A/N: Hey everyone. Sorry I haven't updated, been lacking in the inspiration area...but here's the next chapter...Hope you like. Thanks for reviewing, Inu'sHardCoreBitch (sorry if it offends anyone, that's her screen name and sorry if I offended you if I didn't spelt it right) Right then, on with the story!

Chapter 3: First comes love, then comes marriage...

Kagome sat in the back seat of her mother's car, looking out the window. The last few days had flown by so quickly. Friends had come and said their congratulations, and had taken lots of pictures. Kouga had been by her side in every one, his eyes always lingering on her in a pleasant way, his smile always infectious. She sighed, leaning her head back against the seat.

"I know that sigh," her mother said from the driver's seat.

Kagome groaned silently.

"You're in love aren't you? With that Kouga-boy!" She said, getting a little too excited and pushing the gas pedal too hard. They zoomed forward and Kagome almost screamed as they caught up to the end of a semi which was barreling its way down the highway. Her mother, looking at her in the rearview mirror smiled and let off the gas. "Opps, guess I don't know my own strength sometimes!" She grinned and looked very much like Kagome.

Kagome's heart was still pounding as they took the exit for the airport. Kouga had wanted to come but had school that day, so wasn't able to. This morning he had come over and Kagome let her mind drift back to when he came.

Kagome sat at the island in the kitchen, mournfully eating her oatmeal, which was lumpy because her mother had been too excited to get going to make it properly.

Kouga strolled in, Souta right behind him, rubbing his sleepy eyes. Kagome arched an eyebrow at her younger brother, who simply shrugged, then trudged back up to his bed.

"Hai, Kouga-kun," Kagome said, smiling warmly at him and pushing her oatmeal away.

He smiled back and leaned down and kissed her cheek. "Morning, gorgeous."

Kagome flushed at his compliment and was very aware that her mother was staring at the two. "Erm, let's go outside!" Kagome said, grabbing Kouga's hand and sprinting to the front door.

Once outside, Kagome sighed with relief. "Much better..."

She looked at Kouga who was laughing silently. "Never knew that it meant so much to you to not have your mother watch your every move!" He said, trying to be funny, but completely ruining it. Kagome rolled her eyes and linked her arm through his and the two began to walk around the shrine.

They stopped in front of the ancient tree, Goshinku, and Kagome looking lovingly up into its old, leaf filled branches. "I'm going to miss this place, you know?" She said, smiling whimsically.

"I'm going to miss you," Kouga said, slipping his arm from her hand and taking that same hand and linking their fingers together. "You're my best friend...It's hard to just let you go. You were my first kiss...and I can't imagine not having you around," he said, turning to look at Kagome.

"Kouga...I...don't what to say..." Kagome said, turning to face him. His eyes, those beautiful blue eyes, were glazed with tears. He pulled her in close, tilting her head up.

"I love you Kagome Higuarshi. I always will. Please...marry me?" he said, dropping to one knee.

Kagome looked down at him and felt faint. Her best friend was proposing to her...on the day she was to leave for her new school for who knows how long...he wanted her, wanted her as she was, with no strings attached. He wanted her strength and her weaknesses...and her love. She felt a cold breeze stir her hair and felt tears sting her eyes as she realized her answer. "Kouga-kun...I ..."

He stood abruptly, pressing his lips to hers. They were bruising, passionate, desperate and full of love and longing. For her. All of those things for her. She pulled away from him, her tears falling down her cheeks. "Kouga...it's not fair to ask me this now...not when I'm about to leave...please...can't we stay friends? Or can't we just make a promise or something corny like that?" She said, her eyes pleading.

Kouga shook his head, chuckling. "You mean a promise like in those silly shoujo comics you read? That never end up happening? I don't think so. The only way I would allow a promise is if you would wear my ring and never forget that I am here, waiting for you. Loving you always."

Kagome bit her lower lip, tears spilling more so now. His hand reached out and brushed them away. "Don't cry Kagome. Just promise me then. Promise me that...you'll come back someday and consider me for a husband. Know that I will always love you, will always worship you, should you become my wife when you return. " His lips came down on hers again, his kiss possessive and yet tender still. She kissed him back, sealing the promise in that kiss. She would wear his ring, and would consider him when she returned. Even should she chose not to marry him, she would always be his first love and best friend. All of these things were agreed in this one kiss. And when they parted, the look in Kouga's eyes made her heart dance. He slid the beautiful ring on her finger, which fit like a dream and left her, standing in front of the ancient tree, pain in her heart but hope in her mind.

"Kagome!" Her mother said from the front seat for the sixteenth time. Kagome was fingering the ring Kouga had given her. She snapped out of the flashback then, realizing they were already at the airport.

"Ah, gomen Mom...I was just thinking about this morning..." Kagome said, looking away from her shamefully and trying to hide the ring.

"Yes...I can see you and Kouga had a nice talk this morning..." And with that, her mother snatched her hand and looked at the ring. It had three stones set in silver, the middle stone a blue topaz and the two on the sides bright diamonds. She smiled. "So...you're engaged?"

Kagome flushed furiously, snatching her hand right back outta her mother's grasp. "No! We are just...this is just...a promise…ring..." she said, her voice fading slightly at the sight of her mother dancing in the front seat. She sweat-dropped, groaning.

An hour later of baggage checks, and going through a million metal detectors, Kagome sat by herself, waiting for her plane to be called. Around her sat 6 other teenagers her age. She recognized only two from the auditions she had attended. One was a white haired girl, with black eyes. She was pale and quiet, while her companion had brilliant maroon eyes and pitch black hair, with feathers stuck in the bun part. She chattered on about wind-sailing, parachuting, flying kites, basically anything that had to do with the wind, she did. Kagome smiled a little, thinking of the time Kouga had bought her a huge dragon kite and how it had gotten stuck in the ancient tree's branches. It made her chuckle as she remembered how he had tried to climb the smooth tree to get it down. He had fallen at least four times before he had given up.

"Flight 161, heading to Kennedy Airport, now boarding at Gate 12," a voice said over the intercom. Every teen sitting in the area got up, picking up bags and began shuffling their way to Gate 12, which was at least a mile away.

Kagome groaned under the weight of her heavy carryon, a huge yellow backpack and tried to find her ticket in one of her pockets. When she finally reached the boarding area, she was relieved to see she was first in line. She promptly gave the attendant her ticket and rushed on board, eager to find her seat and stow her stuff away.

After 20 minutes of boarding, the plane was ready to take off. Kagome had gotten supremely lucky with the seating arrangements. She sat by herself, in the back. She sighed, putting her feet up in the seat next to her. And then suddenly, there was a roar as the door was wrenched open by some unnatural force.

His arm and face were throbbing as he wrenched open the door. No way was he gonna be late again this year...as cool as it was. He had to keep grades in order to graduate. Didn't matter that he was the founder's and headmaster's son. He was treated just like everyone else...except he was cooler. Finally the door came open, and he stepped into the low ceiling cabin. The stewardess smiled at him and took his ticket. "Sorry for being late," he said lowly, with a bit of a growl in his voice.

"Oh that's all right Mr. Shikon!" the stewardess replied, flashing another toothy grin at him. He surveyed her while she led him to his seat. Nice body, he thought and then suddenly he came into the reality that he was senior. He let out a small whoop and grinned at the other people on the plane.

Kagome swallowed hard as the chesty stewardess and the late arrival neared her seat. He had shocking golden eyes and long silver hair, pulling up into a high ponytail. He was grinning like a madman and whooping quietly. So this was the headmaster and founder's son, pride and joy.

The stewardess stopped just behind Kagome's seat and pointed to the seat next to her, which was promptly occupied by the girl's feet. "Here's your seat Mr. Shikon!" She flashed him another grin and then went back to the front of the plane, pressing against him on the way by. He grinned at her suggestively and then turned to the seat.

Kagome lowered her feet from the seat, her eyes kept downcast. "Gomen, Mr. Shikon. I didn't realize anyone else would be sitting here. She moved closer to the window side of her seat, and with her left hand snapped down the armrest.

Inuyasha tried to smile at her, but she had turned icy and was looking out the window. He shrugged, stored his stuff away and sat down, making himself comfortable with his laptop on his lap and his earphones ready to go.

The same stewardess who had guided him to his seat came on the overhead just then. "Please keep all electronic devices off until we are stable in the air, thank you!" She was all too cheery for Kagome's liking.

Inuyasha growled slightly, shutting off the laptop and simply resting it on his lap. He knew it would be a while until takeoff and decided to survey the new girls. His eyes flicked to the white haired girl and the girl with feathers in her hair, who sat diagonal from them. Too young and too weird, he thought his eyes traveling to the next girls. After surveying them all and finding none to his liking, he decided to look at the girl sitting next to him, Ms. Ice Queen.

She had long dark hair, that waved at the bottom. Her lips were quite full, and she had nice long legs which looked cramped against the seat. He imagined she had a nice rear as well because with legs like that it would be a shame if she didn't. She had a nice bust line, not too big like the stewardess's, but not too small either. Just perfect for his hands...

Crushing that thought he noticed that her hands were folded in her lap politely. Her left hand glittered. She's engaged? Wow. Must've been arranged or something...she's so young looking...Prolly only 16 or so...Three year difference...never stopped me before...And then his mind switched gears. Kikyou. He had almost forgotten about her. They were dating again, had gotten back together during semester break. They were an on again off again thing though, so he was sure it would end soon. And maybe the pretty little thing next to him wasn't really engaged...maybe she liked jewelry like that.

"Umm...excuse me...Mr. Shikon?" A voice said.

Inuyasha blinked and realized he had been staring at the girl sitting inches from him. He flushed, something he almost never did anymore. "Inuyasha," he said gruffly.

"Mr. Inuyasha...would it disturb you terribly if I asked you to take a picture because it lasts longer?" Kagome said, smiling sweetly.

Inuyasha finally got a look at her fool face. It was a lot like Kikyou's but alot prettier. Her eyes were golden brown and warmer. And her smile was pretty too...and...WHAT THE HELL DID SHE JUST SAY!

"E-e-excuse me?" He said, stuttering, something he also never did.

"You heard me. Would it disturb you if I asked you to-"

"I heard you alright, wench!" he said, insulting her.

Kagome sniffed. "I wasn't the one who was staring, dog-boy!"

It was going to be a long plane ride, Kagome though as she turned back to look out at the window. Not only was she sitting next to the most gorgeous guy on the plane, but he was a cretin too. Watch out Salem, here I come, she thought, sighing as the plane finally began rolling.