Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha. I think. Unless I'm Rumiko Takahashi reincarnated. Which I doubt.

~End of Days~

By Alpha-Parvani

I've always hated traveling. As much as I obsessed over it during the quest for the Jewel, I hated it. What can I say? I'm a dog demon. Well, half. Dogs prefer to stay in one place. Dog demons are the same way.

            I'm back to traveling though. One last time. I'm going back to Kaede's old village… I'm going to stay there, with Sango and Miroku. Shippo was with me for a while, as I wandered back to the Western Lands, told Sesshomaru he could take the lands and shove them where the sun don't shine for all I cared, and settled down for a long, long time with Kouga. Yeah, Kouga. He isn't that bad, now that Kagome's gone. We're pretty good friends, even if we do argue… a lot.

I bet I've thrown you for a total loop, ne? Would it be better if I explained what the hell I'm talking about?

Okay. I will.

I can't even remember how long ago it had happened. It was just a few years after the fight with Naraku that it all started. We had finished the Shikon no Tama. Kagome gave it to me, for my wish. I still have it. Never used it… she had said she liked me just the way I was. And we were in love. Hell, we were mates. Bonded forever.

Or what was supposed to be forever.

            I was relaxing in Kaede's village in the tree that had started the entire shard search. The Goshinboku was a haven to me even if I had been pinned to the stupid thing for fifty years. Everyone else was in the village doing…whatever humans do in their spare time. The annoying kitsune cub was with me, sleeping on my stomach… Truth was, I didn't really mind. Shippo is practically my son.

            Kagome came then. She climbed up the tree slowly, and came to rest on a branch a little lower than the one we were on. During the mating, I had given her some of my blood. She looked human, with the enhancements of a hanyou. Comfortable silence was present for a while until she spoke.

"Inuyasha… I…"

            I looked down at her and waited. She met my gaze for a moment, before looking away, embarrassed. I was immediately concerned. She hadn't been shy since the first time we mated. Finally she sighed heavily and looked back at me.

"I want to go home, Inuyasha. I'm not happy anymore."

            I went totally rigid. 'Why isn't she happy? Maybe it's a passing thing,' I thought desperately. She stood on the branch and hopped down. I picked up Shippo, stood, and set him down where I had been reclining. Then I jumped down after her.

I clutched her shoulders and turned her towards me. She looked to the side. I grabbed her chin and forced her to meet my eyes. "No. You… what did I do wrong?" She flung her arms around me and started sobbing. I cautiously put a hand on her back until she was out of tears. She backed away and wiped her eyes.

"It wasn't you, Inuyasha… I… I met someone else on my last visit home." I stiffened. She stared at me defiantly. I took a few deep breaths, trying to cool my temper, snapping at her, "So that's it, is it?"

"I guess it is."

"No, it's not, you stupid bitch!"

            She gasped in shock as I grabbed her shoulders roughly. I snarled. "Don't you get it? We're mated. That's a lifelong thing! Do you realize how much damage could be done, physically and mentally, to both of us by breaking that bond?" I panted, anger stealing my breath away.

Kagome was shaking in my hold.

She was afraid of me.

            I hissed and shoved her away. "Go. I don't fucking care anymore." My heart clenched in my chest. I really had fallen in love with Kagome. Not the delusional love of teenagers, but the forever kind of love that could lead any youkai to insanity if not fulfilled.

            I felt like I was going to die. Tears sprang into my eyes. I furiously wiped them away. I hadn't cried since I was a pup. No need to start now. Kagome's hand touched my shoulder. "Inuyasha, I-" I snarled and pushed her hand away. "Don't touch me! I want nothing to do with you! Ever again! Ever!" Kagome put a hand to her mouth. And fled.

            The forest was silent, except for my struggling to breathe. Shippo slowly came down the tree and sat down next to me. "Otousan…" I threw my head back and screamed as loud and as long as I could before slamming my fists against the Goshinboku and sliding to the ground.

This damn tree… It always had to steal away my love.

~~~~Yeah, Yeah, I know. I should finish "Caught in the Cat's Eye" but…I got bored with it. Really bored. I'll probably end up removing it sometime. *smiles weakly* Review please!