Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha, or his friends. Too bad, though, because I have the perfect collar for him...

A/N: Thanks for the reviews, you guys. I hope you enjoy this chapter as well. (I know, I kept Inu Yasha nice in the first chapter, because eh, it's more dramatic, I guess- hehe)

CHAPTER 2: the reason

"KAGOMEEEEEEEE!" He called out after her, but she was already out of sight. Inu Yasha fell to his knees. "Chikusho…. Sesshoumaru, teme…."

Everyone had been holding their breath. The atmosphere was always tense whenever Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru rubbed elbows. This time, however, there was no confrontational fight at all.

"He.. just took her and left…" Miroku said softly, in awe. 'Why would Sesshoumaru do such a thing? He is usually above petty games like kidnapping someone special of the person he hated.. so, why?'

"He said he was going to borrow her for a few months, and that he would allow her to come back and visit…." Shippou whispered, dumbfounded, to Kohaku.

"Every… so… often.." Kohaku finished Shippou's sentence, shocked at the randomness of what had just happened. Miroku still looked puzzled.

"This doesn't seem like a typical kidnapping. Sesshoumaru must not have wanted to hurt Kagome-sama. We haven't seen him for quite a while. I wonder what is behind this.." he trailed off, thinking, and looking at Inu Yasha, who had yet to get up off of the ground.

"Seems like he just wants to pick a fight…" Inu Yasha said, as he slowly rose to his feet. Miroku looked doubtful.

"He could have just fought you right now. There must be something else.."

"Can you pick up his scent?" Shippou asked, ready to help Inu Yasha track them down.

"No," he replied, obviously frustrated. "He flew off. The scent is already dispersed by the air." As if on cue, the wind blew gently through the treetops. "But.. he flew west." Then suddenly-although, not unexpectedly- he stated, "I'm going. You guys can come if you want, but I'm not waiting." Almost instantly, Inu Yasha began to run toward the west in search of his brother.. and Kagome. 'wait for me, Kagome! I'll come get you, for sure!'

Kagome could hardly believe what was happening. She was now flying in the air with Sesshoumaru's arm around her. Too stunned and too scared to say anything, she remained silent as they journeyed toward Sesshoumaru's castle. Sesshoumaru looked down at her from the corner of his eye. 'This girl is usually exceptionally noisy. But right now, she seems to know when to be silent. She may be an excellent teacher for Rin.' Sesshoumaru planned to talk to Kagome about why he took her when they arrived at his home. Hopefully she would agree to help. He expected some kind of opposition, which would be met with enough force to subdue her, but not to break her spirit. It wasn't his intention to imprison the young woman; only to keep her around for the sake of Rin. Sesshoumaru also expected Inu Yasha to come looking for his woman- that was a given. Therefore, it was also imperative that he keep the two of them separated until it was an appropriate time for Kagome to visit.

They reached their destination in a few minutes- much to Kagome's surprise. They had traveled much, much faster than she ever had with Inu Yasha. Suddenly, Kagome found herself draped over Sesshoumaru's shoulder, while he used his hand to open a hole in the barrier around his castle. Once they were within the confines of the barrier and the castle's outer walls, Sesshoumaru gently lowered her to the ground. As soon as he had done so, Kagome stepped back a few paces, and stood as tall as she could. It was amusing for Sesshoumaru to watch. Inu Yasha had apparently taught the girl how to posture when feeling threatened.

"Why did you bring me here?" she demanded. Sesshoumaru looked at her for a little while longer, not saying anything.

"Come," he commanded after about 10 seconds of silence. He simply turned and began to walk toward the doors of his castle. Kagome, a little indignant about having to comply, but seeing no alternative (as she had no desire to be killed because she attempted to escape), she followed the taiyoukai.

The entry room of the castle was large, with vaulted ceilings, and plenty of empty space. There were a few tapestries hanging from the wall, and the marble floor was littered with large rugs, but that was about it for the decoration. Sesshoumaru led her into a side room, which seemed like it was meant for hosting company. There were a few couches and chairs, and a fireplace as well. After entering the room, Sesshoumaru turned and waited for Kagome to enter it as well. When she did, the door shut behind her.

"You may sit, if you wish."

"What I want to know is why you've brought me here," Kagome asked a second time, refusing to sit down. "What are your intentions?"

"My intentions.." he paused, "Are for you to tutor and mentor Rin."

'Rin? That little girl he's caring for?' she thought to herself.

"She is approaching womanhood, and needs a mentor. That is your purpose." Kagome was dumbfounded.

'Sesshoumaru was looking out for someone other than himself? And nevermind that, but… he was looking out for a human girl?' she thought in surprise.

"You will be well provided for, I daresay tenfold better than what my brother could do. I have no intention of harming you or keeping you here forever- only until Rin has developed into a more refined young woman." Kagome nodded slightly. "Do you consent?" She couldn't respond to this question. She admired his attempt to provide for Rin, but… she couldn't approve of his kidnapping her.

"Why did you have to kidnap me?" She asked, in a tone slightly less heated than before.

"Hmph," Sesshoumaru smirked. "My brother, Inu Yasha is hard-headed. Not only would he never allow you to be under my care, but he would also resent you as well, had you agreed to come."

"When can I see him again?"

"When both you and Inu Yasha are ready," he replied.

"He is coming for me, you know," she said, matter-of-factly. Sesshoumaru smirked again, and closed his eyes. He turned around to face the doorway.

"Wait here for Jaken. He will take you to your room. Your training of Rin will begin tomorrow." And with that, Sesshoumaru walked out of the room. Kagome collapsed onto a chair, drained of her energy because of the immense adrenaline rush she had been sustaining since the first moment of Sesshoumaru's appearance. Several minutes later, Jaken appeared.

"I have been given orders to show you to your room," he said to her from the doorway. Kagome rose from her seat and followed Jaken down the hall, up the stairs, down another hallway, and into a large room. 'What is Lord Sesshoumaru doing? Two human girls? And why is one of them Inu Yasha's woman?' the minion thought to himself. He began to walk out of the room, and stopped in the doorway. "I don't know why Lord Sesshoumaru has decided to take you in, but you should be--" Kagome slammed the door in his face, before he could continue, "grate---ful.." he managed to squeak out, before he fell to the floor.

Kagome looked around in the room. There was a western-style bed in the corner, underneath the window, as well as several closets lined with clothes that were her size. The fabric was fine.. some silk, some linen, and even cotton night-robes. Adjacent to that room was a bathroom, which- although it had no running water- had a pipe system which allowed for adequate dumping of water and all else directly from the bathroom. Back in the room, there was also a desk which was equipped with a pen and paper, and next to it was a bookshelf with several scrolls. Kagome opened them to find that not only were there novels, but there were also incantations and spells used by the Inu Youkai dynasty. Interested by these things that were supposedly to be kept secret, she began to read.

"Rin, it's time for you to sleep," Sesshoumaru told the young girl after he had spoken with Kagome. Rin was resting on the rooftop of the castle, staring at the stars.

"Sesshoumaru-sama?" she asked. Silence was her answer. "Why did we come back to the castle?" She heard the taiyoukai turn away from her and begin to walk away. But above the footsteps on the shingled rooftop, she heard a quiet answer.

"Tomorrow, you begin your training." Rin looked puzzled, but she could tell that Sesshoumaru wasn't about to answer any more questions.

"Training?" she said slowly. After shrugging, she stood up. "Well, I guess it's time for bed," she stated, and began to climb down the side of the castle to the upper floor.

Though she really wanted to understand the incantations,Kagome couldn't quite focus. 'Sesshoumaru wants me to tutor and mentor Rin?' She asked herself. 'When will Inu Yasha come? Sesshoumaru knows that Inu Yasha will follow him--then-- why didn't he seem the least bit concerned?' Kagome remembered the barrier outside the castle. Was that the reason for the youkai's confidence? But what about the red Tetsusaiga? Kagome thought about it even further as she brushed her teeth with a small toothbrush she found in the bathroom. It wasn't anything like hers; it was a mere twig with a frayed end… but by the taste of it, she could tell that the bark had some kind of antiseptic properties. Sesshoumaru had taken her away from camp before she could grab any of her belongings. Maybe if she asked him, he might retrieve them for her.

She remembered flying through the air, held by Inu Yasha's older brother. Too scared to say anything, she had remained completely silent, lest he change his mind and drop her from the sky. 'Hmm.. through the a-- through the air?' That meant that Inu Yasha couldn't track her scent! And not only that, but with the barrier intact, there was virtually no way Inu Yasha would be able to find her. Kagome felt a few tears of despair slide down her cheeks as she changed into one of the night-robes she found in the closet. It was clean, and appeared to be new, with no sign of use at all. 'At least Sesshoumaru is accommodating..'

"I guess I can't wait for Inu Yasha," she said softly to herself wiping away her tears. "I'll just have to find a way to rescue myself. But for now, I have no choice but to do what Sesshoumaru says." She laid down on her new bed, and pulled the blankets up to her neck. 'Inu Yasha, please find me,' were her final thoughts before she fell asleep.

A/N: Thanks you guys, for reading my story! I hope you enjoyed this chapter.. And.. please review! I'ts a little discouraging to put some effort into a story and not get that much feedback...

Also, I really don't like having to use these line separators.. does anyone know how to use asterisks or something? This darn editor won't accept them.. (sigh).. oh well...