A/N: Wow... I got like, so many reviews for the last chapter! And like, I didn't even think it was the best one! I thank you all so much for being so supportive of my work... it really is exhausting sometimes, but having all of you reading and reviewing it helps to give me an extra push. So I thank you!

Disclaimer: I like to write for fun, and make no profit off of it. This means that I don't own anything... except my car. It's my only asset. But I love it.

Previously: Sango and Kagome talked about Kagome's attachment to both Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru. Meanwhile, Shippou got caught being mischievous and snooping around where he doesn't belong. What'll happen!.? Read on...

chapter 19: fight!
Sesshoumaru had been minding his own business, walking through the halls of his castle, when he heard a rustling from behind the doors of the library. Stepping through the doorway, he saw the light of a lantern flickering in the corner of the room, behind the bookcases. With little effort, he identified the scent of the kitsune youkai that had come to visit Kagome. As he stepped forward, he saw Shippou eagerly reading one of several tactic maneuver scrolls. A mischievous sensation came over the taiyoukai, and he approached the teen youkai unawares.

"What are you doing in here?" Sesshoumaru asked, towering over Shippou. The kitsune jumped in surprise, and slowly turned his head toward the castle lord.

"N-n-n-nothing…" he squeaked out. Sesshoumaru grinned maliciously, causing Shippou to develop several beads of sweat on his face.

"It doesn't look like nothing." He smirked. "I can smell the fear on you, little kitsune," he taunted, well aware that the under-lighting from the lantern only added to his intimidation factor. Shippou was almost shaking with fear. Suddenly, however, he remembered that he was no longer a small youkai. He was stronger now.

'I… I have to make a stand!' he said, giving himself a mini pep-talk. He clenched his fist and jumped to his feet. Shippou put one foot behind the other, strengthening his bearing. His arms were flexed and slightly held out from his sides, in case he needed to move quickly. Sesshoumaru smirked again, recognizing the stance.

"Do you want to fight with me?" the taiyoukai asked mockingly.

"I.. I will if I have to!" Shippou shouted. He hadn't intended to shout, but his adrenaline had made its way to his vocal chords.

"Then, come with me." Sesshoumaru turned around to face the doorway, and looked over his shoulder at the posturing Shippou. "Let's see if you are able to put what you've just read to use." Sesshoumaru began to walk away, not waiting for Shippou to follow. Soon enough, the shocked youkai regained his composure, and followed the trail of Sesshoumaru.

As they walked outside to a special ring meant for sparring practice, Sesshoumaru wondered to himself about his actions. 'Why am I bothering with this? Is- is this because of Kagome?' Little did Sesshoumaru know, Shippou was asking himself the same questions. Before long, they arrived at the ring. "Now- let's begin." Sesshoumaru faced Shippou. "Come!" Shippou looked at Sesshoumaru, who seemed to be waiting for him to charge. Gulping, Shippou attacked.

"Too slow," Sesshoumaru said, easily dodging the attack. "Get rid of your useless movements." Shippou turned to face Sesshoumaru.

'What? Did he just give me a pointer?' Shippou thought in surprise. Actually, Sesshoumaru was thinking the same thing.

'Why am I giving this child pointers on fighting?' Sesshoumaru asked himself. Surprising even himself, he shrugged it off. 'It's been a long time since I've been able to spar with someone… Perhaps I'll accommodate the boy just this once.' Somehow, even being with one of Kagome's comrades had become acceptable- perhaps even enjoyable- to the youkai lord. "Now… Come! " Sesshoumaru instructed Shippou to attack again. Shippou angled his head downward in determination.

'Less extra movement… less extra movement,' Shippou thought, running over his last attack. 'Yossh..' Shippou mentally revised his attack, and immediately sprung from his position. Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed as he sensed the kitsune approaching. Again, he easily sidestepped the youkai teen.

"Better," he commented. "But you have already shown this opponent that attack. Try something else." Shippou gritted his teeth. Sparring with Sesshoumaru was completely different from what he was used to with Inu Yasha. Inu Yasha always teased him, and never helped him develop technique; yet Sesshoumaru was calm and serious, and was actually giving him helpful tips to get stronger.

'I guess he's not such a bad person…' Shippou thought to himself, as he developed a new attack in his head. Before he could execute it, however, he found himself on the ground, Sesshoumaru straddling him, with a hand to his neck. Shippou suddenly remembered the hideous looking wound Inu Yasha had received on his neck. Once Shippou froze in fear, Sesshoumaru rose and stepped away.

"If you take too long coming up with an attack, prepare to be attacked," he told Shippou. "Now, get up and come again." Sesshoumaru waited patiently for Shippou to regain his composure and stand up. Shippou's eyes narrowed as he was about to engage his attack.

'Now!' he thought, as he crouched down. Immediately after he crouched, he used his legs to propel himself forward through the air toward his opponent. Sesshoumaru hit him on the shoulder before Shippou was able to make contact; but the kitsune youkai had expected him to react in such a way. Using the downward force of Sesshoumaru's blow, Shippou hit the ground and attempted a sweep of Sesshoumaru's legs. The taiyoukai jumped, and so did Shippou, in hot pursuit. Reaching him in mid air, Shippou attempted a barrage of kicks and punches- each of which were parried by Sesshoumaru. Just before they landed, the two opponents pushed off of each other, so that they were nearly four feet apart when they touched ground.

"Good. Again," Sesshoumaru commanded.

Sango and Kagome had just finished their girl talk, and Kagome had regained her composure. They had just left the gazebo and began their search for Shippou, when they heard fighting noises nearby. Kagome almost froze with fear, remembering the night of Rin's death. Sango however, undaunted by fear of any kind, grabbed her friend's hand, and hurried as fast as she could to the source of the noise.

They arrived at the sparring ring to see Shippou and Sesshoumaru fighting. Kagome heaved a sigh of relief, knowing that everyone was safe. Apparently, the two of them had been at it for awhile- Shippou was almost completely out of breath, and covered in sweat- nevermind that Sesshoumaru looked as though he had just gone for a pleasant evening stroll. Kagome and Sango silently stood on the sidelines. Although they had seen enough of Shippou and Sesshoumaru standing still in order to determine that they had been fighting for a while, the girls were unable to trace the movements of either party while they were in action.

"So.. fast," Kagome remarked. Sango nodded.

"I've never seen this speed of fighting before," Sango said, "Not even in the matches that we used to hold back home. Their speed is… incredible…" Kagome stared forward.

"Even… even between Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru," Kagome began, "I've never seen anything like this." Just then, Shippou and Sesshoumaru stopped. Apparently their bout was complete.

"Much better," Sesshoumaru said. "With more practice, maybe you can make this Sesshoumaru break a sweat." Shippou gritted his teeth, but realized the truth of Sesshoumaru's words.

"A- arigatou," the kitsune youkai said as he bowed to Sesshoumaru. The taiyoukai nodded his head. Without wasting another moment, Shippou turned toward Kagome and Sango, and walked out of the ring, smiling. "Did you see? Did you see that?" he asked excitedly. Sango and Kagome both nodded.

"We've never seen anything so fast," Kagome told him. Shippou beamed.

"I'll bet I'm twice as strong as I was before!" Sango raised an eyebrow. Shippou looked at her, and nervously looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well… maybe not twice as good… but…" the three of them laughed.

Sesshoumaru watched from inside the ring. Or more specifically, he watched Kagome from inside the ring. After a few moments, she turned her head toward the taiyoukai. The two shared a brief moment of eye contact. Kagome smiled at him, her eyes squinted shut. Sesshoumaru simply watched her, his eyes shimmering softly in the moonlight. After a moment, her attention moved back to Shippou and Sango- and Sesshoumaru made his way back inside his castle.

"Well, Kagome, it's time for us to go back. Do you want to come with us?" Sango asked. Shippou looked at Kagome with interest. The miko shook her head.

"No… I'll stay here. I think- I think that I can help Sesshoumaru if I stay here for a little while longer." Sango looked at her friend silently, remembering everything that they had discussed. After a moment, she nodded.

"Okay," Sango looked at Shippou. "Come on, Shippou. Why don't you find Kirara while Kagome and I change out of these fancy clothes." Shippou nodded, and they went their separate ways.

"So," Kagome began, once they were inside, "Does Miroku know that you want to go back to Kaede's?"

"No, not yet. With everything that's been happening lately, I thought it best not to say anything." Sango looked down and rubbed her tummy. "But now, I don't want to risk it anymore. We know you're safe, so- I know it's okay to go back." Kagome smiled at her friend.

"Thank you for coming to see me," she said, hugging Sango spontaneously. Sango was surprised at first, but settled into the hug, and patted Kagome's back.

"Of course. That's what friends are for," she said reassuringly. The girls finished changing, and soon there came a tap at the door.

"Sango? Kagome?" It was Shippou.

"It's okay, you can come in," they beckoned from inside. The door slid open to reveal Shippou with Kirara in his arms.

"We're ready," he told them. Sango and Kagome nodded at each other, and the four of them made their way to the front gates of the castle.

"It was good to see you, Shippou," Kagome said, giving the kitsune a farewell hug. "Sango," she said gently as she hugged her best friend. Turning, Kagome patted Kirara on the forehead. "You too, Kirara." The neko youkai gave a gentle hissing noise. Sango and Shippou proceeded to mount Kirara, and with one last goodbye, they flew away toward the castle of Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru's father. As she watched them disappear from sight, Kagome heaved a sigh. Suddenly, a white form appeared at her side. Looking up, she saw Sesshoumaru, also watching his guests' departure. Once they were out of sight, he turned his head toward her.

"Tomorrow," he said slowly.

"Huh?"

"Would you be willing to accompany me tomorrow?" Kagome hesitated, remembering what it was like to join him while he was working. Sesshoumaru could sense the hesitation, and continued quickly, "It won't be the same as today. I only need to travel and observe." Kagome looked down, and then back up at Sesshoumaru.

"Um, actually… I was hoping you could… take me home," she told him nervously.

"…home?…"

"Eh… heh, yeah… You see, I haven't been back in a while, and I sort of want to see my family again."

"Where is your home?" Sesshoumaru asked. He didn't want to admit it, but he was slightly put-off. He hadn't expected Kagome to fully refuse his offer.

"The- the bone eater's well, by Kaede's village. Do you know it?" she asked eagerly. Sesshoumaru nodded slowly. Kagome looked up expectantly for his answer to her petition. He looked at her, sighing inwardly.

"Very well. But I expect you to return after one day."

"One?" Kagome asked. Sesshoumaru nodded. Even though she had decided on her own to stay with him, he was still limiting her time away? Just how much freedom did she have, here? "I guess that'll do," she said to herself, putting a finger to her lips and looking at the ground. She then looked back up at Sesshoumaru. "But- there's something I need you to do," she said, nervously hoping that she wasn't asking too much.

"What is it?"

"I- can't go through the well by myself, anymore…" Sesshoumaru looked at her in mild surprise; he should have known that there was a catch. He looked away from her, and turned, beginning to walk inside.

"Ja- tomorrow." Kagome looked after him for a moment, before smiling sweetly. Yes, he was going to take her home.

Sango, Shippou, and Kirara arrived at the castle, and immediately went inside to find Miroku, Kohaku, and Inu Yasha. Kohaku stepped outside of the room to converse with Shippou, while the adults used hushed voices in the corner of Inu Yasha's recovery room.

"So? What did you find out?" Miroku asked eagerly.

"Did you know that-- Kagome was marked by Sesshoumaru?" Miroku took in a breath of surprise. Sango nodded. "While Inu Yasha seems to think that the mark resulted in brainwashing her to stay with Sesshoumaru, it seems as though Kagome is really trying to think things through. I couldn't believe it at first, but- Sesshoumaru really has changed from what he was like before." Sango glanced at Inu Yasha, who was breathing deeply in his sleep. "Did you find anything else out from him?" Miroku gave Sango a quick nod before he began his side of the story.

"Apparently, Sesshoumaru also completed an integration ritual with Inu Yasha."

"Integration?"

"Mm. He is now, for the most part, fully youkai."

"Oh, right- Kagome mentioned that…" Miroku's expression made him look like it was a let-down that he couldn't provide Sango with any new information.

"You knew already…" the houshi trailed off in disappointment.

"Yeah.. Sorry 'bout that.." Miroku sighed, and shrugged.

Meanwhile, Kohaku and Shippou were discussing battle techniques outside, in the hallway.

"I can kick your butt even harder, now," Shippou taunted Kohaku.

"What makes you think that?"

"I sparred with Sesshoumaru," the kitsune bragged proudly. Kohaku stared at his friend.

"You… with Sesshoumaru?" Shippou nodded.

"Uh-huh."

"Shippou, tell me," Kohaku began carefully, "has your opinion of Sesshoumaru changed?" Shippou's proud countenance was replaced with confusion.

"I- I'm not sure. He was different from the Sesshoumaru that Sango and I remembered. He might not be as bad as he used to be." Kohaku remembered the Sesshoumaru of the past.

'Could that be possible?' the young taijiya reflected. 'After I almost killed Rin, Sesshoumaru tracked me down to kill me… could he really have lost his relentless, unforgiving nature?' Kohaku glanced toward the door to the room where Inu Yasha was recovering. 'Even with his transformation, Inu Yasha couldn't stand up to Sesshoumaru. His injuries are over something concerning Rin. But Shippou just said that Sesshoumaru was different- is that because of Rin, or.. is it because of Kagome?'

"You want to go to Kaede's?" Miroku asked. Sango nodded. She looked down and rubbed her tummy.

"It's about time," she said, looking back at her husband. Miroku nodded solemnly.

"This means- we'll have to leave Inu Yasha here. There's no way he would forgive us if we took him away from this area." Sango nodded.

"Even if he would, I don't think it's wise to move him in this condition."

"Right. Then, who should stay with him? Did you want Kohaku to be around when the baby is born?" Sango nodded slowly.

"Yes, but- I know it would be best to ask him to stay here with Shippou and Inu Yasha. He'll be able to see the baby after it is born," Sango told him reluctantly. Miroku agreed.

"You're right. I guess all that's left is to tell those two boys what we need to do." The couple headed towards the door. "We'll leave first thing in the morning." Sango nodded. Miroku smiled at his wife, the mother of his soon-to-be child, and put his arm around her shoulders as they left the room. Sango blushed. She was always impressed when he could keep his hands off of her-

--WHACK!--

He couldn't keep them in check, after all. Miroku smiled as he rubbed his cheek. Even though Sango was his wife, she sometimes forgot to give him'extra privileges,' as he liked to call it. He didn't mind, though- it helped to keep their romance fresh. At least, that's how he was able to justify it. Sango blushed and giggled, and put her arm around the houshi. Suddenly, Miroku's face froze in surprise- and then he smiled mischievously.

Sango had helped herself to groping her husband, for a change.

A/N: So, how did you like it? Any reviews you wish to give, I am happy to receive! Oh, really quickly... in my "Previous" section... do you prefer snippets from the previous chapter (like what I've been doing), or do you prefer a short summary (like what I did in this chapter)? Please let me know! (kitsune ninja, this will give you something to say- hehe!)

Reviewer Responses:

kandy42: Oh, you misunderstood... chapters 22 and 23 just give kagome the either-or option... basically, Sesshoumaru threw that mating option out the window, anyway. There was no deal! Sorry to disappoint! You can read it over again, just to clear it up, if you want. -wink- Thanks for your reviews!

destinyheart15: Awwww, your review was so nice!.!.! I really appreciate that you value all the detail that went into the chapter... it really does take a lot of work to make sure everything is accurate. Thank you!

kitsune ninja: thanks for checking in! Your review was cracking me up! I feel exactly the same way, though- that's why I usually just try to find at least something to comment on. But I'm glad to see that you haven't ditched the story. Thanks! (and every time I see your name, I keep thinking "depression and self-loathing"... hehe! )

Beulah Page: Hehe! Well, the penguin/toad thing really does seem to work, now that I think about it. Anyway, the Kohaku thing is in chapter 1, but I will cut and paste a few of the sentences for you, so you don't have to waste time going back and checking it out. It says, "Everyone was shocked, including Naraku, that Kohaku's life was sustained when Kikyou pulled out the shard from his back. But, of course, no one was more relieved than Kohaku himself. He returned to Sango and the others, and after Kagome reported that there was no trace of the Shikon no Tama on his body, the rest of the group was able to bring themselves to fully trust the young taijiya." Thanks for your compliment on the realism of Sango and Kagome's conversation. I agree- I think Sango is rooting for Inu Yasha, but doesn't want to push Kagome into something she is having doubts about.

Moon's Rain: Hehe, so, you see how it can be both endings, now? -bows in thanks- Thank you for your compliment! I hope to see you review again!

Steph: haha! Okay, I'll see you review again! I sorta know what you mean. I just feel bad, because when I review stories that already have a gazillion chapters, the author has a bunch of reviews from the same person! But.. I don't mind.

Nicole P: Don't worry, I finish what I start. Thanks for the warm compliment. Heh, yeah, I am regretting starting this alternate ending, because it's so sad! I have cried at least once, and been in shock at least three times... and today, I had to go back and read the first ending, so I could remember that it is actually a happy story, and that this is just a "what if" ending. -sigh- oh well.

Also, special thanks go out to my reviewers Golden-Eyed-Girl, boattoy, kiraracutie4, toxiclollipop (I'm glad you like my surprises... hehe...), sheenachi (heh, heh... you're still mourning her death, huh?... gomen, gomen...), Alexandra H (thanks for joining!), InuyashaGal (haha, thanks for the dance!), zookie78/Zookie Moon Princess (You shall see! All questions will be answered by the last chapter!), kikyo618543 (thanks for joining!), hermonine, WhiteTigressDemon, and sesshoumaru's-hot-date (hahaha! Your name was cracking me up! way to go!)