Author's Note: This is an archive oneshot collection, mostly for previously deleted oneshots/collections, and Tumblr-only ficlets and headcanons. This amounts to: Inuvember 2018 (Ch 5-11), Inuvember 2017 (Ch 12-35), Inuyasha Alphabet "Drabbles" (Ch 36-61), Tumblr ficlets (Ch 62-66), Tumblr headcanons (Ch 67-74), and two previously deleted oneshots (Ch 75-76).

"Regrets and Revenge" was written out of pure spite that Koga didn't fight in the final battle against Naraku. Apologies in advance for angst.

Posted here and Tumblr: Jan. 7, 2019

Setting: Canon Divergence AU, Final Act

Words: 1,577

Rated: T

Genre: Action, Major Character Death, Angst

Regrets and Revenge

Before Naraku, life was simple for Koga. He let his wolves hunt wherever they pleased (and human villages were an easy place for plenty of fresh meat, both human and livestock), he battled the Birds of Paradise, he took care of his tribe.

Kagome and her friends were the first change in Koga's life as pack leader. From then on, he forbade the consumption of humans (unless it was a genuine battle), and resorted to raiding farms and hunting wildlife. His wolves obeyed him because he was Alpha, no matter how bizarre his reasoning was to them.

Then, his brothers and cousins from the West came looking for Jewel shards and attacked a castle. When Koga raced off to stop them, the overwhelming stench of blood nearly clogged his senses. All he saw were the countless bodies of his slaughtered brethren, and Inuyasha covered in their blood.

Much of that night was a blur to Koga, but in the end, only two things mattered: many wolf-demon lives were lost that night, and the true culprit was a creature known as Naraku.

Since then, Koga abandoned his responsibilities as Alpha. His mind was fixed on one thing, and one thing: avenging his comrades and bringing an end to the despicable Naraku.

But after a while, secretly, in the furthest recesses of his mind, this game of hide-and-seek was getting old.

For a brief time, after the long-drawn-out battle between the Band of Seven on Mount Hakurei, Koga's conflicted mind danced with the idea of taking up Ayame's offer and returning to his tribe. Maybe settle down and marry her. Punch out some cubs. Continue to live in peace with family and friends.

Until...

"Goraishi!" Koga yelled, slicing down on Moryomaru's impenetrable armor. Or rather, on Naraku, who had consumed his minion's body. The bastard would go to any lengths for power.

Seething with a desire to destroy the parasite that ruined so many lives, the reason behind the deaths of his comrades, Koga struck again. But the nasty tendrils wrapped around his legs dragged him deeper into the repulsive mutated body of his hated enemy. His paralyzed legs were no good either, all thanks to Moridiko's will, or whatever bullshit that Kikyo was talking about.

Koga thrashed in vain, but then his head went under, until he was completely covered in disgusting liquid within Naraku's body, being dragged deeper and deeper...

Dammit! If I'm going to die, so be it, but I refuse to become a part of Naraku's flesh! Help me... my ancestors...

A light enveloped him. Raising his heavy hand, Koga brought down Goraishi's claws once more and broke away from his nemesis. The howling of wolves surrounded his being, giving him strength to deal a brutal blow onto Naraku's body.

For a moment, the infant – Naraku's heart – was exposed once more.

"GIVE HIM THE FINISHING BLOW, MUTT!" Koga yelled at Inuyasha, as he leaped away. Or tried to. Once again, his legs froze. Fuck!

The sound of flesh tearing apart rang in his ears, but he registered no other sound. In the distance, he saw Kagome standing on the cliff below, her mouth open in horror, screaming silently. But why was she...? As if in slow-motion, he looked down at himself.

Naraku's tendrils had reached up at the last minute and ripped off the flesh around his ankles, exposing his bones. Another one burrowed itself deep into his chest, piercing his heart. Even now, he felt it throb painfully, attempting to pump blood and strength back into his body, but to no avail.

Oh. So, that's it.

And he fell into darkness.

When he opened his eyes again, he was lying on the cold ground on his back. A blurry figure hovered over him. His face felt wet, like it was raining. Sounds surrounded him, muffled and overlapping one another. Distantly, he wondered if he was in the netherworld.

"-oga! Koga!"

Kagome's tear-stained face came into focus. Another teardrop fell and landed on his cheek. Ah. So, that's why he felt wet. Strangely, this was amusing to him. He tried to smile, but ended up coughing instead, his whole body seizing with agonizing convulsions.

"He looks really bad."

"Can you help him, Lady Kagome?"

"I-I don't know..."

"Still, at least wolf-boy won't die in vain. He dealt a pretty serious blow to Naraku."

Koga grunted at this. "Mutt..." he said, his voice raspy and thick. "What was that... you just said...?"

"Your Goraishi severely injured N-Naraku," Kagome said, hiccupping as she attempted to wipe her tears. "It'll take some time for him to get back up."

"Ah. But I didn't kill him."

"Save it, wolf, none of us can kill Naraku by ourselves, so don't beat yourself up too much," Inuyasha barked, coming into view. His voice sounded harsh and indifferent, but his eyes... What was that look?

"Heh," Koga smirked, coughing slightly again, and spitting out a wad of blood. "I don't know what you're talking about, mutt-face, I'm perfectly-"

"Koga." Kagome spoke again, fresh tears shining in her eyes. "Your legs."

For the first time, Koga realized that the only part of his body that felt no pain was below his knees. A cold dread filled him. "A-are they...?"

"Naraku sliced them off to get your stupid Jewel shards," Inuyasha said bluntly. Again, his voice contrasted greatly with his expression. What the hell was that?!

"What's with that look, mutt?!" Koga snapped. "I already knew that! I saw those fucking tendrils wrapped around me-"

He was cut off again by another attack of coughing, followed by vomiting up blood. Mercifully, Kagome helped him sit up enough so he wouldn't choke. Through his blurred vision, he could see the stubs of his missing legs, and blood and miasma mixed together on his torn-up chest.

This is it, isn't it?

"I'm so sorry, Koga!" Kagome sobbed, as she laid him back down. "I would p-purify you, but I'm afraid... I'm afraid..."

"You're afraid you'll purify my ass out of this world, yeah, I know," Koga said with a smirk, though it hurt the corners of his mouth. For a moment, blackness wavered across his vision. He didn't have much time. Using up the last of his strength, he reached up and clasped Kagome's hands. "K-Kagome, please, don't... don't cry... You're really – beautiful, when you smile. Okay?"

He brushed one hand over her cheek, catching a tear as it slid down. She hiccupped, and nodded, though the tears continued to flow freely.

Koga took in a shuddering breath. Darkness hovered over him. Please, wait, just a little bit longer, he pleaded to the gods.

Then, with an effort, he smiled at Kagome again. "You really... really are an amazing woman, you know. I'm glad... glad I fell in love with you. Even though I know, I always knew," here, he turned his head and locked eyes with Inuyasha, "you'd never really love me back."

His old rival's face softened, the golden eyes flashing with an emotion Koga had never seen before. In other circumstances, he'd take this chance to tease him mercilessly for being a weakling. But now... Now, with Kagome sobbing uncontrollably at his side, the rest of the gang standing off respectfully and quietly mourning his inevitable departure from this world... Now, he had to put aside his old pride.

"Listen here, mutt—no, Inuyasha" - the half-demon started at Koga using his name - "you... must not fail me... you must promise me... that you will kill Naraku... don't let my death be in vain...

"And- for fuck's sake," Koga continued, heaving a deep breath, stubbornly delaying death as long as he dared, "Inuyasha, stop making Kagome cry. Make her... make her happy, like I never could have..."

"I will," Inuyasha said softly, his voice hoarse. His face was contorted, like he was trying desperately to keep up appearances and remain indifferent in the presence of his rival's last wish, but also couldn't help revealing his true feelings.

For some reason, that gave Koga some comfort.

He closed his eyes for a moment and sighed deeply. Maybe he shouldn't have wasted so much time. Right now, he could be living comfortably in his cave back home, surrounded by the smell of freshly devoured corpses, the laughter of his family and the howling of wolves. Maybe then he'd have no regrets.

But, no. He may be far from his wolf pack, but Inuyasha and Kagome had unknowingly given him another family. One that drove him crazy. One that pissed him off. But one he was proud of, nonetheless.

For the first time, Koga became aware of Ginta and Hakkaku, his two loyal friends, sobbing quietly on his other side. He wondered for a moment why he didn't notice before, since they were always making a fuss. But then again, he mused, that was when he was never in true danger. He wasn't dying back then.

In respect of their Alpha and comrade, they chose to quietly mourn over him. His chest filled with pride.

"Ginta... Hakkaku..."

They looked up, startled.

"Take care of our family... in my place..."

"O-of course, Koga," they said, sniffing and trembling with barely controlled sobs.

"And... if you see Ayame again... tell her... I'm sorry... I didn't keep my promise..."

He spoke too much. He could feel Death's grip on his soul. Taking one last shuddering breath, Koga looked upward at the stars.

"I'm coming... my brothers..."

And he knew no more.

FYI: this is the ONLY oneshot in this collection that was "new" at the time I originally posted it on . From here on out, everything else will be ARCHIVED WORKS, from previously deleted oneshot collections to Tumblr-only ficlets posted here at last.