A/N: Okay, you guys... really bizarre... but... do you all dream in real life, or in anime? Because... I think I dream in anime. I'm recently getting into this show Fullmetal Alchemist, right? And in my dream last night, the main character of the show - Edward Elric- was my boyfriend! It was weird... he asked me if I had faith in the stability of our relationship, and everything. Yeah, sounds really childish, right? But... it was just weird, so I thought I'd share it. Plus, his mother was alive, and was doing this weird thing with like, twisting her foot. She asked me "what do you think about this?" as she brought her foot up to her chest and then turned it backwards. I just kinda looked at her... and she said, "I can only do it with this foot, though." Then I shrugged and said, "I guess you're double jointed. Some people are double jointed on only one side, so... yeah. That's probably it." Hehe. Yeah. Anyway, that has nothing to do with Inu Yasha... but... it was so weird, I wanted to share it. Even weirder is that I thought I liked a different character in the series. So it was bizarre that I dreamt I was some other character's girlfriend (even though I kinda liked him, too). Hmm...

Also, I forgot to mention... I'd like to thank my mother for helping me write the part with Mrs. Higurashi in the last chapter. It was funny, because I had like, a 20 minute discussion with her- and at the end, she was like, "well, I can't believe I talked with you for this long over something like that..." hahaha. Gotta love my mama.

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha, and Takahashi-sama or anyone else will probably never endorse this. Oh well. Let's get started!

Previously:

"It's not just that, Sesshoumaru. I have other things that I want to say to her." Kagome stood there, looking at Sesshoumaru, waiting for his response.

"Do what you like," he told her. "I'll return for you before dinner."

"Mm. Arigatou," Kagome said, before she turned and ran toward Kaede's village. Sesshoumaru stood still, watching the miko retreat into the distance. This was the second time- in a row, no less- that she had refused to do what he asked. Somehow, though, he wasn't angry.

chapter 22: strange assault
Inu Yasha woke up to a small ray of sunshine creeping in through the tiny window in the library. 'What?' he asked himself, looking around. 'That's right… I must have passed out again…' He couldn't remember anything past the moment he thought about Kagome being marked by Sesshoumaru. A scroll lay open on the floor. Inu Yasha picked it up, absentmindedly. Remembering how Kagome acted after she was marked brought a flood of additional thoughts to his mind. There was the fact that Rin was killed by his Bakuryuuha. While her death was not unimportant to him, Inu Yasha realized the significant impact it must have had- and probably still had- on his brother. She had been very valuable to Sesshoumaru. Just the thought of Kagome dying at Sesshoumaru's hands was enough to help Inu Yasha identify with the feelings his brother must have felt at Rin's death- including not only sorrow, but immense hatred for the one who killed her. And inadvertently or not, Rin still died by his own hands.

There was nothing he could do that could bring Rin back- just like there was nothing that could be done to unmark Kagome. And no matter how much he hated to do it, Inu Yasha knew that he had to own up to Sesshoumaru about what he had done to Rin. He needed to give an apology to Sesshoumaru. Was there anything else he could do? Inu Yasha shook his head. There was nothing he could offer his brother as retribution for what happened- for what he had done to Rin. But for now, he had to concentrate on the matter at hand. Shaking himself free of his introspective thoughts, he refocused on the reading material in front of him. Kohaku and Shippou had found several scrolls full of interesting fighting stances and techniques. Eagerly, Inu Yasha began to read. He had to become strong as soon as possible; not only to retrieve Kagome, but also to be able to face a possible fatal assault from his brother. He had no time to lose.

Once she reached the village, Kagome entered Kaede's hut to meet up with Sango and Miroku. Sesshoumaru had merely watched her run toward the village before turning and heading somewhere else.

"Sango, Miroku!" She called excitedly, pushing the curtain aside and stepping inside.

"Kagome?" they both asked in shocked unison. "Kagome!" They both rose from their seats and greeted their friend with an embrace. "How are you? How did you get here? Where is Inu Yasha?" Kagome hadn't expected the barrage of questions from the couple.

"Uhh.. I'm fine, I'm fine. I- Sesshoumaru brought me here," she told them. Miroku and Sango blinked in silence.

"And Inu Yasha?" Miroku asked hesitantly. Kagome shook her head slowly.

"I haven't heard from him yet. How was he when you left?"

"He was still unconscious, but his wound was completely closed up. All that remains now is for him to recover from his emotional trauma," Sango told her.

"Emotional.. trauma.." Kagome repeated. 'That's right- he probably feels guilty about what happened to Rin.' "It wasn't his fault, what happened," Kagome told them.

"What did happen?" Miroku asked. Sango had given him a synopsis, but the houshi preferred to hear what happened directly from the source. Kagome sighed.

"Sesshoumaru gave me some kind of a temporary mark when he first took me to his castle. When I told Inu Yasha about it, he was… heartbroken." Kagome paused, remembering his hurt expression when he learned that it was her who had kissed his brother- not the other way around. "He went to confront Sesshoumaru, and they began to fight." Kagome paused again, this time to the vivid pictures of their battle. "Rin- I don't even know how she got there. Nobody knew. All of a sudden, she ran out between them just as Inu Yasha finished releasing the Bakuryuuha." Miroku inhaled a small gasp of surprise.

"No wonder he was in so much shock," he said, mostly to himself. Kagome nodded.

"I wanted to stay with Sesshoumaru. After all, I became attached to Rin during my stay at his castle. I told Inu Yasha that I wanted to stay with Sesshoumaru until after Rin's burial…" Kagome trailed off, as though there was something more that she wanted to say. Miroku looked at Sango, who gave her husband a small, almost imperceptible nod.

"I'll be back with some firewood," he said nonchalantly. The girls nodded, completely aware that he was purposely leaving them to talk amongst themselves. Once he was safely out of earshot, Sango began to speak.

"Kagome-chan," she began, "have you made a decision between Inu Yasha and Sesshoumaru?" Kagome shook her head.

"I still don't know. My mom gave me some good advice- I just have to sit on it for a little while." Sango looked deep in thought.

"Well," the taijiya began after some time, "which one makes you want to be a better person?" Sango hoped that Kagome would instantly think of Inu Yasha; little did she know that Kagome's thoughts ran exactly opposite her hopes. Kagome looked down at the floor of the hut, and thought briefly. Being with Inu Yasha, she felt like she was the same person as always. With Sesshoumaru, she felt more of a desire to please the youkai. Why? Sango watched as Kagome shook her head. With Sesshoumaru, Kagome felt like she had more of a purpose.

'What… is this?' she asked herself, annoyed. Obviously, Inu Yasha was a better person than Sesshoumaru. He was more willing to help others, and treat others with more of a sense of equality; Sesshoumaru wasn't willing to help people unless it directly affected him or his interests, and almost always looked down on others. So what was it? 'Why am I even thinking about this decision?' Sango could sense Kagome's annoyance.

"You can say your thoughts out loud, Kagome-chan. Maybe I can help you." Kagome shook her head.

"I'm sorry, Sango-chan. There's just- so much going on in my head. I don't know where to sort it out." Sango looked at her friend, concern in her eyes. "There seems to be so much that I can offer Sesshoumaru, while with Inu Yasha, I don't have anything to do for him."

"Don't be silly, Kagome-chan. Inu Yasha- you- you're what keeps Inu Yasha together," she said honestly. Kagome nodded.

"Mm. But sometimes there's so much frustration between us that it's difficult to get anywhere with him." Sango couldn't deny that Kagome and Inu Yasha had their share of arguments; but there was nothing that they couldn't resolve. And they always ended up stronger for it.

"What about Sesshoumaru?"

"I… don't know. He's very controlling at times," she said, remembering what happened just before she came to the village. "But at other times, it seems like I'm getting through to him somehow."

"Hmm," was all Sango could say in return. While she was rooting for Inu Yasha, it seemed as though his prospective future with Kagome was becoming more and more grim with each passing moment.

Meanwhile, Miroku was in the forest, gathering a few twigs and whatnot for the fire they would have that evening. 'I fear for Inu Yasha,' he thought to himself. 'The way Kagome sama trailed off…' he let out a sigh, 'It doesn't look to good for their relationship.' Just then, he heard something rush through the brush behind him. He whipped himself around to face the source of the noise. "Who's there?" he called bravely. Although he no longer had his Kazaana, the houshi was still a fairly powerful foe. He heard a chuckle from behind a tree trunk. "Come out!" he commanded. He placed one foot behind the other, strengthening his stance.

Slowly, a hooded figure emerged from behind the tree. "Apologies," it said. The voice Miroku heard was unlike any other. It was very throaty, and a series of soft clicks directly followed his words.

"Who are you?" Miroku asked, still on guard.

"That is of no importance. I desire what knowledge you may have on the lord of this region, and the woman who is visiting you."

"Wha?" Miroku's brow furrowed, and he dropped his sticks, ready to fight. The creature let out a series of clicks, which sounded something like sinister laughter.

"Now, now, no need to be defensive," the cloaked figure said, stepping forward. It raised an arm, which was likewise completely covered by a long, dark sleeve. "Now… just relax." A strange wave flew through the air from the arm of the suspicious person to Miroku's head.

"Uk.." Miroku was caught, unable to move. The last thing he heard was the panicked flapping of bird's wings before he passed out.

Sango and Kagome, although they had not reached a verdict on the topic at hand, were more than ready for Miroku to return. Soon after, the houshi came bursting past the front door curtain. He looked out of breath, and there was dirt on his face and hands.

"What happened?" the girls asked, worried.

"I- I'm not sure. But… they wanted to know about Kagome-sama and Sesshoumaru."

"Who was it?" Kagome asked, wondering if it might have been one of the vassals she had met a few days before. Miroku shook his head.

"I don't know. Whoever it was, they were hidden behind a cloak. I couldn't see a thing." Sango looked at Kagome worriedly.

"Maybe you should stay here with us," she suggested. Miroku nodded his head. Kagome looked at her friends.

"I'm sure it will be okay if I'm with Sesshoumaru. He should be back any minute now. But-" Kagome clasped Sango's hand. "I'll be back in a few days, I promise."

"Mm," was Sango's response. As if on cue, Sesshoumaru appeared outside the hut. Miroku sensed his youki, and stepped outside to greet the taiyoukai.

"I'm here for Kagome," he said directly.

"Just a moment," Miroku told him, and turned inside to beckon for Kagome. He returned, and stood in front of Sesshoumaru. "Someone was looking for you," Miroku informed him. The houshi really didn't care about what might happen to Sesshoumaru; his main concern was for Kagome's safety.

"Who was it?" Miroku shook his head and told Sesshoumaru what happened as Kagome and Sango exited the hut. Sesshoumaru nodded.

"Kagome will not be harmed," he told the couple with determination. Miroku and Sango looked at each other in surprise. They weren't used to Sesshoumaru displaying concern for others besides himself- and Rin. "Ja, Kagome." The miko nodded, and joined him.

"Then, I'll see you guys next week!"

"Mm!" Sango said enthusiastically.

"We're looking forward to it," Miroku told her. With that, Sesshoumaru flew away with Kagome at his side.

"I- I guess she'll be safe with him," Sango said quietly as they watched Kagome and Sesshoumaru fade into the distance. Miroku nodded.

"Probably. But.. it just… doesn't seem right," Miroku rejoined.

"Mm," Sango replied softly.

Sesshoumaru and Kagome flew in silence to the castle. In fact, everything seemed to take place slowly and silently. There was a formal dinner, but Kagome was too busy in her own thoughts to think about striking a conversation with her taiyoukai host. After dinner, Kagome sat in the onsen. Finally, she was away from Sesshoumaru, and able to think more clearly about her feelings without feeling awkward because of his close proximity.

'Sesshoumaru- what is it that is attracting me to him?' Kagome thought back to when it all began. 'That mark… maybe… maybe it still has an effect on me? Well, regardless, my feelings about him have grown since that time. There must be something else.' Kagome sunk lower into the water. 'But what is it?' She thought about her most prized moments with the youkai lord. On the top of her list were the times when he promised to protect her. Next were those brief moments when he exposed his heart to her. Somehow, she felt as though she had become important to him. While she felt important to Inu Yasha as well, the way she felt about Sesshoumaru was different. Inu Yasha's personality had become much softer since she had met him. Sesshoumaru on the other hand, was not as soft. Perhaps she could help to open his heart. He- seemed to need her more than she believed Inu Yasha needed her.

After dressing from the onsen, Kagome went for a short walk. Again, like so many times before, she found herself taking a stroll around the lake. The water in the lake that was so clear during the day appeared pitch black. The reflection of the stars glistened on its surface, and a few cricket chirps and frog croaks could be heard above the various splashes made by the resident fish. As she approached the gazebo which overlooked the lake, she saw him. Sesshoumaru was leaning casually over the guardrail, looking up at the stars. The moon was almost full now, and it shone on his brilliant silver hair, giving him an ethereal look. Kagome stopped in her tracks and inhaled softly, taking in his beauty. While he looked beautiful just as he was, he had a soft, sad look on his face. Kagome wondered what he was thinking. 'Maybe he's thinking of Rin,' she guessed, and resumed her walk around the lake. 'He probably wants to be alone.' Kagome decided to let him be.

Sesshoumaru noticed Kagome when she first stepped into the lake's vicinity. He hadn't spoken much to her, since her visit with her pregnant friend. What did they discuss? Sesshoumaru didn't want to admit it, but he was curious. Not only that, but what the houshi had told him was also disturbing. That cloaked figure was most likely one of the ones who had been visiting with that wretched former vassal of his. They must be foreign mercenaries; he had never seen them before that moment. Not only that, but when he spotted them in the forest, he could sense no youki from them. When he had attempted to pinpoint their scent, he had failed. They had no scent on them. Perhaps the cloaks had special abilities to mask their presence. "This could be a problem," he muttered under his breath. While they were attempting to threaten his power, Sesshoumaru couldn't help but think about their other objective: Kagome.

While he never looked at her directly, Sesshoumaru knew that Kagome was not going to approach him tonight. Two days ago, she probably would have wanted to talk to him about something or another. Why didn't she come to him now? Sesshoumaru let out something like a laugh, and looked up at the moon. While she looked similar to Rin, she was different. Not only that, but after much thought, Sesshoumaru decided that the way he felt about Kagome was also different from the way he felt about Rin. While he desired Kagome's safety, he also realized that she was much more mature and capable than was Rin. Not only that, but Kagome wasn't as obedient as Rin had been. While his affections had grown for Rin since she was a child, his affection- although he hesitated to give it that label- had only just begun toward Kagome, a full-grown woman.

Yes, he had grown accustomed to having her around. He hated to think of her leaving him alone. The taiyoukai put his hand to his heart. Since when had he fully given into this feeling? And how likely was Kagome to return it? She had shown hesitation to come with him earlier today- something that Rin had never done. How could he rid her of such disobedience to his call? While he didn't desire to force her into submission, he wanted to sway her into such action. Somehow, he knew he had to convince Kagome to choose to stay with him- permanently.

A/N: Thank you all for being so faithful to review! And for those of you who don't review, I hope you feel ashamed of yourselves! Naw, but really... it is really helpful to me if you leave a review, so that I can be reminded of points that I may have forgotten, or to keep the characters in-character. So please, review for me!

Reviewer responses:

Beulah Page: Dang! Its a letter! Hehe..Thanks for your comment about the development being at a good pace. I keep getting people asking me to hurry up and put Sesshoumaru together with Kagome. Hahaha!.! Rubbing Sesshoumaru's ears?.! I think that they'd be dead on contact, right? "Oni" means ogre, or something else that is likewise evil in nature("akuma" means devil)... and "gumo" means spider. Pretty appropriate for Naraku's scar, huh? No real reason for Nara's name, though. I took it from one of my fave characters from Naruto- Nara Shikamaru. That "nara" means 'to learn,' I believe- although our Nara Takeshi was verrry slow to learn, wasn't he? Thanks for your supreme loyalty to this story... hehe... and um, usually I try to update every few days... at night... if that helps you know when to look for an update... ((snicker)) Naw, but thanks.

inulover13: isn't your question kinda... well, against what your own penname implies? I will not answer that question, anyway. have some patience.

Golden-Eyed-Girl: they say "keep your eyes wide open before marriage, and half shut afterwards".. heh, heh.

Nicole P: a movie? Wow! I think this is too much drama, though... hehe. Usually they go for action story lines, it seems. Although, I found out, that this story is like, the size of a novel!

kitsune ninja: Yay! Thanks! I also agree, that conversation was integral to this alternate ending. And there are so many stories on this site that put everyone so OOC... it's crazy. Thanks for being sane.

kikyo618543, kawaiisess68: Yes. Yes, it certainly would. I'd be so naive- much more than I am now. Scary. Not only that, but my writing would be...well... less than par. My Mulan story was written about 6 years ago...

kandy42: uh.. anime insider doesn't know what it's talking about. I've watched the whole series, and... while they don't get married or anything (she's still pretty young by today's standards), there is no other guy she'd rather be with. Anyway, yeah, this alternate ending is about as long as the original story... it pretty much has to be long, because there's no way Kagome would pick S-dono without some kind of development more than what I did in the original. But yeah, in real "karen-world," Inu-chan and Kagome are having fun with everyone. Yay!

Thanks also go out to: hermonine, duckgirl566, Maddycat2000, hanyouxmiko990, Moon's Rain, Tracy J, sheenachi (hehe, don't worry, Kirara is safe from me), destinyheart15 (my heartfelt thanks for your compliment. And quit getting grounded!) Zookie Moon princess (Good job!), tefi2007 (you're new! Please review again!), toxiclollipop, Japenese Jade (welcome to reviewing! I hope to see your name again!) and whimsy (thanks for your help in thinking things through to the...very... distant... end...). Please review again next time! Aba-yo!