A/N: Yay, I'm updating! I actually didn't intend to write more than the first chapter, but the back of my head kept insisting I write more… and then I got some more ideas too. I guess an unhappy ending isn't so great, so here we go…

I wish I owned InuYasha, but unfortunately, I am just a crazy fan with too much time on their hands.

InuYasha and all characters © to Rumiko Takahashi.

"It's all over…she'll never come back…I'll never see her again…" Inuyasha kept voicing this over and over in his head, as he let the tears run down his cheeks and get absorbed into the soil. His whole life felt without meaning, and he would give anything to be with her again. Kikyo… yes, he had cared about Kikyo, he would have protected her with his life, but their relationship had been more formal, more standard. Kagome and himself, they had an unusual bond that no one could figure out. Sometimes, not even they could unravel the mystery that surrounded the two, a strand of fate had simply joined them.

Shippo bounded after Inuyasha, still able to smell his scent very distinctly. If he was responsible for making her go back to her world, he would get him for this… "INUYASHA! WHY DID KAGOME LEAVE! DID YOU SAY SOMETHI—" The kitsune stopped in mid-sentence, and mid-jump, falling into the well and plopping on the ground. Something was wrong, Inuyasha would normally be mad after sending her home. The young fox hopped over to Inuyasha, and put a shaky hand on his forearm as he peered into his face. Inuyasha was…crying. He felt a ball of guilt drop into his stomach, he had just yelled at Inuyasha, blamed him as usual, and obviously Inuyasha didn't plan on this happening any more than Shippo had.

"She's gone, Shippo…she…went home."

Even though Shippo was still young, he could tell it was taking all Inuyasha had to be able to talk in a calm manner. He knew the answer before he said it, but he had to ask.

"B-but, she's coming back, right?" The kitsune was grasping at any straws he could. Inuyasha let out what was meant to be a chuckle, but it sounded more like a choke.

"No…she… isn't coming back this time."

Even though Shippo expected that answer, it didn't make it any easier when he heard it spoken out loud. It felt as if Inuyasha had made it final by speaking it. He froze for a second, before the words totally soaked into his head. When he finally understood he would never see her again, he let out a sob so loud that Miroku and Sango may have been able t hear it, way back at the village.

"I miss her already!" he bawled into Inuyasha's sleeve, though not expecting any comfort from him. When Inuyasha patted his head in an attempt to console him, though powerless the attempt was, he temporarily stopped crying from the surprise. Inuyasha had rarely ever tried to comfort the kitsune; he would rather let him feel the back of his hand. Nonetheless, it still felt a little soothing to Shippo that Inuyasha shared the pain he was feeling.

Back in Kaede's hut, Miroku and Sango had hardly moved from when Inuyasha and Kagome had run out. Shippo had followed the two soon after, but the monk and taijiya knew better. Neither of them could deny that they had wondered what would happen to Kagome after the jewel was completed, their mission over. They also knew that they might not hear what had happened for a while. Inuyasha was bound to be temperamental and keep to himself for days. There was no doubt in either of their minds, they knew she was gone. If she were still here, they would have returned by now. Of course, they would miss her, but they had just been friends. They had really only been together for a short time, and now it seemed as if their paths were separating once again.

The female taijiya had not moved from where she sat, feeling numb. Kagome was gone. Now it was just the five of them, herself, Miroku, Shippo, Kirara, and Inuyasha. Inuyasha…he had to be devastated. She tried not to dwell on that; it did no good to worry about him. Inwardly, she chuckled. He would not want them to fret over him. Plus, she had her own burden to bear. She would never show the pain that she was feeling, she had learned long ago not to show her emotions, unless it was absolutely necessary. Kohaku was gone forever, but in a way, he was free. She wished there had been a body, so she might bury it in her village with the rest who had met their death at the hands of Naraku. His body had disappeared as soon as Naraku had ripped the shard out of his back, he died…right in front of her. "Stop it." Sango mentally shook herself. "Kohaku died long ago, he died that moment when you were with him, after the possessed lord had taken over his mind…he died with you right beside him. He was not alive when Naraku controlled him, that was not Kohaku, and it never would be." She knew this was not the truth, but in the mind of one who loves, sometimes a lie is better.

If she could have cried, she would. Her mind would not allow it. She had nothing to live for now, she had completed her mission. All the tears she had shed for Kohaku, yet she could not even let one slip, though this time the goodbye had been final. No matter whether she was alone or in the company of others, she could not cry. She alone would carry the pain, and she alone would mourn. No one would ever see her sob, no one would ever see her show the emotions that she felt.She needed to hold onto herself, not for Kohaku anymore, but for her own being.

Miroku had not said a word, retreating into the recesses of his mind. Where would he go now? He had completed the task passed down to him for generations. He hoped his ancestors were proud of him. He would need to pray to them later, and tell them the news. He would pray for Kagome and Inuyasha as well, maybe there was some way that they could be reunited. It was very doubtful; he knew he was just hoping. Though, who ever gave up hope because it was hopeless? He certainly would not. He knew his ancestors would guide him. If there was anything he could do, he would do it as best he was able. "Shippo will most likely return soon, though Inuyasha…who knows with him? He's so hard to figure out, and he wants to keep it that way. He had gotten so much better…and now this happens. He's back to where he was when I first met up with him and Kagome. After what he went through with Kikyo, he trusted nobody. Kagome told us a while ago how he acted, when she first met him…he has changed so much. Kagome changed him, she changed whom he was, how he felt. She made him feel guilt and responsibility. Now she's gone, and he will never be the same."

A/N: Well, that seemed like a good place to end this chapter. Don't worry; there will still be more! I'm getting increasingly busy though, so I'm not sure how long it will be before I update. I have 4H meetings and other things to worry about, but I might be able to update before we have our fair. Wish me luck in rabbit showmanship, I'll need it!