Thank you to those who have already read and reviewed my first chapter. Especially my first two reviewers, asdf and asdf. I appreciate the accolades and will try to be bored enough at my job to keep you interested (hahahaha.).

For the record (ahem): I do not own, in whole or in part, any part of the Inuyasha franchise. Nor do I own any of the characters from said franchise that are used forthwith. The following story is solely based on the ramblings of a college student at a boring job and are not to be taken or believed as part of the true Inuyasha saga. That being said, please enjoy my first attempt at fan fiction. Feel free to critique ad nauseum. (whew!)

Chapter Two – A Story Unfolds

Inuyasha had slept very little that evening. He spent the entire night outside the hut, alternating between pacing around the front door to scouting the trees for any sign of his brother. He did not know why Sesshomaru had been watching Kagome. And he wasn't at all sure he wanted to find out.

He stopped pacing and sat on the front porch, tired of walking back and forth. What did Sesshomaru want with Kagome? He knows she is a human, and he dislikes humans. Even if she is a miko, a powerful one, she is still just a human to him. Beneath his notice. Even Kikyou was not worth his bothering. "Feh! I don't care why he was lurking in Kagome's shadow."

"Did you say something, Inuyasha?" Inuyasha turned and saw Miroku standing in the doorway. Inuyasha turned back around and kicked a pebble back and for the between his feet. Miroku came to sit down beside him. "What is bothering you?"

"What do you think?" He mumbled. My brother may be after Kagome, and I don't know why. I don't even know if there is anything I can do to stop him.

"Ah. Lord Sesshomaru in the forest this afternoon. Is that it?" He said thoughtfully as he set down his staff, preparing for a manly heart to heart.

"You got that right. What was he doing there, sneaking around in the bushes?"

Miroku rubbed his chin for a moment, trying to act the part of a sage monk. He closed his eyes briefly before reporting. "I have been thinking of this also. Tell me, Inuyasha. What does he know of Kagome?"

"She was with me when Sesshomaru opened our father's tomb. She was the only one who could pull the Tetsusaiga from its place. He tried to kill her after that by melting the walls to envelop her. But she survived. That was when I cut off his right arm. He has seen her on several occasions.

"He has said several times that I demean myself by having her around. He thinks I spend all my time protecting her." I bet he even knows of the times she has protected me. He would never let me live this down. He kicked the pebble out into the courtyard.

"So, I am thinking that he is wondering why you want to protect her. After all, she is only a human."

Inuyasha turned to face him, his face turning pink in anger. "Don't you think I know that?"

"Calm down, Inuyasha. I only came out here to help you figure out why he was following her." The two of them sat in silence for a moment before he continued. "Do you know if Lord Sesshomaru knows where Kagome is from?"

Inuyasha's ears picked up as he thought that over. "I don't know. I don't think so, though."

"Perhaps he is trying to uncover her secrets. You have to admit she is a strange girl."

Inuyasha smiled. "True."

"But, I must say I do like the outfits she wears." Miroku smiled at the thought, but quickly amended his statement when Inuyasha threatened him with a fist. "I mean, maybe she has an extra one Sango could wear sometime."

"What I was trying to say was perhaps Lord Sesshomaru was spying on her to try and uncover her powers. It is true that she has strong miko powers. But, so far she has not been able to use them except when she is under extreme pressure. Like when we are fighting demons."

"So you think that Sesshomaru is trying to see if Kagome could be a threat?" Inuyasha got up and began pacing around the floor again. I don't think I like the sound of where this is going.

"I think that it may go deeper than that. Follow me Inuyasha. He knew you were pinned to a tree by Kikyou over 50 years ago."

"Right."

"And then suddenly this girl appears and you are free. Many people have wondered still how she did that. She made the arrow turn to dust. That isn't something that happens every day."

"Right. But everyone knows that she is Kikyou's reincarnation." He rolled his eyes. Feh, and Miroku is supposed to be a wise man. Feh!

"How exactly would Lord Sesshomaru know that? It isn't as if we travel in the same circles."

"Well..."

"And, if you add on top of that the way she dresses and the way she talks..." Sango appeared in the doorway, bleary-eyed but ready to join in the conversation. "And the way she acts. Don't forget that. Even when she is scared, she doesn't cower behind Inuyasha. She tries to fight right beside him. And she is getting better everyday." She sat down beside Miroku. Then she thought better of it and shifted herself to the other side of the porch. She didn't feel like hitting him for massaging her behind again.

"Correct, Sango. I think with as many encounters as he has had with you and Kagome, he is beginning to wonder just what he is up against. After all, he is not a demon who will go up against an opponent without knowing his weaknesses. Or in this case, her weaknesses."

"Let me get this right. You think that Sesshomaru wants to find out how to kill Kagome."

Sango thought that over for a moment. "Either that, or find out how to use her against you. He certainly would not be the first one. And probably not the last."

Miroku agreed. "Mmm. I guess then it is a good idea for her to continue her miko training with Kaede. Maybe she should also be learning more physical defensive techniques. Perhaps I..."

"Should not finish that statement, monk. I would be more than happy to help Kagome learn how to defeat demons with weapons, as Kaede is teaching her how with her power."

"Yeah, you do that, Sango. And I will go and face Sesshomaru."

Miroku stood up and put a hand on Inuyasha's arm. "And do what, Inuyasha? Tell him to back off of your girl? You know you cannot defeat him alone."

"Like hell I can't!"

"Inuyasha, Miroku is right. You have only been able to come of at a dead heat with him. And that is when he decides to leave. There have been several occasions when he would have killed you if something or someone had not intervened."

"Well, what do you expect me to do? Just sit and do nothing? My damn brother is stalking Kagome!"

"Shhh! Keep your voice down, Inuyasha. The last thing we need to do right now is let Kagome think that Lord Sesshomaru is trying to find her weaknesses."

"You're right, Miroku. Maybe it would be better if we sent Kagome back to her own time." Inuyasha felt slightly depressed at this thought. Life is so much more interesting whenever she is around. I'll go nuts if she isn't here.

Sango saved him from his thoughts by saying, "I don't think that that is the best way to go."

"What do you mean, Sango?" Miroku resumed his position beside Sango.

Before she continued, she placed her hand on his arm, smiled, and pushed him back across the porch. "I mean, if Sesshomaru really is trying to find her weaknesses, and he has seen her coming up out of the well, how do we know he won't be expecting you to send her back there? He may not know she is from the future, but he knows she is different. And I will be willing to bet Kirara that he has figured out that the well is how she returns to where she came from.

"I say that we let her stay here. But I mean here, at Kaede's hut. Here she is best protected. With Kaede's and Miroku's spiritual power and our physical powers, this is a fortress of protection."

Miroku caught on to what Sango was saying. "Right. Until we know exactly what Lord Sesshomaru knows and what he wants, it probably would be best for her to stay here with us. Until we know that, she should not leave this village. Or even better, not leave the hut."

"Feh! Easier said than done. Kagome doesn't even stay in one place long enough to eat a whole meal, let alone stay in this hut for who knows how long. How do you intend to do that?"

Miroku waived his hands in the air as if that one detail was not important. "You will think of something, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha blanched. "Me! Why me?"

Sango agreed quickly. "Yes, you. Who better to protect her? He already thinks that you protect her. This way he is less likely to think that we know anything."

Miroku's eyes lit up. "Yes. He and Shippo can stay and protect Kagome here with Kaede, and you and I will go and see what we can find."

She jumped on this. "Oh, this sounds like a good idea. We can go to his lands and spy on him just like he has been spying on Kagome. I bet between the two of us we could find out what he knows..."

"Right. We could even try and plant information about her in the villages nearby. Should he hear any of it, it may through him off the scent..."

While Sango and Miroku were planning their grand adventure, Inuyasha went fuming into the forest. He jumped up a tree and sat, feeling every one of his muscles knotting in frustration. Feh, they want me to play nursemaid to Kagome while they go off and find my brother. How am I supposed to keep her here? She doesn't listen to a word I say!

Inuyasha spent the rest of the night perched up in the tree staring back at Kaede's hut, wondering just how he was going to keep Kagome safe without letting her know she may be in very real danger.

Rin was absentmindedly picking flowers while humming her favorite tune. Jaken was holding Ahun's reins while talking about the importance of servitude to his lord and master. But Lord Sesshomaru heard none of it. He was deep in thought, trying to digest the information he gleaned from last night's stakeout.

I was on to something, watching that girl. She is no ordinary human, that much is true. That well is important. I know it. I need to know how she does it. The demon lord kept walking beside his entourage, thinking about that well. He knew that it was a sacred well for the village. They place dead demons in the well and their bodies quickly disappear. So does she. I have heard that when that miko Kikyou died, the Shikon no Tama was burned with her. But Kagome appears and the Shikon no Tama is again found. He found out also that shortly after her appearance, she had shattered the jewel in a battle with a crow demon.

She must be a reincarnation of that miko. How else would she have been able to undo the binding spell Kikyou put on Inuyasha? And bring back the jewel. And have all that unused power, with no knowledge of how to use it. That girl was born with all the power that Kikyou spent her lifetime acquiring. He stopped for a moment at that thought. If she started with that much untapped power, learned how to use it properly, and acquired as much more, she would be as powerful as a demon. And Inuyasha has control of her.

"My Lord?" Jaken questioned as he almost ran into the back of his master's knees. Rin had kept on walking, and had collected a handful of pretty white flowers before she realized that Sesshomaru-sama had fallen behind. She started skipping in circles back towards Jaken and Lord Sesshomaru.

Sesshomaru ignored both of them as he continued to piece together information. "Inuyasha cannot be allowed to continue controlling that girl."

Again Jaken looked up in ignorance. "Did you say something, Lord Sesshomaru?"

Looking down, as if he had not known Jaken was anywhere near him until know, Sesshomaru gave Jaken a withering look. "Take Rin and go to the village where Inuyasha stays. Keep me informed of where they are going and what that miko he keeps with him is doing. I must find a way to separate Inuyasha from his human before she realizes her powers. He is enough of a hassle without her."

"Yes, my Lord," Jaken mumbled as he pulled Ahun along behind him. "Always must I take Rin along with me. Years of faithful service to Lord Sesshomaru I give. And this human gifts him with offerings and suddenly I am her servant..."

Rin ignored Jaken and ran back to Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru-sama! Look what I have for you."

He sighed as he looked down at the flowers she gathered for him today. As he looked down at Rin, he realized how much she resembled Kagome. That well means something, I know it. Maybe it is a source of her power. "Give them to Jaken. I have important matters to attend to." With that, Sesshomaru took to the skies to return to the Bone Eater's well. It cannot be the source of her power if she is truly Kikyou's reincarnation. Perhaps it returns her to where she came from. I need to know where she goes. And how to keep her there. Or kill her.

Chapter Three coming soon -- "Planning and Waiting"

Jaken and Rin wait near the village for any sign of Kagome separated from the village. Sesshomaru inspects the well for any sign of where she comes from. And Inuyasha tries to keep Kagome cooped up in Kaede's hut...