Chapter Three
Sesshoumaru's Captive/InuYasha's Rage

'Why is he looking at me that way?' Kagome knew that Sesshoumaru was capable of killing her in a matter of seconds; yet he stood their contemplating her.

"Why is it that Naraku brought you here?" Kagome was immediately intimidated by him.

"I...don't know. He said he wanted me to bear him a child which held the powers of a demon and priestess." Sesshoumaru scowled. A child born of such a combination would possess a dangerous amount of power, especially if Naraku gained possession of the Shikon Jewel.

"I should kill you right now and put a stop to this before he has a chance to produce such spawn. However, you are the only one that can purify the Shikon jewel and in its tainted state it possesses many problems. Until my pathetic half brother can learn to control his sword, you will remain with me, human."

Kagome's eyes widened in horror, she couldn't stay with him! He hated humans and would undoubtedly kill her.

"Do not worry; I will not kill you unless you give me just cause," with that said, Sesshoumaru snatched her from the place she stood and they both rose into the air.

"Very Foolish, Lord Sesshoumaru," Naraku said darkly. 'Why had he come to the priestess' aid? He certainly has no desire to protect such a human. Perhaps he intends to blackmail his brother into giving him the Tetsusaiga.' Regardless of his reasoning, it was not wise for the great lord of the western lands to cross Naraku. Though Lord Sesshoumaru is a formidable foe, Naraku would not stop until he had the young priestess again.

Kagome felt helpless in Sesshoumaru's grasp. Despite her fear of him, she clung to him even tighter. They were traveling through the sky at a very fast pace, as though Sesshoumaru were in a hurry. The demon looked down at the human girl, who was now clinging to him.

"Do not worry, I will not drop you. I have told you, I believe you are necessary in purifying the Shikon Jewel so that Naraku is unable to use it."

Kagome looked up at the dog demon. Though she may fear him, she did trust him to keep his word. Honor and dignity means a lot to someone as proud and regal as Sesshoumaru.

As she released her tight grasp, the demon glanced down at the girl with a questioning look. Did this human actually trust him, a demon, at his word? He could easily drop her to her death and that fact was obviously not lost on her. However, she seemed to believe that he spoke the truth.

Most humans that he had come across in his life time had shown him nothing but scorn and hatred. Few would even allow him to speak to them, and those that did, treated him like an animal that could not be trusted. Maybe it was all the time she had spent with his half-breed brother. Though he did have the human blood running through his veins, the fact remained that he also had demon blood. From what Sesshoumaru had seen of InuYasha in battle, he had done his best to protect this young girl.

She also seemed to care for a demon fox cub. Most humans would not take such a task upon themselves, but he had always seen this girl protecting and nurturing the young demon cub whenever Sesshoumaru had attempted to attack his brother. Another thought crossed his mind as he held onto the small human girl. She wore clothing like those he had never seen. He had never given the wench much thought before now, but it was apparent to him that she was from another place.

"Girl, later I have some questions I would like to ask you and I expect you to give me answers." Kagome's heart began to pound. What would Sesshoumaru want to know about? And what would happen if she were unable to answer his questions?

"InuYasha, slow down! You must calm yourself and think things through rationally. If you don't you will put us all, including Kagome, in danger." Miroku's words were finally sinking into InuYasha. He slowed down and turned to his friends.

"Kagome is all that matters now. I won't sit by while Naraku hurts her," he said stubbornly.

"InuYasha, we all want to save Kagome. But if we rush to Naraku with no plan of action he will most likely slaughter us all."

"Miroku's right, InuYasha," piped up Sango. "Naraku is most likely setting a trap for you. He knows you care for Kagome so he will use her to hurt you."

Sango of course knew of Naraku's mind games first hand. He held her young brother, Kohaku, under his power. Nothing hurt Sango worse than knowing such an evil person had Kohaku. And now he also had her dear friend Kagome. Yes, Sango also desperately wanted revenge. But Miroku spoke the truth.

At present, they are nearly defenseless and Naraku knew it. Why else would he send such petty demons to distract them while he kidnapped Kagome? It was his way of taunting them. He knew that coming for Kagome would be suicide.

"InuYasha, Naraku knows that we are vulnerable. Sending those weak demons to fight us earlier was his way of toying with us," Sango's words enraged InuYasha.

"Speak for yourself, Sango. I am NOT vulnerable, and those demons were a piece of cake to fight," InuYasha stomped off from his friends.

"Damn!" Thoughts and worries of Kagome were floating through his mind. "If he lays one hand on her, I'll tear it off!"

Sesshoumaru finally stopped at a large castle that appeared to be in a secluded area. As he set Kagome on the ground, he looked around expectantly.

"Rin, you may come out now," Kagome stared in surprise as a small human girl came out from behind a bush, with a huge smile on her face.

"Lord Sesshoumaru! We missed you!" The demon lord looked down at the human child.

"I trust you behaved yourself while I was away"

"Oh yes Lord Sesshoumaru, I had fun playing with Jaken," Sesshoumaru nodded and then turned to Kagome.

"This is my charge. Her name is Rin. I am sure the two of you will get along well. I have seen how you treat the young fox cub that travels with you." She could hear that it was not so much a comment but an order. She turned to the small girl who looked up to her expectantly.

"Hello, Rin, my name is Kagome." The young girl beamed a smile at her that warmed her heart.

Sesshoumaru then ordered them all to follow him inside the castle. He turned to Kagome and informed her that fleeing would be pointless as it would only anger him, and there was no way that she could get away. He then retreated leaving her to be entertained by the young child, who had not stopped talking since Sesshoumaru and she had arrived. As she watched Rin, her mind began swirling with questions. Who was this young child, and why was she with Sesshoumaru?

'I thought he hated humans, and yet here he is with a human child.' Not only did he have a human child as his charge, but Kagome was sure there was a fleeting look of warmth on his face when the girl came running out from behind the bushes. And the girl herself was not at all afraid of him. In fact, she really seemed to like him.

Kagome had realized that not once had this young girl been present during a battle. 'Well, at least he thinks enough of her to keep her out of harms way,' she thought to herself and she watched the young girl skip about her laughing happily.

'Well, I'm stuck here for now. InuYasha doesn't even have a clue that I'm with Sesshoumaru, so I might as well make the most of it.' She thought to herself. She then began talking to the young girl, and eventually started playing games with her. Despite being Sesshoumaru's captive, Kagome felt quite safe. And she was enjoying the young girls company. Rin was an angelic child, what was she doing with such a heartless demon?

Sesshoumaru watched the two of them from the doorway. Though he was not pleased about having her here, she was treating Rin very well. The look of happiness on Rin's face softened him slightly. Kagome looked up as the great Lord entered the room.

"I am leaving now, I expect you to remain here. Rin, behave yourself while I am away." At that he turned and left.

InuYasha and the others had been traveling for some time. 'I can still smell her scent,' he thought to himself. 'Kagome, I hope you're okay'.

Miroku and Sango looked at InuYasha with pity in their eyes; it was obvious that he was in pain. Deep down, he was reliving Kikyo all over again. The thought of losing another woman to Naraku was nearly unbearable.

InuYasha stopped abruptly as he began to pick up another familiar scent.

"Sesshoumaru!" Miroku and Sango both looked to him.

"Do you think your brother is near by, InuYasha?" Sango asked. InuYasha just looked back to his friends and nodded. Moments later the great demon Lord appeared before them.

"What do you want, Sesshoumaru? I don't have time to play games," snarled InuYasha.

"I'm sure you don't brother. I'm sure you are far too busy tracking Naraku and your lost companion." A look of shock spread over their faces.

"We're you involved in this Sesshoumaru?" Growled InuYasha.

"I have less than no desire to help Naraku or to have your wench. However, she is at my castle and there she will remain."

InuYasha became overwhelmed with both relief and anger. If Kagome were with Sesshoumaru, then at least she was still alive. But his brother was not a much better fate for Kagome.

"Why is it that you have Kagome, if you are not involved with Naraku? We know it was Naraku that kidnapped her, because he unleashed his poisonous insects," the half demon questioned suspiciously.

"True, it was Naraku that took your comrade. But it is in my best interest that he not keep her. He intends to use her to produce a child, borne of both demon and priestess powers. I will not allow this to be. Until you learn to use your sword, you are incapable of keeping Naraku away from her. When you master your new Tetsusaiga, little brother, you can retrieve your wench." InuYasha could feel his blood boiling. Watching from the side, Miroku noticed the changed come on.

"Sango, step back. I don't understand it but InuYasha is about to take on his demon form."

"But he still has the Tetsusaiga," replied a wide eye Sango.

Both stood helplessly as InuYasha transformed and went after his older brother. Even in his full demon state he was no match for Sesshoumaru. For reasons Miroku did not understand, Sesshoumaru did not pull his sword on his younger brother. Instead, he appeared to be wearing him down. After several moments of this, InuYasha finally made contact with his older sibling. He brought his claws down sharply across the demon Lords chest.

Finally, tired of fighting his brother, he gave him a hard blow to the head. InuYasha, worn down from worry and fatigue, fell lifelessly to the ground. The Demon Lord then turned to the monk.

"When he wakes he will once again be a mere half breed, make him understand that I will not part with the young Priestess as long as Naraku desires to claim her."