Everyone thinks it in is tribe, but no one dares say it aloud.

It's your fault, Kouga. Why would Inuyasha kill our tribesmen? Why would he be so ruthless? He's not you. You fool.

If everyone knew why he really believed Kagura when she had said Inuyasha had slaughtered his kinsmen, they'd be so overcomed with anger that they would just spit out all the treacherous thoughts that filled their minds.

She had just been so… pretty, ya know? With her red eyes, full lips, and jet black hair. One look into her eyes and something in him rose and grew and expanded to fill him completely and he knew she could do no wrong.

Of course, he didn't show his feelings – he may be a fool, but he's not an idiot. Is his name Inuyasha?

So he kept up the charade of being in love with Kagome – after all, he still enjoyed seeing the mutt-face riled up. He spat words of vengeance at Kagura and yelled empty promises of killing her.

It wasn't that he thought he had a chance with her… that would be plain… foolish.

Okay, he admits it, all a small part of him thought that, maybe, she could love him, too? Maybe she was breaking inside a little every time they met and fought?

If this were true, she must be utterly destroyed right now as they fought to the death during this final battle… She must be wanting to break away from Naraku's order to eliminate him.

Every pore in his being wanted for him to get down on one knee and spout poetries of love. Every pore in his being was screaming for him to take her into his arms.

There was a lull in the battle and Kouga eyed the woman he loved. She was on her knees and clutching her fan. Slowly, he inched towards her as he heard a sniffle.

"I never wanted this," she murmured. "Never." A sob escaped her and she pressed her face into her hands. Her shoulders shook and Kouga felt something in him break.

He brought her into his arms and embraced her fully. "It's alright. It's alright," he assured her. "You don't have to do this."

For a moment Kagura stiffened but then she continued to sob into his shoulder. Her arms wrapped tentatively around him and Kouga suddenly knew he could die happily now.

Which is good, because a knife suddenly erupted into his back and he heard her cackling in the wind before he fell to the ground.

He was a fool, he realized.

And then he died.

And guess what? It wasn't happily.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. SORRY.