I do not own Inuyasha…

Since I haven’t gotten any reviews on my second chapter yet…I am moving on…

Things get a little stickier in this chapter.  Sesshoumaru goes to the Demon Court to report that Kagome is now in his clutches.  Kagome meets Rin…I am going to make this the first time they meet…I don’t know if they meet in the anime so there OO’

I hope that I haven’t scared reviewers away…Oo

Chapter Three: Deciding Factors

            The next morning, Sesshoumaru was gone, leaving Kagome to twiddle her thumbs and wander about the castle.  Kagome made her way to the library to pass some time away.  Just when the Miko grasped the handle of the library door, she heard the distant giggle of a child.  Kagome looked around the empty hallway in confusion.  ‘Where did that come from? I must be hearing things…’ –giggle- there it was again, this time a bit louder.  Kagome forgot all about the library and followed the echoing giggle.  The Miko’s heart pounded harder and harder as the giggling got louder and louder.  Finally, Kagome stopped in front of a door.  Kagome silently pushed the door open and was amazed to find a human child playing with Sesshoumaru’s toady, Jaken.

            The girl looked up at Kagome with big brown eyes that showed no fear.  “Hello, are you new here? Did Sesshoumaru-sama bring you here to play with Rin? Are you going to be Rin’s new mommy, because Sesshoumaru-sama is Rin’s daddy?” The child, called Rin, fired away.  Kagome resisted the urge to face-vault and smiled down at Rin.  “Yes, I am new here, Rin-chan. Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama invited me here. And I don’t think Sesshoumaru-sama is looking for a mommy for you.” Kagome answered Rin’s questions as fast as had the child had spoken them.  Rin giggled and grabbed Kagome’s hand.  “What’s your name?” Rin asked as she dragged Kagome to where various toys and dolls were strewn about.  “My name is Kagome. You can call me Kagome-chan if you like.”  Rin giggled again and pulled the now flustered Miko down to play dolls.  Jaken had observed this and prayed to the gods that he could escape the torture of being dressed as a human girl.

The Demon Court…

            Even as Kagome and Rin bonded, Sesshoumaru was well on his way to the Demon Court.  Flying high off the ground on his magical cloud, Sesshoumaru thought more and more of the most honorable Miko-san.  Regardless of how the Demon Lord felt about his now-deceased brother, he couldn’t help his natural curiosity over the Miko.  Over and over, Sesshoumaru recalled the countless times he and Inuyasha clashed in battle.  It was always the girl who gave Inuyasha his focus, his drive to protect.  At first, Sesshoumaru had believed the Miko to be the mate of the hanyou. Then, at the last battle against Naraku, which Sesshoumaru had chosen to participate, Inuyasha seemed instead to view the girl as a replacement for the dead miko that still held his heart.  That same love drove Inuyasha to his grave…suddenly it dawned on the Demon Lord that THAT was the reason for the Miko’s depression.  Sesshoumaru didn’t know what to think except that if he didn’t nip it in the bud, he would soon try to bring back the girl’s inner fire.  Sesshoumaru reached the castle of the Northern Demon Lord and made his arrival known.

In the depths of the Northern Castle…

            The meeting was to take place inside Lord Hisato’s personal study.  Sesshoumaru made his way into that same room.  Three pairs of eyes turned towards Sesshoumaru’s entrance.  “You have arrived, Lord Sesshoumaru,” purred the Eastern Lord, Fujimaro.  Fujimaro was a cat demon that had, seventy years prior to this meeting, had usurped the Eastern throne from his brother, Suno.  Sesshoumaru ignored the cat demon and took his seat.  Sesshoumaru was still in a daze, thinking about the Miko still.  Fujimaro was the first to speak.  “What have you decided, Sesshoumaru-san?”  Sesshoumaru came out of his stupor.  In reality, the Demon Lord did not want to decide about Kagome until he killed his growing admiration for the girl.  Lord Hisato spoke, “Sesshoumaru-sama? Have you decided about the Miko?”  Sesshoumaru almost growled at the group’s impatience.  ‘How dare they hurry me along!’ Sesshoumaru growled to himself.  Sesshoumaru stood up and addressed the Lords.  “I will decide in my own time. I will send a messenger when my decision is final. And not until then.”  With that, Sesshoumaru strode out of the room and out of the castle.  ‘What a waste of time! They will yet regret summoning me for useless prodding’ Sesshoumaru grunted imperiously to himself.  The Demon Lord’s anger grew as he again thought of the Miko.  He would decide tomorrow night whether to kill the Miko himself or let the Lords do the deed.

I hope that was enough for this chapter…

Teaser of the next chapter…Sesshoumaru approached Rin’s quarters looking forward to seeing his charge once again.  Upon reaching Rin’s quarters, Sesshoumaru heard the Miko’s voice speaking to her in a soothing tone.  The Demon Lord tuned in.  Kagome was telling Rin a story…a story that sounded much like his own…