Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and any characters what-so-ever.

Chapter One

Kagome leaned over the railing and gazed at the deep blue waters below her. Here she was, sailing to England to stay with her cousin, Sango, and was not at all pleased with how the trip was going. Mostly because of a certain hanyou captain. She frowned as she replayed the dinner conversation that went on earlier in the evening.

She wasn't at all pleased with the dinner selection and although the ship's captain was as well as his wife, she really wanted to give the chef a piece of her mind. Well, she should've left that up to the captain's wife, but she wanted to help, that's all.

"Kagome?"

The young woman turned to see Hojo, the tenth earl of Fairfax, and most attractive lord that she had seen once she had left her home in India. She blushed as he looked at her with a warm smile and quickly remembering her manners, gave a small curtsy. "Good evening, my lord."

He walked up beside her and sighed. "I have always liked sailing. The smell of the ocean is a smell that eases my soul. Do you not agree, Kagome?"

She nodded, yet in her mind, she rolled her eyes at such a statement. "Of course, my lord. That is why I had retired early from dinner. I wished to clear any stressful thoughts from my soul and my mind, as well. I'm sorry if I had offended you by leaving."

"No, no. I was quite concerned, however, that I might have said something wrong." he said.

She let out a soft chuckle. "Oh never, my lord." She turned back to gaze up into the sky and the glittering stars that hung above the two. "What I really enjoy seeing out here on the deck is these stars. They constantly remind me of the nights I spent in India."

He looked at her and smiled. "You miss your home?"

"Very much. My uncles sent me to England to be introduced into society. Ah well, it is no matter. I love this view. It is so breath-taking."

"I could say the same thing about you."

She gasped and quickly turned to face Lord Fairfax. She had seen the twinkle in his tender brown eyes. He was so attractive! No wonder he was the most sought after lord in England. His neat chestnut locks danced in the teasing wind and his warm smile made the girl blush.

Kagome was soon aware how she must have looked. Her cheeks were so hot, she was surprised they weren't burnt. She bowed her head and turned back to look at the ocean below them. "Why I have no idea what you mean, my lord."

"Kagome." He took her hands and made her face him. Hojo sighed and gave her a smile. "I had no idea that when I came upon this vessel that an angel would be there as well. Your eyes are so warm and yet has a fierce compassion that only draws me in. Many men would say that your beauty is the only captivating thing about you, but I see differently. I know that you and I have only known each other for three months, but I feel my soul has known yours for eternity. I shall forever feel loneliness when I must go to Madrid soon."

She hid a small smile. She thought it was quite entertaining to see this attractive and powerful lord confessing how he felt about her. "Well, my lord, perhaps we shall meet again when you come back to England."

"No! That is the thing, my lady, I do not want to just meet again. I want to forever be with you!" he said with urgency. "Kagome, I love you and I knew that we were meant to be when you smiled at me that first day. Please, say you'll marry me."

Well, look at her! Here she was, worried about insulting the captain's wife and chef, and now she was being proposed to by the most handsome man in England. Her uncles would surely hear from her now. They had been quite certain that it would take at least a year for her to get married, but now just three months later, a man was on his knees just begging for her affection.

"Kagome?"

She looked back up at him and let out a sigh of distress. "Oh, my Lord Fairfax, this is quite sudden and all, but-"

He pulled her closer to him and gave her a look of adoration. "Please, Kagome, call me Hojo."

She chuckled. "If you insist, Hojo. I…"

'Now,' she thought, 'I must draw this out as long as I possibly can. My nana had always instructed me to make men live in suspense. I wonder how far I can possibly push him? He seems to be ready to give me anything I want. I want his love, of course, but I don't just want a submitting man.' "My darling Hojo, I-"

"Heh. There you two are." a voice announced.

She frowned and pulled away from the intimate embrace. 'Oh that man! Inuyasha Takahasihi is so infuriating! Always interrupting the conversations of Hojo and I or popping out of no where when I am out here on deck! Urgh!'

No matter how annoying the young captain was, he was the most admired by the young ladies. What made him so irresistible were his pointy ears upon his head and his long silver locks that were pulled into a ponytail. Kagome were quite drawn to his ears and silently wished to just rub them. What also drew her to the captain were his amber colored eyes.

She quickly broke out of her admiration for the hanyou captain and remembered the times he had been so rude and insulting to her. He constantly told her how she was nosy and laughed at how she had come upon to traveling on his ship.

"You are going to England to find a husband?" he asked her one day.

"Yes, I am. My uncles felt it was time I was introduced into society and find a man who is willing to take care of me." she replied in a haughty tone.

He let out a bark of laughter. "Well, Miss Nosy, you'll have better luck where you came from. No man in all of England would dare to try to handle a wildcat like you."

She gasped at his insult and turned to face him. "You disrespectful man! How dare you say that! I am from a good family, mind you, and I will take any of your remarks that you probably throw at those wenches you visit when you stop at different ports." With that, she gathered her skirts and made her way back to her room. To her annoyance, he just laughed at her words and went back to work.

"I wasn't interrupting anything, was I?" Inuyasha asked with a smirk.

She glared at him. "Actually, Captain, you were."

"Ah well, perhaps you and Lord Fairfax can resume your conversation later on. For now, Lady Kagome, you should go have a chat with Captain Shippo's wife. I believe it had to do with dinner." he added with a wink.

'How dare he wink at me! In front of Hojo, no less!'. She turned her back to him. "Well, you may tell her that I will talk with her later."

"Unfortunately, I can't. You should go talk to her now, my lady."

She blushed at the embarrassment that she was facing. She crossed her arms over her chest and faced him. "Very well, I shall go to attend to her, then." She walked over to the stairs and looked back at Hojo. "My answer is 'Yes', my lord. I would love to be your wife."

She watched in amusement as his smile widened and would have believed that if she had refused his offer, he might've thrown himself overboard for losing what he called his 'soul mate'. She glanced at Inuyasha and headed downstairs. She was ready for this, but in the back of her mind, she felt she was way in over her head.