A/N: Yay! I have almost 600 reviews, I can't believe it! Especially when I was only getting like, 3 reviews per chapter. Well, this story is almost over. I am sure you can't hear me, but I'm heaving a huuuuge sigh of relief, because this story is SO FREAKIN' LONG! It's about time it finishes up. And... I can't believe how many reviews you gave me! You are all so nice, and I wish that I could like, send you cards and stuff for your support and comments, but, well, I'm poor, and don't know where you live. Anyway, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I um, own the Japanese episodes- ON DISC! Hahaha! I didn't create it, and I don't get royalties. That's Takahashi-sama. And my driver license says "Karen" not "Rumiko"...

Previously:

"Likewise, Miroku. Tell Sango and the others that… I'm sorry, and that I'll…" Inu Yasha couldn't bring himself to finish.

"I'll tell them you'll miss them," Miroku read his friend's mind.

"Ah. Thanks."

"Be careful."

"Keh, no need for that." Before Miroku could find something to say in response, Inu Yasha turned his back. "Ja!" And with that, Inu Yasha disappeared from sight, his last word hanging on the wind.

chapter 29: new beginnings

When Shippou awoke to discover Inu Yasha had left for an indefinite amount of time, the others had a hard time restraining him.

"I can't believe you're just going to let him go like that!" Shippou shouted angrily at Miroku.

"I understand your feelings. But Shippou, there are some things that a man needs to handle on his own." Shippou looked at Sango and Kohaku for help in arguing with Miroku, but the siblings were in accord with the houshi.

"Shippou, Inu Yasha needs some time alone," Sango told him, putting a hand on his shoulder. "I know that you want to go to him; so do all of us. But seeing us would only make it harder for him to face his grief." Shippou's shoulders slumped when he realized the truth of what Sango said.

"So… it's hopeless, then…" the young kitsune youkai sat down in a corner. Satoru began to cry. "You've got it right, kiddo," Shippou whispered toward the bassinet, as tears filled his own eyes.

Later that day, Miroku and Sango took the baby out for a walk. "Ne, Miroku… Inu Yasha didn't say that he would come back, did he?"

"No." Miroku sighed. "I don't think he will for a long while, at least. He will probably never get over the fact that Kagome-sama chose to stay with Sesshoumaru." Sango nodded.

"Especially since we all know that she is the reincarnation of Kikyou."

"Right. Inu Yasha may have never said anything about it, but I believe that he thought Kagome-sama was his soul mate. Now that she is going to be mated with Sesshoumaru, her spirit will not be reborn as long as she lives- which may be several centuries more." Sango's eyes moved down to their child. Satoru was sleeping peacefully.

"It feels so strange- like we've all disbanded," she commented.

"Ah. We never expected this to happen, did we Sango?"

"Mm." The couple stopped, and Sango handed Satoru to Miroku before they continued their walk in pensive silence.

Kagome relaxed in the onsen before dinnertime. She hadn't seen Sesshoumaru all day; was he avoiding her? Or maybe he had to attend to some business affairs? Regardless, she found things to do around the castle. If this was going to be her new home, she figured that she had better learn where things were rather than having to rely on Sesshoumaru or Jaken to guide her to various places. When she had explored to her heart's content, she proceeded to practice marksmanship at the archery range. After about an hour, Jaken came to her to announce dinner. He seemed a little nervous when he spoke with her. Did he know what had been taking place between Sesshoumaru and herself?

'And… how is Inu Yasha taking all of this?' she asked herself. He had seemed so heartbroken- but she was sure that everyone would be able to support him. 'Maybe I'll stop by to visit tomorrow,' she resolved. Sesshoumaru- what was it about him that made her decide in his favor? Somehow, she had seen beneath his cool exterior- and what lied beneath was a mystery. His emotions were raw, and Kagome felt a pull to him. She wanted to explore his feelings, and understand who he was underneath his seemingly harsh exterior. Maybe she could help him bring his hidden emotions to the surface. 'At the moment he called me his woman…' she trailed off, trying to remember her feelings. 'I… I felt… special,' The fact that someone so cold had accepted her into his heart meant that she was special to him. There was an excitement in the relationship between herself and Sesshoumaru that had long been extinguished in her relationship to Inu Yasha.

Almost immediately upon returning to her quarters, there came a knock at the door. It was Jaken, and he had a pile of clothes in his arms.

"Those clothes are…?"

"These are for you," he told her, scurrying past her legs and dropping the clothes on the chair that sat by her door. "They are ceremonial, for you to wear tonight." The minion stared up at Kagome. He didn't want to admit it, but he had been surprised out of his mind when Sesshoumaru ordered that those clothes be brought to Kagome. While he had seen the relationship between the miko and his master advance beyond his expectations, he had never in his wildest dreams imagined that she would decide to stay with them, and that Sesshoumaru would gladly allow it. However, it was how it was, and Jaken was obligated to accept it. And after they became bonded by the mark, Jaken would be subject to her commands as well.

Having been given special clothes, Kagome decided to take extra care in preparing for dinner. She had already taken a bath, and now she decided to pull out her favorite scented lotion. It was the one brand that Inu Yasha didn't have a problem with- everything else made his nose hurt. Making sure that she wasn't overloading it onto her skin, Kagome applied it to her body. She had already washed her hair in the onsen, and it was finally dry.

"Gotta love these battery-operated inventions," she said happily as she turned on her curling iron. Her mother had bought it for her a few months ago, and finally, Kagome had a real reason to use it. She slowly put on the ceremonial robes- partially because it just felt like it was something she should do slowly, but also because she was waiting for the curling iron to heat itself up. After donning several layers of fabric, Kagome returned to her vanity, where the curling iron was waiting. Carefully, she pinned her hair up into a half-ponytail, and curled the ends. It looked like something out of a bridal magazine.

'Well, I guess that's appropriate, isn't it?' she thought to herself, remembering what Sesshoumaru had told her.

flashback

"Earlier, you said that I'm your woman," Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru, who was staring straight at her. "Does that mean that you're going to mark me- permanently?" Sesshoumaru took a sip of his tea.

"Yes, but not tonight. The scent of the temporary mark is still present on you- I wish to wait until it has disappeared." Kagome looked at him, puzzled.

'Why does he want to wait?' Kagome asked herself. It wasn't like she didn't want to wait… she was just curious. "Is there a problem with permanent marks while temporary marks are in play?" she asked. Sesshoumaru didn't answer her.

"At its current rate of recession, the scent should be completely gone by tomorrow evening."

end flashback

'That means that tonight… he's going to mark me.' Kagome was struck with a sudden pang of sadness. Somehow, it felt as though by going through with this ceremony, she was giving up a piece of her life. 'Is this how everyone feels when they get married?' she asked herself. Sure, she had heard of the "cold feet" syndrome. Was this it? It wasn't that she didn't want to be together with such a strong, prominent figure as Sesshoumaru. Could it be that she felt something of a hopelessness concerning her relationship with Inu Yasha? Kagome sighed. 'In any case, after what happened- after what I said to Inu Yasha- things can never go back to the way they used to be.'

The sky was beginning to show signs of dusk hours, when Jaken appeared at her door once more.

"Kagome-sama," he croaked.

'…-sama? What's that all about?' Kagome thought, as she went to open the door. When she did so, Jaken stared up at her in awe. She really did look beautiful, like a princess. Jaken wondered to himself if this was what Rin would have looked like, had she not been killed by Sesshoumaru's wretched younger brother.

"It's time for dinner. Shall we go?"

'He's being a whole lot more polite than normal… is it because… I'll become Sesshoumaru's mate? That's right- Jaken will have to accept orders from me, now…' she realized. She grinned as she followed Jaken to the same outdoor patio Sesshoumaru had taken her to the night before. Never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined that this little minion would also become her minion. After several minutes, they finally reached their destination. This time, however, there were curtains drawn on all four sides of the awning. They looked like red chiffon. As they approached, Jaken drew the curtain back to reveal a small table made of cherry wood, as well as two large red velvet pillows on either side.

"Please wait here," he said as genially as possible, gesturing for Kagome to enter. "My lord will be here shortly." Kagome nodded, and made her way inside. It was difficult to move with so many layers of clothing, but somehow, she managed to sit herself on one of the pillows. Soon enough, Sesshoumaru arrived, wearing traditional clothing. His pants were loose at the ankles, and his overshirt hung low, over his upper thighs. On top of that, he wore a black jacket, open to expose his overshirt. The black material gave a shocking contrast to his beautiful silver hair. Silently, he took a seat on the other side of the table. Jaken followed him closely, carrying two cups and a small pot- presumably full of tea. After setting it on the table, he bowed and backed out of the enclosure.

"What is all of this for?" Kagome asked quietly. Sesshoumaru looked deeply into her eyes, and without averting his gaze, he poured her a cup of tea. Kagome looked down at the cup, and then proceeded to pour the tea into Sesshoumaru's cup. 'Some kind of a tea ceremony, is it?' she thought to herself. When she finished, she looked at Sesshoumaru. The taiyoukai merely put his hand to his cup, and raised it from the table. He looked expectantly at Kagome to do the same. She nodded, and mimicked his movement. They proceeded to drink from their cups, not taking their eyes off of each other.

"It is time," Sesshoumaru told her.

"For…?" She knew his meaning, but she couldn't stop herself from asking, anyway. He rose from his place. Kagome was going to rise as well, but Sesshoumaru stopped her.

"Remain seated, Kagome. This will only take a moment." She stared forward, even as Sesshoumaru approached her from behind. Kagome felt herself stiffen; she was becoming more and more tense with every second. "Relax," he said, as he gently swept Kagome's curls to the side. She wondered if he noticed them- or even liked them. Gently, he placed his hand on her upper arm. Before the cool night air could sweep across her neck, she felt the warm breath of Sesshoumaru, and then a small pinch.

'Did… what the?.? Did he just bite me? Is.. is this…' Kagome's eyes opened wider with realization. 'Is this the mark!' At this point, Kagome felt the soft compression of Sesshoumaru's lips against her neck. She felt a small tickle. 'That has got to be his tongue…' Before she could think anything further, she realized that she was slowly becoming keenly aware of everything around her. Her vision became sharper, and she could hear birds from several miles away. Her sense of smell was also becoming stronger. She could smell the trees outside, and the scent of the lotion she had just applied. On top of that, she could smell Sesshoumaru, and she could smell her own scent beginning to take on his likeness.

After a few moments, Sesshoumaru kissed the back of her neck, and wiped off the excess moisture of his mark from her skin. As he did so, his family crest appeared, shimmering with a light blue iridescent glow. His lips curled upward at the edges. Kagome was his. While he had already admitted to himself that he wanted Kagome, he couldn't deny the extra glee of victory over his brother. He stood, and returned to his place in front of Kagome. After he sat down, Kagome returned her hair to its rightful place.

"So, that was it, was it?" Kagome asked. Sesshoumaru closed his eyes.

"Ah."

"Ja… what's next?" Sesshoumaru opened his eyes, and looked at her, his eyes almost revealing his confusion.

"It's time for dinner." He sidestepped the question, but Sesshoumaru knew that he wouldn't be able to do so again. She clearly wanted to know what her privileges were, now that they were mates. "Jaken," he said firmly. The minion appeared almost instantly, carrying two bowls and several covered dishes of food. The new couple ate in silence.

"You know, Sesshoumaru… I think we should go back to my time, and tell my family what happened."

"Your home is no longer there."

"That may be so, but it's only polite to make an announcement." Sesshoumaru inwardly shook his head. It would definitely be the diplomatic thing to do. After all, her mother would only be around for less than half a century- a mere blink of the eye. Not only that, but Sesshoumaru remembered the way Kagome's mother had trusted him with her daughter.

flashback

"Oh. Very well," Kagome's mother tried her best to keep from sounding too disappointed at the fact that they wouldn't be staying any longer. "Then, take care of my Kagome," she told the youkai lord. For a moment, Sesshoumaru was taken aback. This human woman seemed to have no problem trusting him with her daughter. It had been a long time since someone gave him something of value, trusting him to protect it. The taiyoukai looked down at Kagome, and then back at her mother.

end flashback

"Will you be able to handle the smell?" he asked, half jokingly. Her eyes widened. She apparently hadn't thought about it.

"It'll be fine. I just want to tell them what happened." Sesshoumaru closed his eyes.

"Very well," he told her. He opened them again, and looked at Kagome, who was thoughtfully chewing her food. She had been powerful as a human woman, but now- infused with his blood- she had become even stronger than before. While she still possessed her miko abilities, she also now had the additional physical prowess that both he and Inu Yasha held. Of course, she wasn't as physically strong as he, but her reiki abilities more than made up for that difference. Sesshoumaru smirked. His blood that ran through her veins was what would give them the mutual desire to protect one another, as well as mutual restraint from killing each other. The mere thought of being mated to such a powerful woman was pleasing to Sesshoumaru; the fact that his woman was also a dangerous woman gave him an unquenchable thrill. Inu Yasha had no idea what Kagome was capable of- and even if he had, he would not have been able to handle her.

"Ne, Sesshoumaru… even though I'm marked, I…" Kagome trailed off, staring at her plate and blushing furiously. She couldn't bring herself to say something so embarrassing. She felt so immature. Sesshoumaru let out a silent sigh. Obviously, although she was marked, their relationship hadn't progressed any further than a kiss. He raised his hand to his chin, and looked at Kagome.

"Relax, Kagome. This mark is meant for companionship, not just for procreation." Kagome heaved a sigh of relief, much to the dismay of Sesshoumaru. Was she really that worried about mating with him? Was it just her nerves? She didn't seem to hesitate with his marking her- so why would she worry about something like mating? Sesshoumaru wasn't one to normally worry about other people's opinions, but now that Kagome carried the scent of his true mark, her companionship was instinctually important to him. Besides, shouldn't he have been the one with the reservations, considering she was only a human? Of course, now that she had been marked with the blood of a taiyoukai, her human scent was beginning to fade away.

"Mm. Thanks." Before long, they finished their dinner. Sesshoumaru walked with her back to the castle, under the moonlight. Kagome couldn't help but notice the comfortable feeling she had, being next to Sesshoumaru. She never would have believed that she could feel this way about someone other than Inu Yasha. But there she was, walking side by side with her… husband. It seemed like things had moved so fast. After all, it had only been a few weeks since her abduction. But- when Rin passed away, she and Sesshoumaru began to develop a special bond. She took in a deep breath. 'I smell like Sesshoumaru, again,' she thought to herself. It was a different scent than before, however. This time, when she smelled the scent of her mate, she didn't necessarily want to jump all over him. No- with this mark, she was more interested in simply being near him. 'Is that what he meant by this mark being meant for companionship?' she reflected. Before she knew it, they were inside the castle, just outside of her room.

"Then, shall we go to your time tomorrow?" he asked her, looking straight into her eyes. Kagome returned his gaze. Kagome's hand slid down Sesshoumaru's arm, and somehow ended up in his hand as they stood, facing each other.

"Mm. That sounds good." Kagome looked down, and fidgeted. "Ja… I'll see you tomorrow?" She looked up at the taiyoukai, to see his eyes glistening. She had never seen such- emotion in him before.

"Ah." He gave her hand a light squeeze before releasing it. As her hand fell back to her side, Kagome opened the door, and entered her room. After she had closed the door behind her, she placed her back to the wall, and put a hand over her heart. It was beating so quickly.

'How… I wanted to…' Kagome had never experienced this sensation while not under the influence of the temporary mark. She… really wanted to…kiss Sesshoumaru. On the other side of the door, Sesshoumaru remained.

'She… did she want me to kiss her?' he asked himself. Of course he knew the answer; it had been staring him in the face- she was blushing, and he could hear her heart rate increase. It was more than nervousness; it smelled almost like desire.

Kagome began to undress. Layer after layer, she began to feel better as her load lightened. While the clothes were beautiful, she was glad that they were only ceremonial. She had to admit it- the comforts of life here were better than those at the house that she had shared with Inu Yasha, Miroku, Sango, Shippou and Kohaku. She had clothes, a good meal every day, and access to a private onsen. Just as Kagome was removing the third-to-last layer, she heard her door open.

"Chotto Matte," she yelled, staring angrily at the intruder. Sesshoumaru stood at the open door, still in the hallway. Disregarding her angry outburst, he stepped inside. While her form was still hidden under two layers of clothing, Sesshoumaru was glad to see more of it than he was able to while she was under all the ceremonial robes. Kagome's anger turned into confusion and then curiosity as he continued to approach her. Before long, he stood directly in front of her.

"I forgot to tell you," he began, raising a hand to her face, and moving it back to touch her curled locks, "you look lovely tonight." A fierce blush rose to Kagome's cheeks, but her eyes were locked with his.

"I…" Kagome trailed off. She really didn't know what to say. But as things would turn out, she didn't need to say anything, because Sesshoumaru at that moment, leaned in toward her, and delivered a soft kiss to her lips. A few moments afterward, he parted his lips from hers, and began to stand up straight. However, by this time, Kagome realized that she wanted more. Somehow, kissing Sesshoumaru for that moment gave her a release from all the concerns and cares that she had for everything else in her life. She removed her hands from clasping the ends of her outermost robe together as covering, and placed them on Sesshoumaru's firm chest. Stepping forward, Kagome nearly pushed him back with the force of her hands.

Her approach caught him slightly by surprise. While he had assumed she really did want to kiss him, he didn't expect her reaction to be so… enthusiastic. The look in her eyes betrayed her hunger for another embrace, and Sesshoumaru had no desire to deny her. For another moment, they again locked lips, losing themselves in each other's arms.

Before long, Sesshoumaru and Kagome's interlude came to an end. Sesshoumaru kissed her softly on the lips once more, and again on the forehead. "Tomorrow," he told her quietly, before turning and leaving her to prepare for bed. Kagome watched as he left, and put her fingers to her lips after he closed the door behind him. This time, she felt no sadness or conflict over what they had done. After all, they were now a couple.

A/N: So, there you have it, another chapter! Please review. Your reviews are important to me, and keep me on track. Thanks!

Reviewer Responses:

Magick: really? what parts were ooc? Please let me know, so that i can better improve the story...

Beulah Page: hah, yeah, I knew you'd be sad there was no fight. Oh- the integration ritual between the brothers wasn't for Kagome's sake. It was a totally different thing. Inu Yasha started researching his family history, and taking an interest in it. By lacing up Tetsusaiga with the new lanyard from his father, Inu Yasha was basically invoking his right to become a member of the inu youkai clan- and Sesshoumaru gave him entrance into the clan basically because of his father's will. After all, Sesshoumaru can't have a weakling parading around bearing the family crest on their sword, can he? You're one of two reviewers who mentioned Sesshoumaru's piercing thought. Oh, I didn't say that to my sister's face... I just prayed that my opinion about it was because I had never seen a real newborn before. heh.

destinyheart15: good insight about the baby thing...

Hoshiko Shinomori: Yay! I'm so excited you think my pacing was right on! That's actually why this alternate ending had to be so long. Anyway, I kinda think that the brothers are beyond any possibility of reconciliation, don't you?

Nilee: Yay! Yay! I'm so excited! You are totally getting the point of everything I'm writing! I'm so excited! While this is just a hobby, your comments really make me feel like I'm a real writer. Thanks so much for giving me your feedback.

I got a lot of new reviewers! Yay! Thanks be to InuyashaGal, Bethany A, prettyinblack405, anonymous reviewer (thanks, and Bankotsu is my fave villain), hanyouxmiko990, TakaraDaiya, Future Adventure Training, sheenachi, EmoChicka, kandy42, toxiclollipop (haha, you remember the mother's advice, huh?), cutekitty, StarfireGreencoon, Tracy J, Moon's Rain (no worries, I try to finish what I start- even though I'm getting lazy at the end, here), duckgirl566, Golden-Eyed-Girl, hermonine, StaySee (it may be traditional, but I think that's what would have actually happened)and whimsy.