Disclaimer: InuYasha is the property of Rumiko Takahashi, not me.

Amended A/N: Originally I said this was a one shot, but obviously it's not anymore...

I don't know why I wrote this. I don't even know what's going on here, it just crept into my head and refused to leave. If you are looking for a happy story you're gonna have a bad time.

You've been warned.

-SW

I'm Not Coming Back

Chapter One: You're the Reason

InuYasha awoke to the sound of birds singing merrily outside his window. He was alone in his bed. This was nothing new.

It seemed like Kagome had been falling asleep on the sofa more and more often these days.

Although, it was slightly surprising to him on this particular morning, seeing as she had come to bed sometime in the night and they had made love for the first time in what, to him, felt like an eternity.

He dragged himself from the bed and made his way down the stairs, peering into the living room to see that she wasn't there. Her blanket was folded and placed neatly atop her pillow on one end of the sofa.

"Kagome?" he called out her name as he entered the room and got no response. The only sound in the house was the quiet hum of the refrigerator.

Then he saw it.

A single sheet of notebook paper folded and placed on the stack of bedding. Upon it was his name, in her handwriting. It looked ominous to him. He didn't want to touch it. His heart already knew what it would say.

He lifted the note, unfolded it hesitantly, and began to read.

InuYasha,

By the time you find this letter I will have already left. I'm sorry that I had to tell you this way, but I know that if I had tried to tell you in person you'd have talked me out of it.

If ever you'd have done or said anything to convince me to stay I would have stayed. I gave you plenty of chances.

It's better this way. I know that one day you will realize that.

At the end of the day, the fact of the matter was, I'm alive, and she isn't, and I could never compete with your memory of her. I'm tired of trying.

I know you did your best, but your best still left me in second place, and I deserve better than that.

Don't come looking for me, and don't hold onto hope. I don't want you to find me, and I'm not coming back.

It wasn't all bad, but sometimes the joy just doesn't outweigh the pain. Don't blame yourself. It just wasn't meant to last.

I hope you find happiness, InuYasha. I hope you find the person who makes you happy. God knows it wasn't me.

Kagome

InuYasha sat down on the sofa, clutching tightly to the note. His claws poking holes around the edges, threatening to tear it to shreds. He wanted to race out the door and track her down. He wanted to tell her that he loved her and that it was meant to last...but why would he do that? Why would he drag her back into a life filled with pain, of which he was the source? He wouldn't. He wouldn't do it because he did love her and she was, and would always be, first in his heart.

Maybe it was better this way. Because it was better for her he would accept it. He would do what was best for her.

He would let her go.