A/N: okay, this chappie took longer than the rest to get out cuz I hit a road block half way through. However, I stumbled on. Again, underline is for stressing and bold and italicized are beast speak.

without further adue, here it is, Chapter 3.....:

Kagome's Question

As Kagome and Rin walked back towards there rooms after dinner a voice stopped them in front of the door to the family wing of the palace. "Kagome."

"Sesshomaru - sama." Kagome said as she turned and bowed slightly. Rin barreled into Sesshomaru's leg and squeezed it. He reached down and fondly petted Rin's head. "Go to you room, Rin. Kagome will be along shortly to tuck you in, right Kagome?" Sesshomaru turned his gold eyes to Kagome and one eyebrow hiked up.

"Hai." Kagome quickly nodded, trying to break the eye contact.

"Good night Lord Sesshomaru!" Rin grinned at him and turned around and waved at Kagome. She then opened to door to the family wing and skipped down the corridor to her room.

"You wished to speak with me Sesshomaru - sama?" Kagome held her hands behind her back at waited patiently for him to begin. He looked like he was trying to find the right words in his head. 'I never realized that if you look into his eyes you actually kinda see what he's thinking. Why did I have to end up traveling with Inuyasha all those years ago? Why couldn't it have been this taiyoukai?' Kagome gulped when she heard herself. 'Wait! What am I thinking?! I wanted to travel with the Ice Prince? The Ice Cold Assassin? I think the palace is affecting my head!' Kagome blinked twice when she realized Sesshomaru had said her name. "Yes, Sesshomaru - sama?"

"Pay attention next time, miko." Sesshomaru glared at her slightly. 'Why does she always have a far away look in her eyes? Is she wishing to be back with my half-bastard brother?' 'Maybe she was thinking of being with you!' 'Nonsense!' Sesshomaru turned around and started walking away. "Follow this Sesshomaru to his study, we will talk there."

"Hai, Sesshomaru - sama." Kagome watched his silver hair swing back and forth and caught herself before she slipped into another day dream. 'He will kill me if I keep this day dreaming up.' She shook herself and followed him down the corridor.

"So you see, this Sesshomaru would like you to stay here instead of picking a village to settle in." He finished.

Kagoma blinked. 'He just asked me to stay in the palace! This is a dream come true!' "So, I would stay in the room I was assigned to and take care of Rin everyday? Tutor her and be like an adoptive mother?" Kagome said this slowly making sure she had heard right. 'Please say that I am right.'

"Hai, Kagome." Sesshomaru turned to look out the window. "Rin does not have another ningen in the palace to which she can look to. This Sesshomaru has witnessed you tutoring the kit, this Sesshomaru knows you can do these things." 'Is she going to say no?' Sesshomaru mentally slapped himself. 'Why does this Sesshomaru care what a lowly ningen does!' 'Maybe she is not a lowly ningen to us. You asked her to tutor Rin because you have seen her inner strength many times. Admit it, you wanted to ask her to tutor our ward as soon as the battle with that evil hanyou had concluded.' He sighed. 'You are correct. She is not just a lowly ningen. If this Sesshomaru was not a lord he might have pursued her for a mate.' 'Lord?! Lordship has nothing to do with mating! She would make strong pups. You know this.' Sesshomaru was silent, his beast had a point. Perhaps he would let her get used to the palace before he pursued her. 'One point for me!'

"I will accept your offer on one condition, Sesshomaru - sama." 'Did I just say that?!' Kagome gulped.

"You dare give this Sesshomaru conditions?!" Sesshomaru spun around and glared at her.

"It is one I do not feel you will have a problem meeting and I must know." Kagome pleaded with him with her eyes. 'Please understand! I have to know…'

"Hn. What is this condition? This Sesshomaru will know what you require before he accepts." Sesshomaru crossed his arms and hiked an eyebrow up. 'Something she must know? This ningen confuses me.' 'You haven't been successfully confused in a long time.' 'You do not have to remind this Sesshomaru how long it has been since a woman has sparked his interest.' 'You are changing already; she is good for you.' 'Changing?' 'You called her a woman and not a ningen.' Sesshomaru blinked.

"I would like to know," Kagome looked down at her feet, "why do you use my name? You never have before."

A/N: okay, so I decided to give you a cliffie. I did this for two reasons: 1) I would like readers opinions on why they think Sesshomaru uses her name now and never has before, if I like your opinion a lot I may use it instead of what I have thought up cuz mine's kinda corny and I'm not really sure it fits Sesshomaru... and 2) I have a reason thought out but I really need to think about how he would go about saying it.

So: review, review, review... please give me opinions why would sesshomaru call Kagome by her name now but never has before... OH! and I require 3 reviews! lol, I must have 3 more before I update, I know most people don't like to review and I know there are lots of people reading this but I really like to hear whether or not people think I'm on the right track with this story...