hey, my last story wasn't too great, so i came up with a new idea...

disclaimer: i do not own inuyasha

Chapter 1: Wedding Proposal

Research had been her life. The only thing that mattered, the only thing she understood. Her photography was the only thing that was as good as the excitement of learning new things. Ever Since she was a little girl, research and photography had always been her passion. And now, she was finally going to experience it. She was going to witness it. She was going to be there.

She looked at her boarding pass on more time. It said Kagome Higurashi, flight 24. Underneath her name, her destination was printed in bold letters. SOUTH AFRICA.

A feeling of anxiety took over her stomach. She wouldn't be back in Tokyo for six months. And that meant she wouldn's see Saito for six months as well. Saito and Kagome had been going out for two years, and he understood what this trip meant to her. Still, six months away from him...

Right before she was taken to the airport, she had been running around her apartment, stuffing a few last minute things in her suitcase when the doorbell rang. She hurried to the door with her toothpaste in one hand. There in the hallway, stood Saito, a peculiar look on his face. Kagome moved over to let him in.

"Saito, what's wrong?" she asked, aprehensively. Saito looked at her long black hair, and at her chocolate brown eyes for long time before speaking.

"I'm going to miss you, Kagome," he said. And then kneeling down on one knee, he added, "And, to make sure you aren't going to run off with any cute South African guys, I wanted to take this opportunity to ask you a question."

Kagome could hear her heart beating in her chest. She knew what was coming next, and it would be a lie to say that she hadn't thought about the possibility during the two years she spent with Saito. She had imagined it so many times, working out every detail, if one day her dream came true. Her eyes burned with fresh tears as she heard the question she had been waiting for, "Kagome Higurashi, will you marry me?"

Definite tears ran down her cheeks as she threw herself on Saito, wrapping her arms around him.

"Yes, yes!" she sobbed into his shirt. She couldn't have been happier in her whole life. He slowly slipped a beautiful diamond ring on her finger. She hugged him again.

She looked up as she heard her flight number being shouted over the intercom. She hurried to her gate, and handed her boarding pass to the peppy looking lady. She checked her pass and handed it back to her. "Have a nice flight, Ms. Higurashi." she said in an overly happy voice.

Kagome smiled as she thought how many times people would be able to call her Higurashi again. She walked down the nearly empty plane, looking for her seat. 35b, 35b,35b... she said her seat number over and over in her mind to make sure she didn't forget it.

A bright orange 35b shone out at her, telling her she had found her seat. She looked down at the empty seat, to see that someone was already occupying the seat next to her. He, whoever he was, had two white headphones on his ears, and was looking out the window, taking no notice of her. Her eyes widened when she noticed his hair was a stunningly bright silver. How in the world had he gotten silver hair? It didn't looked bleached...

She stuffed her carry-on bag in the overhead compartment, while sneaking a glance at the silver-haired guy. She pulled her shirt down and took her seat, which is when the guy noticed her.

He took his headphones off and stuck out his hand.

"Hey, I'm Inuyasha." he said in a friendly way. Kagome smiled and took his hand, "I'm Kagome."

"South Africa, huh?" he asked her. "Yeah, research trip, but I want to get a few good pictures, too."

"Pictures?" he looked curious, so Kagome told him.

"Yeah, photography is one of my passions. And naturally, research is my other."

He nodded, and looked at the emergency pamphlete he had on his lap.

"What about you?" she asked him.

"Yeah, research as well. Mostly about their culture. I figured since I teach a class on culture, I might as well know what I'm talking about. Not that I do this all the time. I-," he gulped,"I'm actually not too keen on flying." he flashed her nervous-filled golden eyes. Kagome laughed.

"You teach?" she asked. He nodded," A highschool geography class." Kagome thought that was strange. The man sitting next to her seemed no more than twenty, and he dressed like a seventeen year-old. She would have never placed him in a classroom just by looking at him. She suddenly heard a low rumble and she knew that the plane was about to set off. A loud sound reached her ears as a hand suddenly classped down on her own. She looked at Inuyasha and he smiled nervously, taking his hand off hers," Sorry..."

She smiled and reached over and took his hand again. "Don't worry about it."

And so, holding hands, rather tightly, on Inuyasha's end, the plane took off.