{Carrie Underwoord – See You Again is the inspiration for this story. Take a listen}

Just out of sight of the others Sesshomaru jumped onto the little cloud and it took off at a breath-taking speed. He knew that he had to get far enough away from the little band before Inuyasha made it back. He smiled thinking of how mad the little half-breed would be.

Inuyasha raced through the woods his silvery-white hair streaming behind him. He knew she would be upset with him for leaving again. Still he could not stand the thought of Kikyo out here in the woods all alone and dying again without anyone by her side. He stopped and scented the air before veering left where the scent of clay and grave dirt was stronger.

He then skidded to a stop so fast the red fire-rat cloth whipped forward around his body as he stared with growing rage at a small pile of dirt and clay mixed together. This was the scent that had drawn him forward, nothing else and he could smell his brother all over it.

"Sesshomaru!"

He screamed with rage the edges of his pupils barely bleeding red before he gripped his blade to calm himself. Turning he streaked back in the direction of his companions and Kagome knowing he was already too late to stop whatever scheme the older dog demon had cooked up.

Why would he want to draw him away? Sure he had always been an insufferable bastard but he had never really tried to harm the group before. Only ever tried to hurt him, his brother.

He pushed himself faster, his mind racing. What if he had hurt Kagome or the others to get back at him? Would he do that? Was he so cruel? He grimaced; he had taken his arm off in that battle. Perhaps he had finally figured out the best way to get at him was through his friends.

I'm coming guys, he thought and hurried on.

Miroku sat next to Sango would had Kirara in her lap, stroking the fire cat softly staring into the trees where her best friend had disappeared with who she had thought was an enemy.

"Did we do the right thing letting her go?"

Sango looked questioningly at Miroku. The monk shrugged his shoulders as he too turned to look out at the forest.

"Maybe not but it was her choice to make, Sango." He hated to see her worried but for some reason he felt like this time, Sesshomaru's interference may be more helpful then harmful. Strange as it was.

They both suddenly stood up as the presence of a very aggressive demon presence came flying towards them. Weapons were gripped tightly as only Kirara lay relaxed on the ground, yawning largely before rolling on her back.

When Inuyasha came crashing out of the undergrowth they had to double check for the stripes on his cheeks and red eyes, so strong was the demon influence in him. They relaxed for only a moment before they realized they were about to have to inform him they had let his brother take Kagome, or rather, she went willingly with him.

"Where is she? Where is Kagome! What as Sesshomaru done with her?" Inuyasha screamed at his friends his ears lying flat to his skull his eyes searching the surrounding as if she might pop out at any moment.

Sango and Miroku looked nervously at one another before Sango stepped forward and cleared her throat.

"Well Inuyasha, the thing is.. er.." she looked back at Miroku for help but he only stood with the hint of a smile on his face. Wonderful, he was leaving it up to her.

"She went with Sesshomaru."

"He took her? Where?" Inuyasha took a long breath in, reaching for the barely discernible scent of the priestess and Shippou.

"He didn't take her," Miroku finally stepped forward, "she went with him. Willingly."

Inuyasha stared at him incredulously. "Why?"

Miroku rubbed his chin and stared off into the distance, how to explain to Inuyasha what he had been too dense to figure out in the almost two years they had been traveling together. It would be a mean feat indeed.

"You don't appreciate her that's why." It was Sango who interrupted Miroku's thoughts; she looked at Inuyasha, willing the truth through his thick head.

The silver-haired boy scoffed and kicked the ground thinking to himself, of course he appreciated her. She was, well a good jewel detector. No, he had to admit to himself, she was more than that. She was his friend. A memory wiggled in the back of his mind, Kagome smiling up at him, Kagome laughing snuggling Shippou, Kagome leaning her head on his shoulder as he carried her on another quest. Was she more than a friend?

Miroku snuck over to Sango and whispered, "I see smoke, maybe the wheels are turning and he's figuring it out."

Two silver ears tipped in their direction and a low growl emitted from the half-demon, "I heard that." He crossed his arms decidedly. "She shouldn't have left. She took the jewel shard and Sesshomaru will probably end up cooking Shippou in a stew before too long so we should go get them."

Two heads simultaneously dropped as the demon exterminator and monk sighed together. Miroku threw his arm over Sango's shoulder. "He's an idiot."

She shook her head, "apparently so, well I guess.. GET YOUR HAND OFF ME!" She swung around and clocked the innocent looking monk on the side of the head just as his hand slide down to her bottom.

The dark-haired girl sulked away signaling to Kirara to increase her size so they could leave. "Just come on you pervert. If Inuyasha just wants to find Kagome just because she has the jewel shard he can go by himself."

"What?" Inuyasha and Miroku looked at the girl who had swung up on the waiting fire-cat and stared down at them.

"You heard me; I'm not helping him drag her back when she doesn't want to come back."

"Of course she wants to come back. Probably she just wanted to go see Rin or something." Inuyasha didn't want to have to ask, he just assumed they would come with him to rescue Kagome from the claws of his wicked brother. Didn't they see that's all this was; Sesshomaru had just tricked her into going with him. He was probably going to do something awful to her.

"We should at least go check on her Sango, and then we can leave. Just make sure she's okay." Miroku bartered with the woman who stared down at the two of them with hesitation clearly written across her face. Certainly they could just go check on Kagome. Then she would leave, and if Miroku and Inuyasha wanted to be foolish enough to try to take her back when she didn't want to come back, then clearly they had forgotten the kind of temper the other girl possessed.

"Alright fine, come on."

The four of them took off in the directions Sesshomaru had taken.

Sesshomaru had the advantage of knowing exactly where he was going and the speed to get there far faster than his pursuers. He knew it would take at least a week for his brother to make it to his castle, and by then he would have the priestess firmly in his corner.

They skidded over the tree tops on the flying cloud, racing over a deep ravine that made Shippou gasp and hide his face in Kagome's shoulder. Just past that was Sesshomaru's castle, the stronghold of the Western Lands. It was beautifully laid out around an open courtyard. They swooped down and landed softly. They all turned to watch as Rin darted out to meet them, the tiny toad demon trailing behind her.

"You're back, you're back!" She danced around Sesshomaru who watched her antics without reaction, though Kagome could have sworn for just a moment that a small smile lifted the corners of his lips.

"Lord Sesshomaru, this child was nothing but trouble. How could you leave me with her and why have you brought back Inuyasha's priestess and the little fox brat." Jaken waved his staff as he spoke poking Shippou in the chest as he gestured to him.

"Watch it toad, I'll squish you!" Shippou made to leap at him but before he could Rin reached out and stopped him.

"Let's go play. I'll show you my pony." Shippou looked at Kagome who nodded and smiled. It would be good for Shippou to have the chance to relax with someone his age. He spent far too much time being put in dangerous situations because of his companions and not being able to play. She forgot sometimes he was still just a child.

When the children ran off towards the small stable Kagome nervously crossed her arms and faced Sesshomaru who was watching her closely.

"You trust me enough to be separated from your brat. Interesting."

Kagome sputtered, "well I mean he isn't really mine."

Sesshomaru shook his head, disagreeing. "The little kit sees you as his mother. When you took him in and began to care for him, in the eyes of a demon you adopted him as your own."

Kagome started to disagree again but then stopped to think about his comment. Sure she was only 17 but hadn't she been caring for Shippou for years now. Why would it matter if he saw her as his mother, except what would happen when she left? Could she leave him parentless again? That was not something she would be discussing with the man in front of her, perhaps Sango would know what to do. She was familiar was demons.

"I guess I never thought about it like that." She finally remarked looking at Sesshomaru her eyes guarded. It wasn't like she could tell him she was from a different time and Shippou couldn't go back with her.

"There is a lot about demons you don't know. I will teach you and you will use that knowledge against my half-brother." Sesshomaru used the tone of one used to being obeyed. Even as he spoke palace retinue was scurrying out towards him bringing refreshments.

Kagome, shook her head, "I'm not going to help you hurt him. No matter how mad he makes me sometimes." She crossed her arms stubbornly. No matter how many times he ran to Kikyo, made fun of her, picked on Shippou, or one of the other dozen things that got him 'sat' on a regular occasion she was not going to hurt him.

Sesshomaru looked crossly at her, "not hurt him you silly girl. I told you I want him away from the dead woman and you see the only alternative. It doesn't hurt that you have such powerful strengths. You'll do as a match for him."

Kagome's eyes widened, she hadn't believed him to be serious but it seemed like, odd as it was, Sesshomaru was playing matchmaker between her and Inuyasha.

"It's, umm.. a nice thought but, well he still has feelings for Kikyo and I just don't think he cares for me. Like that."

Sesshomaru gestured toward the interior of the castle. "Your first lesson will begin tomorrow, for now the servants will show you your room. Rin knows where it is, she'll bring the little fox to you before dinner."

Kagome sighed wondering what she had possibly gotten herself into before following a smiling woman who had sharp features and whose arms and neck were decorated with thick glossy feathers. A bird demon, she thought to herself. What other creatures might she encounter here.

She followed the woman into the castle wondering what if Inuyasha had realized yet that she was gone.

{Thanks for the reviews! Next chapter Kagome gets her first lesson in demon mating habits!}