Holding onto her pillow, Kagome didn't care if she wrinkled her black dress as she sat Indian-style on her bed. This was the worst day of her life. The funeral was nice and so many townspeople were there, but why did her father have to die? Worst yet, the business they both loved might be sold off to the highest bidder!

A soft knock on her door brought her out of the frantic thoughts rolling in her head.

"Come in."

Her mom, Kiori, walked in and sat down next to her daughter, "your father would have wanted it this way."

"Mom, I doubt that he would have wanted his business to die or be sold. I can't let this happen."

"What do you presume we do then? He's the only one that knew how to work it."

Turning to her, Kagome gave her a small smile, "he taught me everything that he knew. Mom, I can run the business and keep it going. I promise, we will be fine; we can take the money from his life insurance and pay off the business debts and any other ones. It will be a new start for Higurashi's Shipping."

Smiling sadly, Kiori hugged her daughter, "how are you going to do this? You still have school."

"Well, Kaede can work it in the mornings and I'll come in around three."

"Okay, as long as that's what you want, dear."

Getting up, Kiori left the room, unable to tell her daughter the whole truth. If she knew how in debt they were…God only knows what she'd do.

Kagome took a deep breath, "I'm gonna do it. I'm going to work the shipping store for you, Dad."

The next few weeks were same as usual, and Kagome entered her classroom, still going over plans to make the business grow.

"Everyone! I'd like to introduce you to a new student, this is InuYasha Takahashi. Please take a seat anywhere that's empty."

Kagome missed the introduction, but she didn't miss the very handsome silver-haired boy that sat down in front of her. He trained his golden eyes on her and couldn't stop the surprise on his face; she was very beautiful.

"Hi, I'm InuYasha Takahashi."

"I'm, um, Ka-Kagome. Kagome Higurashi."

The small blush on her cheeks was so cute and he couldn't help smirking at her, "has anyone ever told you how stunning you are?"

Her cheeks darkened even further as she shook her head, lowering her gaze to her folder.

The teacher cleared his throat and gained their attention, "if you two are finished with your pleasantries, I would like to begin class."

InuYasha turned around in his seat and opened his notebook, but not even the teacher could wipe the grin off his face. Even the agonizing hour of English class couldn't dampen his mood as the bell rang. He got up and turned to look at her, "maybe we'll have other classes together."

Kagome grinned as she slid her bag over her shoulder, "maybe we will."

Smiling to herself, she made her way to the next class and ignored the usual catcalls from other guys. InuYasha, however, noticed the other boys and furrowed his brows in confusion. Making his way over to one group, he listened to their conversation as Kagome walked by. One boy moaned disgustingly and bit his bottom lip.

"Man, what I wouldn't give to have a piece of that."

Another boy cackled loudly, "a piece, naw that wouldn't be enough, I want the whole damn thing. From the top of her head all the way down to those slender legs of hers wrapping around me as I give it to her all-night long."

They all high-fived him, but InuYasha was irritated that they would talk about her like that, but also a bit curious, "so who's the lucky guy that got to have her?"

Turning to him, they all laughed, "that's Kagome Higurashi we're talking about. She's never been with anyone, heck, she turns down every confession a guy's given her, but she's always so nice when she does it that they can't even be mad at her."

"Interesting girl."

They continued their talk and InuYasha phased himself out. Walking to his next class, he counted his blessings that Kagome seemed to be in this one as well. She smiled shyly at him from across the room, also a little happy about seeing him. And wouldn't you know, he bribed the guy next to her and switched seats.

"That was smooth."

Smirking at her, he shrugged.

"I just gave him fifty bucks."

"Fifty, that's all I'm worth?"

"I would have easily paid more, but he agreed with fifty."

Rolling her eyes, she got out her textbook and giggled every now and then when he would make a face at her, and that was basically the whole day. They even sat together at lunch and being with him just seemed so normal for Kagome. Maybe it was how easy going he seemed, or the way he would try to make her laugh, but she felt an ease around him all the same.

School was finally over and InuYasha immediately ran up to her, "can I walk you home?"

She bit her bottom lip bashfully, "um, yes, that would be nice, but you'll be walking me to work, not home."

"Work, huh? Then work it is."

They strolled side-by-side, until they approached a shipping place, "wait, Kagome, this is where you work?"

Turning around, she gave him a big smile, "actually, this is the store my dad owned before he died a few weeks ago, and now I run it. Higurashi's Shipping has been going strong since I was little, and I use to come here after school to help my dad, so it's only right that I carry on the tradition."

Gulping, InuYasha nodded, "that makes sense, anyway, I gotta get going but I'll see you at school tomorrow."

She watched him curiously as he raced off in the other direction, "bye".

Making it home in record time, he burst into his parents' office to see them working, no doubt it was the Higurashi's Shipping plans.

"Mom, Dad, I need to talk to you."

His mother, Izayoi turned around and smiled lovingly at her son, "what is it, dear?"

"You can't put Higurashi's Shipping out of business."

That comment drew his father, InuTashio's, attention, "and why not?"

Taking a seat, he leveled them with a serious stare, "that place is all the Higurashis have left. Kagome, I go to school with her, and she told me her father passed away recently. I don't care what you have to do, but find a solution to their problem. I don't know their financial situation, but I get the feeling that the shipping store is their only source of income, so please rethink your decision and take the family into account."

He didn't wait for a reply as he got up and walked out of the office, up the stairs, and into his room. That was the balls-iest thing he'd ever done! Never once had he shown any interest in business, but there was something about that girl, Kagome. She was a shining light and he'd feel worse than dirt if his family was responsible for taking that brightness from her. Getting dressed for bed, he opted to not eat dinner, needing time away from his parents, and laid down to hopefully get some decent rest.

The next morning, InuYasha woke up and started getting dressed, but when he reached for his school bag, InuTashio stopped him.

"You won't be going to school today, son."

"Why? What's going on?"

Izayoi smiled, "we have things to do."

Kagome hoped to see InuYasha that day, but he wasn't at school so the time was quite boring. Without him, she didn't have fun in her classes like yesterday, and there was no one to deter the many guys that bothered her. InuYasha was a good buffer in that way, everyone was too worried about approaching since they didn't know if it was a 'couples' thing. Sighing heavily, Kagome made her trek home after helping Kaede for a few hours at the store, but was rather confused to see another car in her driveway.

Walking into her home, she put down her bag and took her shoes off, "Mom, I'm home! What's with the car in the driveway?"

Strolling into the living room, she stopped dead as she saw InuYasha, "hey, what are you doing here? And, why weren't you at school today?"

Instead of answering, he turned his face away from hers, too embarrassed in knowing what was about to happen. Kagome noticed the two unfamiliar faces next, "hello, to what do we owe this visit?"

Kiori ushered her daughter to sit on the couch with her, "this is Izayoi and InuTashio Takahashi. They have come up with a solution so that we can keep the business open."

Turning her head to her mom in surprise, she blinked a few times, "really?"

"You said you would do anything to keep the business open, right?"

Kagome nodded and turned her attention to the beautiful woman across from them as she cleared her throat. Izayoi smiled kindly at her, "it is very moving, how much you love your business and we wouldn't dream of closing such a cherished place. So, my husband and I have been talking and decided the best thing to do is for you to marry into our family and still have sole ownership of it."

All she could do was stare at the lady before a small sound came out, "huh?"