Whiel I was working my hospital shift on Christmas Eve, I was introducing the person I work with to Inuyasha. And I was telling er about my writing, summerizing my stories and asking her for suggestions for later chapters of Understanding (Wash it All Away). When I told her About misconceptions she glared at me and said that I'd converted her, I asked her to waht and she told me that now she supported the Rin/Sesshoumaru pairing because of me and that I needed to make a happy ending for it where the two get together. I was confused, how in the world did she got a romantic sentiment out of the original story I don't know. Probably lots of reading between the lines and her own imagination. But she convinced me to write a second part. So here it is the alternate ending. However, I flat out refused to do a continuance for Flor Sin Retoño, and I still refuse even though she's stil trying to persuade me.

Alternate Ending

Weeks have passed since she left me and I find the discomfort of her absence as fresh as the first day she was gone. I grew accustomed to her during the time she traveled with me, a disastrous flaw on my part; I ought to have left her in the first ningen village I came across. Jaken is silent behind me; I feel that he also misses her for he talks considerably less than before even Ah-Un is less agreeable than before. They both miss her and I know that they are angry with me for leaving her, Jaken especially because he confided in me several days before her wedding that he did not trust her chosen mate. I ignored him, I believed that he was merely attempting to convince me not to permit her to leave and begin her own family. I deftly ignored his caveat. However, the memory persists and does not let me be and I wonder about her happiness, wonder if she is safe among her own kind.

I walk down the familiar woods, and curse my weakness, weeks have passed and I still have not left this area, her village lies beyond these accursed woods. Far enough away that I can not detect her scent despite the direction of the wind but close enough that I can travel to her village without much loss of time. I've been walking in circles since she left, not accustomed to leaving her behind and knowing that I'll never return for her, she's no longer waiting for me. Jaken says nothing about our chosen route, though he is well aware that we are traversing in circles in these woods. He too knows the feeling of loss that has overcome our group. I resolve to turn back and leave such an ignoble place, but feel that I can not doubt preys upon my mind as I recall each word Jaken spoke that moonlit night. I have not seen her since the day she physically left my care and protection, perhaps it is time I see how she is doing. I refuse to make myself known to her, but from the cover provided by the woods I will be able to see her without her seeing me thus easing both my traitorous thoughts and Jaken's fears.

I turn once more, my destination becomes more apparent to Jaken with each step I take, his pace becomes more rapid as Ah-Un trails behind him, no longer fighting against the reins. The closer I get to the village the more my senses scream that something is not right, and then I smell it-blood, salt and fear. Fear for personal wellbeing, salt from tears, and ningen blood. Not the blood of an entire village, no slaughter occurred, but the blood of a single person-blood engraved into my very being and all my senses. Her blood. Anger coursed through my veins at the stench, how dare they injure what was mine. How dare they take advantage of a gift that they did not deserve, how dare they mock my generosity when I allowed her to live there. I reach the village and smell their fear as they recognize me, the desperation filling their eyes they fall to the ground in supplication it only serves to enrage me further, that they should beg for forgiveness after hurting her. However, the scent of blood, of tears, and fear increases and I turn away from the loathsome villagers, I shall deal with them later for she takes precedent over everything else.

Her home was not luxurious, a hovel compared to what she deserved, what her relationship to me entitled. I tore the door down it was in my way from protecting what I most cherished, what I learned to care for, what earned my empathy. The sight before me was enough to drive me over the edge, my Rin cowering before the drunken form of her mate bruises over her body and face, lip bleeding, cuts marring her once smooth skin. Both stared at me in surprise as I entered his arm still in the air poised to deliver another blow to her fragile frame. In the next instant his body aid on the floor of the home, blood pooling beneath him, his throat ripped out. I turn to look at her, but she does not look at me. Does she blame me for what befell her? Guilt fills me, I brought this upon her, she was my ward, and it was my duty to find a suitable mate for her if I had fulfilled my obligations she would not be in such a grievous situation. I lift her into my arms, thankful once more for the no longer having just one arm, and take her away from the blood. She still refuses to acknowledge my presence, lying stiff in my arms and not looking me in the face. I lead her away from the village, to where Jaken is waiting with Ah-Un, and gently set her onto the dragon's saddle. Jaken is shocked to see the state that she is in but says nothing. The matter of the villagers still remains, they did not protect her fort hat they needed to be punished, severely punished.

"Jaken, I leave them to you."

"Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama."

I leave him there, he would find me after he was done with his task and I need to distance both her and myself from the village. After some time passed I notice the renewed scent of tears and stop walking, Ah-Un follows suite, I walk closer to her and I notice that her body is shaking with silent sobs. I reach out one hand and lift her head, forcing her to face me. With the other I wipe the tears away.

"Sumimasen," she whispers.

What did she need to apologize for, I was the one who failed her. I let go of her and her head turns away once more.

"Sumimasen, Sesshoumaru-sama. I have done nothing but bring you trouble, since the day you resurrected me, and if you wish to take back the life you gave me all those years ago I have not power or right to stop you."

I now understand that she felt ashamed of what occurred, ashamed of her mistake in judgement.

"Iie, I have no intention of killing you Rin. The mistake in judgement was my own error, it was my duty to find you a suitable mate, and I did not. Thus I am the only one to blame."

I turn away and continue walking, she needs time to heal, and even more time to accept that no fault resides with her only with myself. It appears that for once Jaken's warnings were right.

"Sesshoumaru-sama, I do not trust that man. I have heard rumors about him, terrible rumors regarding his cruelty. They say that his behavior towards young Rin is just an act and that he is really a drunken brute that abuses young women. Surely you can not leave Rin to such a despicable ningen."

"Chichiue!" an exited voice cried out as he ran to meet his Father who was returning from a visit to the Northern Wolf Demon clan. He reached his Father and jumped into his arms, a large smile on his small face.

Sesshoumaru allowed a small smile to grace his lips as he stared at his son, his gaze lingering only momentarily on the small pointed ears protruding from the top of his head, ears covered in soft silver fur matching his silver hair.

"Kenji-chan," a soft feminine voice laughed, "you shouldn't pounce on your Chichiue like that."

Sesshoumaru looked at his mate and companion of many years and walked towards her, their son in his arms, and said in response to her playful admonishment, "You're just saying that because he's unable to pounce on you given your condition." He placed one hand on her swollen stomach and she sniffed haughtily in reply, lips twitching as she attempted to suppress a smile.

"Welcome home, anata."

"I am glad to be back, Rin."