Chapter 3

Kagome stepped out of her last class to see Hikkaku waiting for her today. He grinned at her and she smiled. Even as November arrived, they were still her only friends. No one seemed to want to go near her. Kagome walked next to the boy to her locker. It felt odd having a bodyguard but she didn't mind it. She like these boys and they made it friendly, not business.

Kagome sighed as she leaned against the wall waiting for him. He just had to go didn't he. Yeah, and leave her standing there like an idiot. She fiddled with the end of her braid. "I think I'll cut it off." She said to herself.

"Hello there."Kagome looked up to met hazel eyes. The girl looked much like her but there were differences. She too had a long braid past her butt. But she obviously used a different shampoo because it wasn't fluffy like hers. Kagome then noticed who was behind her among the other girls. Ayame.

"You must be that brat who's been torturing my friend. Isn't she, Ayame?"

"That's her. She nearly ripped out my hair and beat me with basket balls." She whined. Kagome rolled her eyes.

"Look, why don't you back off. You're nothing but annoying to him so piss off. Hikkaku! Get your butt out here this minute!" She yelled angrily at the door to the bathroom. Soon the boy emerged from the room in confusion. He hadn't seen the girls with her before he left.

"Sorry." He grinned stupidly. Kagome grabbed his ear and began pulling him away angrily. "Ow! I'm sorry! Please let go sister Kagome!" He yelped.

"Shut up! We're finding Koga!" She yelled. A hand grasped her arm and pulled her away from the boy. "Hey!" It was that Inuyasha guy again.

"Come on. Miroku doesn't want you out so late again." He said as he started pulling her away.

"Hey! Hands off her, mutt!" Hikkaku yelled.

"You want to fight me, runt?" He yelled back. He backed up a step. The girl looking like Kagome stepped past him and snuggled against Inuyasha. He wrapped his free arm around her and rested his hand on her ass. "You at least are smarter then that ass brother of yours."

Kagome forced her arm from him and her foot came up. The boy fell to his knees and the girl in his arms yelled out. "You brat!" The girl yelled. Kagome stuck out her tongue at them. She grabbed Hikkaku's wrist and started running. "Get back here!"

"Definitely cutting my hair!" Kagome said angrily. They slowed down when they came to Koga's truck. "Damn it to hell!" Kagome cursed.

"Kagome!" They looked up to see Ginta and Koga running toward them. "What happened?" He asked when they reached them. He then noticed the beginning of a bruise on her arm. "Who did this?" He asked with anger.

"That Inuyasha from last time. I met up with these girls, friends of Ayame's."

"Let me guess, Kikyo." Hikkaku nodded as he panted. "Shit!" Koga cursed. "Come on. Everyone in. We're going home guys." He helped Kagome into the seat as the guys loaded into the back. They drove to their house quickly. Kagome sighed as she plopped onto the couch. They had to avoid the painters outside.

"Kagome, why are there guys painting our house?" Ginta asked.

"Your father mentioned needing to repaint the house so I thought I'd surprise him by doing it for him. They'll be payed." She said. Koga tossed her a pop and she sipped it. "Koga, how good are you with scissors?"

"As in hair, I'm okay. Mom taught me so I could do Hikkaku while she did Ginta. Why?" She pulled her braid over her shoulder and began running her hands over it. She had worked hard to care for her hair and get it this long. It was the only thing she was known for back home in Europe. She wasn't considered pretty but she had hair like no one else. She had her mother's Japanese hair. She was still hanging onto it now in her new home where it wasn't needed.

"No sister!" Ginta yelled.

"You can't cut off your braid!" Hikkaku said. Kagome glanced up at Koga. He didn't say anything. He just watched her solemnly. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and turned away.

"If it's what you want." He said.

"Koga!" The boys protested. They had often caught Koga playing with her hair while they were watching a movie. He loved it just as much as she did.

"Just because a slut has one too?" Ginta asked her.

"It's the fact that she's a slut that makes me ashamed of it. I don't want anyone thinking I'm trying to copy her, trying to be her." She said. Koga turned his back to them. "Koga?"

"Meet me in the bathroom downstairs. All my things are there." He said. She watched him walk out the door. Koga felt his heart sink as he walked away. It wasn't the fact that Kagome was cutting off her hair that killed him. It was the fact that she was changing for the thoughts of other people. He had thought she wasn't that kind of person. He thought she didn't care what people thought. This gave him a whole new doubt. What if she started caring about their relationship? What if she stopped hanging out with him because of what people think or say? He had believed Kagome was beyond that.

He dug out his old hair supplies his mother had given him and began preparing for her. He heard a knock at the door but didn't look up. Guilty azure blue eyes watched as he lay out a towel on the floor. Something was wrong with him. She stroked her braid. She loved it but was this worth it? She had stopped caring what people thought when she had come here but wasn't that what she was doing now? Caring about what they said?

"Koga." She called. He didn't look up as he placed a beach towel over the folding chair. "Koga." She called again. He set up his stuff on his bed so it was easy to grab. He stopped when he felt hands on his shoulder and a body press to his back. "Koga." She called quietly.

He bowed his head in shame. He didn't want her to leave so soon. They had only been friends for a short time. What if she started hanging out with those sluts? What if she apologized to Ayame and let her at him? What if she wanted nothing to do with him? He brought his hand over his chest and squeezed the hand on his shoulder. He wanted her to tell him, show him, that she wouldn't leave him like that.

"Tell me what to do Koga. I love my hair. I don't want it taken off. But those girls. They'll say things. I know I shouldn't care but I don't want people to think badly of you." His eyes widened.

"W-what?"

"If people think I'm trying to be her, they'll think you're just hanging out with me for my money and a nice fuck. I don't want people to accuse you of that. Then your family will get in trouble too." Koga removed her from him and turned to face her. He drew her into his arms and held her close.

"I don't give a damn what they think of me. If you love your hair, don't cut it off. Don't change just because of what other people think. And don't worry about me. I don't care what they think and my family knows the truth. All that matters is that you're happy." Kagome rested her face on his shoulder and wrapped her arms around him.

"But I'm just causing you so many problems."

"I told you. I don't care what they think of me. I never have." He said. "If they have the guts to say it to my face then they'll get their's punched in." A smile crossed her lips through her unshed tears.

"Thanks." She whispered. She pulled away from him with a smile. "Come on." She took his large hand in her much smaller one and tugged him toward the door. "I think the boys said they had a new movie they wanted to watch with me. You can re-braid my hair if you'd like." He grinned and let her tug him up stairs.

Kagome sat on the floor behind the two boys laying on their fronts with Koga sitting on the couch with his knees on her shoulders. He wasn't paying attention to the boring movie. He was content just watching this beauty. Why the hell am I putting it off? Damn it, I like her way more then this. The brats think I'm wasting time but what do they know? Maybe I will sometime soon.

Kagome sighed as she sat alone in the lunch room. Koga and the boys had different lunch hours on red days. It got too lonely in the back of the cafeteria. Kagome still only had three friends. She hung out with Koga when Miroku's friends came over or he had a party. She didn't care much for them or like his parties. It involved alcohol and drugs. She had found Miroku stoned with a hangover one morning.

"Hey there." She heard a voice next to her as a tray lightly sat on the table. She looked up into honey brown eyes. She had seen this girl in the halls. Her name was Rin. Behind her stood a rather icy man. His long silver hair gave off a blue hue in the lighting. "May we sit with you? I noticed you're alone every other day."

"If you want." Kagome said. Rin sat next to her while the senior sat across from her. Rin smiled at Kagome. Kagome smiled back. She felt rather comfortable with her around.

"My name's Rin if you haven't heard and this is Sesshomaru. Senior if you couldn't guess." Rin said. He nodded to her and began eating. Kagome nodded back and went back to her food, which was crap cheap. "So Kagome, I hear you're not from the states. Where were you from?"

"I lived in Germany." Rin gasped with a smile.

"Germany? Cool! I've always wanted to go there." She said. Sesshomaru lifted his eyes to her.

"I told you I'd buy the tickets. You just have to say when." He said. She stuck her tongue out at him.

"I'm not going to waste your money, whether you have plenty or not." She said.

"Sesshomaru." Kagome mused. His eyes shifted her way. "As in Taiyo Sesshomaru. The heir to the Inu corporation. Am I correct?" He nodded. Rin glanced back and forth between the two. They knew each other?

"And how are you familiar with this? Most foreigners wouldn't know me." He said.

"My uncle told me about the Taiyo family. Your father is a business partner with a Mr. Hoshi, correct?" He nodded. "He tries to keep Miroku and me on check with business for our futures. Not that I want anything to do with it."

"Ah. You must be the Kagome Higurashi I've heard of. The Hoshi hanging around with trash like the Wolf brothers." Her azure blue eyes flashed and she brought them up from her tray. "Word has it, you've been beating down sluts as well."

"Rumors." Kagome replied. "The only thing I did was pull that Ayame off Koga by the hair and chased her out with basket balls. I didn't touch her." She said. "As for the others, I don't see them often. I stay near Koga."

"Explains your lack of social well being." He murmured.

"I don't care about society. I'll be with whomever I want." She said. Icy glares met as Rin watched on in confusion. What the heck are they talking about? "Personally, I think most of them are idiots. Particularly that brother of yours." She said.

"He has always been an idiot. With or without money. What about you? Your cousin has a party every other week. Everyone stoned and hung over in the morning. And robbed."

"I stay over at Koga's when that happens. The stench and noise would keep me from my work and sleep. It's stupid really." She said. A grin broke on his face.

"I believe we have a new friend Rin." Rin squealed in joy at his approval. Kagome sighed and picked up her tray.

"Excuse me." She said and dumped her tray. She grabbed her bag and headed for her locker. She quickly rearranged books and loaded her bag for the last classes. A folded piece of paper slipped from her English book. She opened it and looked at the ink.

Sorry I can't ask you in person but I was wondering if you'd like to get a burger or something later. I know I don't talk to you much but I really like you. Just one night, please. I can pick you up at six. We can go to a movie if you want to. Meet me at the library to tell me your answer.

-Akitoki Hojo

Kagome knew him a little. He was a freshman too. He was a soccer player. He was sweet but naive and dense too. But she couldn't tonight. She had plans to watch the meteor shower tonight with Koga. Kagome stuffed the note away and headed for her next class just as the bell range.

The day sped by and Kagome met Ginta in the hall. He grinned at her and they headed out. Kagome saw Hikkaku waiting in the bed with Koga leaning against it. Ginta climbed into the back and Koga helped Kagome in. Kagome could get in herself but it was nice of him and she didn't complain.

Kagome sat on the bed with Koga. A book sat open in his lap while she lay on her front, quizzing him for his next test. He was struggling with it since it was English and Mrs. Feebler was a hard tester. When ten o'clock came, they heard his mother calling from upstairs. They headed upstairs to see what it was.

Kagome was attacked by a black blur when they came down the hall. She giggled at a little wet tongue licked her face lovingly. Ginta and Hikkaku came from their room upstairs and cheered when they saw the black fur ball. The puppy yapped happily as Kagome cuddled it to her chest and cooed. "He's a cocker spaniel. The only black one there." He was a cute puppy. He yapped happily as Kagome rubbed behind his ear. Ginta and Hikkaku knelt beside her. Ginta waved his finger playfully as the pup tried to bite it.

"Where'd you get him mom?" Koga asked as they stood. Kagome kept the puppy in her arms happily.

"I went to the shelter and bought him." They stared in surprise at the woman.

"B-but mom . . . " The boy stuttered. "You said we couldn't waste money like that." She smiled.

"I got a raise and with Kagome here, we've been just fine. I know I shouldn't but you can't stop this girl." The two glanced into the living room where Kagome was with the boys and the puppy. She was laying on her back with the puppy on her tummy. She looked like a little girl. "I sometimes wonder if she ever had a childhood like normal children. She went to boarding schools and had a terrible aunt. I thought this would not only make the boys happy but her as well."

Koga nodded. "Ginta and Hikkaku are still young, even if it's a year from me. They need this too." Koga went to join them as his mother went to take a shower. When it was eleven, everyone was asleep but Koga. He glanced at the girl sleeping on his bed. He told her to sleep before they went out. Her hair was a bit tussled as she rolled over. She held the pillow to her head with a smile. She snuggled under the covers. It was getting cold and they were in the basement. But she didn't seem to mind at all.

Koga couldn't help but stare at the beauty. He sighed in hopelessness. Who was he kidding? There was no way he'd be able to ask her and not get rejected. She was too good for him. He lived in a single home with two brothers and little money. Most of this was thanks to her. What could he offer her future that she didn't already have?

She turned again so she no longer faced the closet. He saw the smile on her lips and felt his heart pick up a bit. Why did he feel like this? What was it about this girl that made his heart stop? He had never felt like this before. So why now? Why did he feel like this for her?

Because she doesn't care.

Realization hit him in the chest. She didn't care that he was poor with an always gone father and a late working mother. She didn't care that he lived in a run down house they had bought when his parents first married. She didn't care if he was a prankster. She didn't care if the whole school or town was against him. She didn't care about those things. The only thing she cared about was their happiness and safety.

A smile drifted to his face. The clock changed to eleven thirty. He smacked the thing before the annoying sound even started. He gently nudged her shoulder and she moaned. He shook her shoulder and she rolled over. He smiled and placed a knee of the bed. He bent over and gently blew into her ear. She squirmed and flipped over. He quickly got off as she rolled.

He grasped the braid and tugged it gently. "Go way Miro . . . " She mumbled as she tugged her braid from him. "Koga . . . " She murmured. He grinned. So that was why she didn't want to get up. She was dreaming of him. He bent down to her ear again.

"Kagome . . . " He whispered. A smile drifted to her lips. "Kagome . . . " He whispered again. He grinned when she rolled onto her back below him. "Kagome . . . " He blushed a bit as her arms wrapped around his shoulders and her lips met his skin.

"Koga . . . " She moaned. He blushed a bit more. She was really dreaming. His hands rested on her hips to keep himself from being pulled down by the girl. She moaned as she slept.

"Kagome . . . you need to wake up." He whispered into her ear.

"Why?"

"So you can kiss me." He whispered. Her blue eyes fluttered open. "Hello sleepy head. If you don't get up, we'll miss the shower." Her arms slid lazily from his shoulders and he stood up. She sat up and rubbed her eyes. She stretched her arms above her head, pulling up her white tank top. His mouth watered at the sight.

She slapped her face to wake herself. She smiled up at him as he leaned against the doorframe with his hands stuffed in his pockets. She grabbed her jacket and they headed quietly upstairs. They snuck out of the house and he started the truck. They drove away from town toward the country. He pulled into a pasture that was open for him.

"A buddy of mine owns this land and he said I could park out here." He said. He stopped the truck and they hopped out. Koga put the tailgate down and climbed up. He helped Kagome up and walked back to the cab. He spread a blanket over the top. He lifted himself onto it and helped her up. Kagome lay back on the blanket just as the first star fell.

Koga sat back on his hands and they watched silently. Kagome challenged him to see who could count more. Kagome had gotten thirty-seven while he got forty. When the final star fell Kagome sat up. "Make a wish. Quick." She said as she folded her hands and closed her eyes. Koga stared at the girl quietly. He silently made his wish. Never to be heard or granted. He knew that.

I wish one day Kagome could be mine forever.

I own nothing. Thank you for reading and reveiwing, of those few people.I hope you enjoyed it.

Jo Manta