.

"Let's proceed with the second stage of the omiai." Kagome spoke for the first time. Her voice was soft and beautiful, but once again, Kyoya was disappointed at how… boring it sounds.

"Before that, please serve our tea dear." Toga called out to the other woman in the room. She got up without a noise and quickly went over the adjacent room, no doubt preparing the tea for them to share. They did not wait long however and she emerged, balancing a big tray with precisely six cups of tea.

Kyoya can see her struggle, the tray being far too big for her hand to balance and serve at the same time. She continued with her task however, serving Toga first as per tradition then Sesshomaru, then Inuyasha and finally Kagome. As she gave Yoshio his own which he didn't acknowledge whatsoever, she turned to settle in the middle of Akito and Kyoya, one of her hands reaching out to put the tea in front of the older Ootori son.

Then, she tripped on her own kimono.

With a gasp, she tipped over and tried to reach out for the remaining cup of tea, not even trying to save herself from the fall that will result in her hitting the table painfully. Kyoya acted fast and turned around just in time to hold the woman up, catching her by the waist and securing her fall. The same cannot be said to his hakama however, stained and wet from the tea that fell along with the contract papers on the table.

Hands fell unto his shoulder as the woman tried to steady herself and he released his hold on her.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

She opened her mouth to answer but was cut off by Akito.

"Look at what you did!" he shouted, pointing at the wet contract and the spilled tea on the table. The woman hastily backed off and lowered herself into an apologetic bow.

"Im sorry it won't happen again."

"Do you know how expensive this hakama is?" It was then Kyoya noticed the splatter of dark spots on his brother's beige kimono and inwardly rolled his eyes.

"It's nothing a little washing can clean nii-sama." his hakama was wetter than his but he's not bitching about it. Besides, the Taishos appear to be fond of this one so why risk their ire?

"She should be punished." Yoshio stoically stated. The three Taisho men looked amused of all things and if he squinted, he can almost see them lean forward in what looks like anticipation.

"Even if I already apologized?" surprise colored Kyoya's gaze when the woman actually spoke back. He can see that both Akito and Yoshio felt the same but theirs immediately turned into anger.

"You dare speak back?"

"I do." Kyoya's brows raised to his hairline at the audacity of this woman. No one speaks to their employer's guest like that, no matter how fond their bosses are to them.

Then she raised her head to gaze at Yoshio in defiance.

Gold.

Kyoya's head snapped back to look questioningly at the 'Kagome' seated in front of him and was met with three pairs of amused eyes. The woman looked up and met his gaze with her brown eyes and raised a single digit to her smiling lips.

Then it clicked.

This time he didn't even try to hide his smile seeing that his family members were too busy glaring at the 'staff' to notice.

How entertaining, these Taishos are.

"Even if I apologize for an accident I have no control of, you would still punish me?" her earlier meek voice was slowly growing in power and Kyoya almost squirmed at his seat, eager to see the ticking time bomb explode on Akito and Yoshio's face.

"As it should be! People like you need to learn their lesson or else they will never learn!" Akito barked back.

"People like me?" she parroted. Kyoya wondered how his brother and father failed to notice the familiar set of golden eyes that seemed to glow the longer they exchanged words.

"Low class nobodies with no breeding should just remain quiet and follow orders like they should." It was Yoshio who talked and Kyoya can already see the bridge between the Ootori and Taisho crumble into nothingness.

Adieu~

Too bad he actually likes them.

"I see." was the scarred woman's simple reply.

"Good now get out." Yoshio ordered.

Toga shifted from his seat and looked at Yoshio from beneath his nose, eyes unreadable. The smile that was on his face since the beginning was nowhere to be found and it was then that Kyoya truly saw one of the most powerful man in Japan next to the emperor.

"I believe this Omiai is done." stunned silence answered back and Kyoya discreetly took Akito's forgotten tea and took a delicate sip.

Might as well watch the downfall of these two.

"P-pardon Touga-sama?" Akito sputtered to the silverhead.

"This Oimai was conducted to get my dear daughter a possible candidate for marriage. And I'm afraid she's not happy with said candidate."

Yoshio turned to the silent 'Kagome' and cleared his throat.

"I fail to see how Akito disappointed you Kagome-sama. If you'd please reconsider and continue with our next phase."

"My sister is looking for a husband that will love her and show compassion no matter what happens. She aims to have a husband that will treat her with respect should she be decked in jewels or not." Sesshomaru calmly recited to his steadily panicking brother.

Akito looked at 'Kagome' and almost pleaded.

"Please give me a chance, I'll court you properly and I promise to love you as a proper husband should."

"Whaddya say Kagome nee-chan?" Inuyasha asked with a toothed grin.

"I'm afraid I'll have to decline." The Ootori group except for Kyoya(who was actually pleased with the tea) stiffened when the voice that answered did not come from the female seated between Toga and Inuyasha.

Instead, it came from-

"I must say…" Kyoya spoke offhandedly. "...you make one fine tea Kagome-sama."

Yoshio and Akito watched with wide eyes and slowly palling complexion when the scarred woman walked towards where 'Kagome' was seated.

"Kagome-sama." the woman greeted as she stood up and bowed to the real heiress. The mischievous Taisho smiled at the now unknown woman, the scar moving with the action.

"Thanks Kikyo, I owe you one." She then flopped down on the now vacated seat as Kikyo took the pillow she had used earlier and sat at Inuyasha's vacant side.

"Thank Kami this thing itches." Kagome complained and ripped the scar off her face.

A fake scar made from adhesive. Kyoya thought, familiar with the substance from one of the host's activities during halloween.

As the prosthetic was fully peeled and gone from her face, it was then that Taisho Kagome truly made her appearance. And similar to her family, the newspaper clippings nor the internet photos did her any justice.

While bearing some sort of resemblance to the woman Kikyo, Kagome's features were far more exotic and eye catching. Her eyes were almond shaped, narrow but still doe eyed. Her hair was more of a bluish black than Kikyo's dark brown, long and tumbling down her shoulders in a neat waterfall when she took out the pin holding it in a bun.

And most important of all, her eyes are gold.

She was definitely a beauty and her energetic and animated face won brownie points from Kyoya more than Kikyo's cold beauty could ever would.

Coupled with how much she played his father and made Akito squirm like worms on salt, it was safe to say that Kyoya likes this Taisho Kagome.

"Like Sesshomaru-nii had said; I want compassion in a husband. Something you, Akito-san, obviously lacks."

"Is this some kind of joke? Did you call us over to shame us?" Yoshio tersely said against pursed lips.

Kagome crossed her fingers together and leaned her elbows on the table with her chin on top of her digits. Her gaze was piercing and Kyoya stared until the burning on his eyes forced him to blink.

"The only joke I can see here is you and your son." The Ootori patriarch sucked in an enraged breath and opened his mouth to rebut but Kagome plowed through.

"In this world where you can be anything, it's important to be kind. When all of the riches you heedlessly hoarded are all gone and finished, no one will stand by you and you will learn that wealth is nothing against true loneliness." her voice was fierce and strong, like clear glass that can pierce through the thickest of hides.

"I want a husband that will be kind and will govern over people with a strong but compassionate heart. People will follow you because they fear you but I want people to follow because they respect and love."

"Here's the difference between our family Yoshio-sama." she unlaced her finger and settled them on top of the table and leaned forward with the might of a woman scorned.

"In any given moment, we have two options: to step forward into growth or to step back into safety." she smiled viciously at his father and Kyoya swallowed.

"You force your people into cowering in the shadows while our people thrive and grow. This is what makes a Taisho."

Kyoya released a breath and discreetly fanned himself, the show of female dominance and power doing wonders to his system. He never saw a girl quite like her before, always surrounded by fragile females who will fall over the barest blow of wind.

Nothing short of a storm can even knock this Taisho down it seems.

Yoshio glared heatedly at the young woman who easily held his stare, her family right at her back and looking at her so fondly Kyoya actually felt some sort of envy.

"We'll be taking our leave then." The Ootori man announced, pride very much bruised and his ego trampled.

Akito didn't even make a peep, knowing nothing can be done at this rate.

"However…" Kagome spoke once more, successfully halting the Ootori's movements.

"Since we all went through the trouble conducting this omiai, I'd be willing to overlook everything that happened here and follow through with the betrothal." as if life was breathed into Akito by the Kami themselves, he looked at his father with a wide smile.

Yoshio himself was struck with surprise, quite taken aback by the sudden change of heart from the heiress.

"Thank you Kagome-sama! I promise I won't let you down!" Kagome frowned at Akito and wrinkled her nose.

"I'm not talking about you." This time, every single Ootori male in the room stiffened as slow dawning comprehension reigned upon them.

"Only one person showed me kindness and treated me like a normal human being in this room except for my family and I believe he's deserving of a chance to be my husband."

As if in slow motion, Akito turned to his still brother with pure devastation on his face.

Kyoya raised his eyes and met Kagome's raging orbs.

He feels as if he's burning.

"I want Ootori Kyoya to be my betrothed."

(Unbeta-ed and unchecked)

Let the sinning begin~

R&R~

「And thus I wither」