Okay, everybody: the alternate ending is here! I'm honestly can't decide which ending I like better!! Let me know what you think! And THANK YOU for all the reviews so far!!

Oh, and this ending has some repeat material you saw in the original story chapter, because I wanted to show exactly where this ending starts in the story, without having to break the mood or flow. Enjoy!

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Fuck.

It was all that could come to mind as he gripped the edge of the trench and stared over the dead bodies of the row of soldiers that had just pushed out –– and been slaughtered by the swinging gun turrets! If it weren't for the fact that Miroku was on runner duty, Inuyasha wouldn't have been quite so frightened! As it was, he was about to be ordered to hop up and dash over a forty foot graveyard and try not to get pumped full of bullets long enough to engage in melee! He was fucking terrified!

He glanced at the muddy watch on his left wrist. Five minutes. They'd been waiting five minutes.

His right hand released the edge and reached to touch the pocket of his shirt. He heard a soft crackling sound as he pushed against the paper inside, and sighed in relief. He still had his picture! For that, he could thank God! Now, if he could just manage to survive...

He could only think of one thing as he heard the signal whistle blow, and he and his comrades hauled themselves up over the edge, preparing to rush forward: I love you both! All he could remember of himself: I love you both!

However, just as he was ready to swing his left leg over the edge, he felt the full impact of someone falling on top of him! The soldier who had been to his right, a nineteen year old boy named Arby Mackenzie, was now lying sprawled across Inuyasha's back. Blood was seeping from multiple bullet holes in his chest.

As Inuyasha stared over his shoulder, managing to see an awkward angle of Arby's face, he thought how wretched it was to see him like that. Arby had been a cheerful lad, with wide, enthusiastic green eyes, and soft, curly brown hair that he had complained tickled his ears. Cheeks speckled with freckles, and dimples when he smiled... A promising young art student from Bristol Academy, with high hopes and dreams of painting landscapes, was now sickly pale and icy cold. Another numbered, categorized, and ranked casualty.

Inuyasha wondered if the stranger in some distant military office, who would write the letter of KIC to the Mackenzie family, would even remember the boy's name, after the letter was stamped and filed for mailing. Somehow, he doubted it.

Pinned precariously as he was, the MC stayed as still as possible so as to not attract the attention of the bunker men above. From his front-row vantage point, he clearly saw brave men, young and old, charging through the sea of corpses that lay sprawled along the waste of No Man's Land. He also saw them convulse upon the ground as many of them were pounded mercilessly with wave after wave of slug shots!

Limbs of the dead twitched in the mud, and the living tried to zig-zag their way across, counting borrowed footsteps and seconds. For like any soldier, they knew that most of them would die.

Realizing that he couldn't play dead forever, Inuyasha went up on his elbows and pushed sideways hard. Arby rolled off him, and lay face down in the slime to the right, motionless. He prepared to stand, until he heard the clear ringing of a whistle: Fall back!

On hands and knees, Inuyasha turned, to stretch parallel with the line of the trench. As he prepared to swing the five or six feet down to shelter, he felt a burning sensation in his right ankle, and heard a hideous crack! Frightened to look, Inuyasha froze. He knew it must have been a bullet, from where or whom, he didn't know, but it sure as hell was a bullet! A single round fired that had hit and, he suspected, lodged in the bone!

The throbbing pain seemed to cloud his vision and made everything sound hollow, as though it were happening under the earth. The explosions, the screams, the cha-chink! cha-chink! of reloading guns...

He heard a very distinctive scream – more like a terrified yell – and it was getting louder and closer. He saw a blurry shape grab him and pull him into the trench. And just before he was safely below, the last thing Inuyasha saw of the forty foot stretch was a man, desperately retreating, who missed a step and pounded down hard onto a hidden landmine. There was a scream over the explosion, bright light and bloody chunks of burning flesh flying through the air, and then the man fell to the ground! His leg, up to the mid-thigh, had been blown to bits.

His vision cleared for a moment, and he saw Miroku looking down at him with frightened eyes. And then, Inuyasha passed out.



Kara smiled a wide grin and squealed, showing off her few tiny teeth as she pulled the rubber ducky from her mouth and splashed in the two and a half inch deep water of the bath tub. Kagome smiled back, and kept her right arm firmly braced around her daughter's back to keep her from falling into the water and hurting herself, or worse, drowning. The other was rinsing off the soap suds from Kara's chubby little tummy.

"Okay, pumpkin," Kagome cooed, reaching over with her left hand and pulling the plug from the drain. She waited a few moments until the tub was empty, and then wrapped her darling in a fuzzy yellow towel, and lifted her out of the tub and into her embrace. "Time to get dressed and open that package Daddy sent us, remember?" It had come just that morning via military courier, and Kagome hadn't had a chance to get to it yet.

Into the master bedroom they went, and Kagome laid Kara on the bed. She fetched a little white dress with a red bow on the front and undies from a baby dresser near the crib. She also grabbed a pair of white baby socks from another drawer of the dresser, and could not resist the impulse to take a little white bonnet as well.

Returning to the bed, Kagome ruffled Kara dry gently, and slipped on the rainbow undies and tiny socks – though not before kissing each and every one of her tot's adorable toes. Then, she sat the eleven-month-old up. Lifting the little arms, the young mother threaded her baby's body skillfully through the holes and openings of the dress. Then, she tied the bonnet on comfortably snug, and beamed.

"Awww...! Such a pretty baby, my girl!"

Glancing around a moment, Kagome realized just how attached she was to this room. This was where Inuyasha and herself had slept for over two years together. She guessed that was the reason she still had Kara sleeping in there. There was a bedroom just one door down the hall fully ready for Kara, but Kagome needed to know that Inuyasha would be with her, and Kara was a part of Inuyasha.

Snapping out of her trance, she picked Kara up. Kagome wove her way downstairs to the livingroom. On the glass and iron coffee table (with rounded, smoothed edges to help keep Kara as safe as possible) was a brown paper package. Kagome chuckled as Kara stretched her arms, her chubby little fingers wiggling in the air as she tried to reach the box.

Mrs. Takahashi sat down on the puffy cranberry-coloured couch with her daughter in her lap. With her free hand, she brought the box forward, and placed it on the couch beside her. She smiled when she read the writing on the paper:

To: Daddy's Little Girl
c/o: Kagome Takahashi
2499 Pennbury Avenue,
Detroit, Michigan

Oh, he's such a sap, she thought giddily. But, how could she NOT love him for it?

Kagome always found it amazing that despite Kara only ever seeing her father once in her whole life (about six and half months ago, when she was five months old), she could always tell when a parcel or letter was from Daddy. And even more incredible was that she was always so enthusiastic about it, and seemed to adore him – a man who was almost a complete stranger to her!

That made Kagome's heart warm. There was a special bond there, between Daddy and his little girl. And, Kagome couldn't be happier for it! Well, she supposed that she COULD be, but that would take Inuyasha's coming home permanently.

Honestly, she was starting to worry. Not because Inuyasha lacked in sending updates; he did that as rigidly as a mental institution's medication timetable! Her uneasiness swelled because Kara would start talking and walking any time now, and the idea of her daddy not being there to see it broke Kagome's heart! Time was against Inuyasha here, but she prayed every night that Kara wouldn't start doing those things until he was home – even just for a visit!

Unwrapping the paper from the box delicately, so as not to tear the writing, she opened the lid of the box, and smiled.

"Oh, look, Kara!" she said, reaching in and pulling out a lovely pink teddy bear that said 'I Love You!' "Look what Daddy sent you!"

Kara shrieked in delight, clapping her hands, bouncing and grinning, before grabbing the bear and hugging it tightly. Kagome laughed when she began to gnaw one of the ears, slobbering into the fur. Kara was teething everything now, gumming away on toys, fabric, furniture, even Mummy's hair, when it came in reach!

While Kara was pre-occupied with the teddy, Kagome pulled out a postcard from the box.

"Oh, Inu...!" she sighed, peacefully, "How do you always know?"

A white, sandy beach on the front of the postcard. Kagome had always wanted to go to one just like it. In the corner, it said 'Welcome To Heaven.' She turned to card over, snuggled a now quiet Kara further against her chest, and began to read.

"Hi, Kara, sweetie! How's Daddy's little girl? How's Mummy? Daddy's fine, but he misses you and Mummy a lot! A lot, a lot! He can't WAIT to see you two again! Has my little genius started walking or talking yet? I hope not. Daddy would HATE to miss that! Anyway, Daddy's gotta go, so I love you both THIIIISSSSS much! Give Mummy a great big hug for me, k, baby girl? Kisses and Hugs, Daddy."

As soon as she finished, Kara gurgled softly and rested her head against her mummy's bosom, and cooed softly through her nose as she sucked her thumb. Within minutes, Takara was completely relaxed and asleep against her mother's chest.



"Uhhh...," Inuyasha groaned. "Where the hell am I...?"

"Hospital tent. Good to see you awake."

"Miroku? What happened?" Inuyasha blinked repeatedly, trying to clear his vision. When it finally came to him, he saw that he was lying on a cot, staring up at Miroku, who sat in a fold-up chair beside him.

"Isn't it obvious?" Miroku smirked. "You got careless, as usual. Got you a shattered ankle bone this time. The doc did what he could, but he couldn't manage to reach the slug; it's lodged in there like no one's business! He's having you shipped home tomorrow. You're gonna need surgery, he says."

Despite his unbelievable happiness, Inuyasha remained skeptical. "They're sending me home because of a little slug in the foot?" He couldn't believe it! Men with far worse wounds were forced to stay on. The officers weren't going soft, were they? They couldn't afford to.

Miroku rolled his eyes. "Be a little grateful, will you! You're going HOME! Permanently. The injury is in a really bad spot, and you won't be of much use to Command now."

"Why's that?" Inuyasha felt a deep dread rising in the pit of his stomach.

"It's not THAT bad, Inuyasha – and, yes, I can call you that 'cause you've been 'Honourably Discharged!' " Miroku replied, leaning back in the chair. "You'll still be normal and do almost everything you could before. It's just that the bone is gone; doc called it 'glass shards'. Even with surgery, you're not going to be able to run very well anymore, so you'd be a sitting duck out here. Command says it'll be better to send you home."

"Then what's the surgery for?" Inuyasha asked, quirking a brow.

Smiling, Miroku chuckled. "You're snapping right now, Inuyasha. Maybe you don't feel like it, but you are. Doc gave you a shot of morphine. See, that slug, if it stays in, is gonna put you in misery 'till the day you die. So, you're getting surgery in three weeks or so to yank it out. It's simply gonna be done for the pain, not the disability from the wound. But, I guess they'll put a rod in to help support yourself reasonably on both feet."

Inuyasha felt agitation creeping up fast. "So, you're saying I'm a cripple?!"

"Well...," Miroku shrugged, "kinda, yeah. But, I mean, it's not a serious cripple..."

Growling lowly, and making a warning fist, Inuyasha brooded, completely bristled. There was a long silence before it hit Inuyasha. "Hey," he said, "what about you? You can't fight on your own! You can't rightly hold a gun when your damned hands are smothering women instead! How are YOU gonna make it?"

Miroku smiled, batted his eyes affectionately, and spoke in a high-pitch voice. "Why, Inuyasha, I didn't know you cared!!"

Perturbed, Inuyasha shifted away. "No wonder you can't keep your hands off women! You ARE one! Trapped in a man's body, no doubt! You got fem envy!"

Miroku pouted, and crossed his arms, brows furrowed. "That's not very nice to say to the man who saved your sorry ass! And I'll have you know that I'll be just FINE without you here, 'cause I won't be here either."

"What?" Inuyasha gaped, jaw hanging.

"I've been dismissed, too... eh heh, not quite so honourably, though." Miroku rubbed the back of his head nervously.

Sitting up, Inuyasha glared. "What did you do this time, you pervert?!"

"Um... apparently the field nurses wrote a complaint. They, uh, said my hands were evil and, um, ill. I can't ever imagine why..." he trailed off into deep thought. Why would the women say such a thing?

"Oh, really?" Inuyasha stared flatly, "Neither can I." The sarcasm was dripping it was laid on so thick.



Kagome smiled and stamped her sandaled feet on the hard ground, puffing with excitement. She stood on the grey pavement of the aircraft base, looking out to the runway a hundred meters off, silent and almost ready to burst from the tension in the air!

She was so happy she could die!

And she wasn't the only one.

A woman who looked not much older than Kagome herself stood with two very young boys. Her hair was draping loosely down her back, and her dark brown eyes shone dazzlingly! She stood a little higher than Kagome, and was stouter, but very pretty. In a white knee-length wrap-dress with sandals, she looked caring and strong: the epitome of motherhood. She had said her name was Sango Hiragawa, and that her husband was Miroku Hiragawa: a soldier from Inuyasha's company.

"He is with my husband?" Kagome had said.

"Yes," Sango had replied. "Miroku wrote me letters talking about 'Master Corporal Inuyasha Takahashi' sometimes."

The two boys, Keitaro, who was three and a half, and Tanjiro, who was two ran about and more than once poked their heads into Kagome's stroller to look at Kara. They were Miroku's sons, who bounced up and down in the anticipation of seeing their father again!

It was August 14, 1941, and the most wonderful thing that either family had ever heard was going to happen today – soon! Their men were coming home!

Sango, after having heard the report as to why her husband had been dismissed, had laughed. She knew he'd done it just to be sent home, but she would certainly pretend to act mad at him for groping another woman! SHE was the only one he was allowed grope!

Kagome, on the other hand, had been relieved, but also concerned. After receiving notice that Inuyasha's ankle had been crippled, she had been very worried! The letter had explained that he was being sent home by boat to an East-shore port, then flown over to Michigan South Air Base, where they were now. A week or so later, he was scheduled to have his surgery.

But now, Kagome was just happy he'd be home! For good. Even if he couldn't run so well anymore, he could still walk, and he'd be fine in time! She just KNEW it!

Mrs. Takahashi and Mrs. Hiragawa's eyes widened and they stared in absolute joy as the shape of a helicopter appeared in the distant sky! Not long to wait now.

Kagome looked down at herself. Knee-length black skirt, sandals, white blouse, hair in a ponytail. She looked down into the stroller in front of her, and inspected Kara as the nearly one-year-old (for her birthday was in three days). Her baby, who had a blue pacifier in her mouth, was in a warm red bonnet and matching dress with small white frill fringe along the edges. Her legs and little feet were covered with horizontally striped leggings that were blue and white.

As the Bell 47 helicopter approached the landing strip, a heavy wind picked up, and whipped the families' clothes and hair about wildly. All of a sudden, Keitaro cried out in triumph.

"I can see him, Mommy!" he trilled, jumping. "I can see Daddy!! I can see Daddy!!"

"Me too!" Tanjiro chimed in, trying to imitate his brother and hop up and down.

The aircraft landed not so gracefully as hoped, but immediately Kagome and Sango hurried their children forward! Kagome pushed the stroller as fast as she could without startling Kara, and Sango's hand was on Keitaro's back as she held Tanjiro with the other, and ran! The mothers sprinted as though this were a dream, and that if they stopped, they would wake up alone again!

No more lonely nights, they cried!

The door of the helicopter opened and from inside came two men, dressed in uniforms covered in dry mud, but it didn't matter! Miroku helped Inuyasha out of the copter and aided him in balancing on one foot as Inuyasha reached back inside and grabbed a set of wooden crutches. No sooner had he set the crutches down and the two of them had moved away from the copter about ten metres, then both were surrounded by the loving arms of their wives.

Kagome kissed her husband's cheeks countless times before she looked into his eyes! He lifted his hands from the crutch holds and held her close. She couldn't have asked for anything more! He stared at her, his chocolate eyes burrowing into her, making her warm.

Then, she heard him whisper: "Finally...!"

There was no time to think before she was swept into a passionate kiss!

She moaned in delight and pulled away after a few minutes. Turning around, she lifted Kara gently from the stroller, and faced Inuyasha once more. She smiled widely, tears in her eyes. "Daddy's home, Kara!"

Inuyasha couldn't stop the tear that rolled down from the corner of his eye, and he lifted his little girl from Kagome. Immediately, the child went to his chest, and her forehead rested on the side of his neck. Kara gurgled, and waved her arms a little, settling herself. Something about this man was familiar to her. Very familiar. The little fingers of one hand swept over his face: nose, cheeks, eyelids, chin... while the other hand landed softly on his other shoulder, trailing down to his collarbone lazily. He reveled in the touch!

"How are you, baby girl?" he whispered, nuzzling and kissing the top of her bonneted head. "Daddy missed you...! Oh, how he missed you...!" He looked up at Kagome, and she encircled his neck with her arms, careful not to injure Kara in between them.

"Both of you," he finished, and he kissed his wife again. He wondered, were her lips always this soft and luscious?

A quiet sound sighing from between them broke their lips apart, and they both looked down in amazement at the sight of Kara smiling, eyes twinkling, holding her pacifier in her little hand. Kagome smiled, relieved. Inuyasha hadn't missed it!

"Da-dee...," Takara sighed.

Inuyasha bent his head down and kissed his girl softly on one puffy cheek, and began laughing softly. Her first word! Her very first word! He hadn't missed it!

Kagome could see the deep affection in his eyes as he gazed, enthralled, at his baby. Grinning, she whispered in his ear, "Do you want another one, Inu?"

He looked up in surprise, staring at her before smirking and whispering back. "What if I want more than one more?"

Raising her eyebrows, she giggled. "We'll see how lucky you are on that one!"

"I'm VERY lucky, Kaggles," he purred, and leaned down carefully to put Kara back in the stroller.

"Let's take Daddy home, sweetie!" Kagome chimed, and gave her husband a lustful look. "See if he's as lucky as he claims!"

And just as they were ready to move towards the road, where the Takahashi's car waited, Miroku turned from his extremely affectionate wife, and energetic little boys, and called out:

"Inuyasha, remember: London, Ontario! Hiragawa, Miroku! I expect a letter or call, you know!"

"Feh!" Inuyasha replied, making Kagome sigh. She loved that sound...! "I never believed for a second that I could get rid of you that easily!" And both men smiled.

"No," Miroku grinned, "you're not THAT lucky!"

Inuyasha frowned, and stopped Kagome so that he could turn them around to face the Hiragawa's. His right hand was around her shoulders, and his left was resting on the stroller bar. He nodded towards Miroku after giving his wife a sexy smile. "Oh, yes I am!"

THE END (No, really, it is this time!)