A response to my request for inspiration from Fenikkusuken, who requested a look into Koga's thoughts as he left Kagome—and the group—in the latest manga chapters. This is sort of how I saw it. It's longish, for a drabble, but I thought it wouldn't do the wolf-boy justice if I cut it down.

Enjoy!

-Ash

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It was better this way.

He had watched her since the undead miko's loss, lurking at the edges of wherever mutt-face moped. He had watched her eyes as they filled with pity and sadness—and a hopeful longing that tore at his heart and more than ever made him want to rip that stupid hanyou's throat out. Whether she knew it or not, a part of her rejoiced in her rival's demise, and even through the haze of mournful tears she couldn't keep the tiny flares of hope from her eyes.

He doubted anyone had watched her intently enough to notice—anyone but him. Those tiny flares had made up his mind, firming his resolve to leave. He was still strong enough without the Shikon fragments in his legs—his excuses about burdens were half-hearted at best. But he couldn't bear to see the hope rekindled in her eyes when it was mingled with the pain and shame of the miko's death and Inuyasha's guilt. When he began to doubt his reasoning, it took only a glance into her expressive face and he was returned to his senses. And so he took his leave.

The "talk" with Inuyasha had gone as well as he'd expected—the mutt was useless. In his heart he desperately hoped that the idiot would come to his senses, if only to make Kagome happy. He could be content with that, her happiness—even at the expense of his own. It seemed fitting.

When she wrapped her arms around him in farewell, he was nearly undone. The smell of her hair and the feel of her head tucked neatly beneath his chin was almost too much to bear, and it took every ounce of his strength not to sweep her up and carry her away with him. Instead, he made himself put distance between them, took one last, grateful breath of her scent before turning away. He couldn't resist the last jibe at dog-shit, reminding her that he would always be there when Inuyasha failed her. His pride demanded it, as did his heart.

In a swirl of youki and road dust he left, exhibiting the speed that had made him clan-leader in the first place. The clan, and home—he needed them now. Perhaps her adoptive "sisters" and "brothers" could fill the gaping chasm that her absence had left in him.

But even then he thought that as fast as he was, he could ever outrun the heartache of leaving her.