Author's Note: First fic with Kiba.
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Kiba blinked, praying that the test results would change in that fraction of a second. Denial ate at his heart. Cancer. He walked out to where Akamaru lay waiting.
"You'll be okay..." Kiba whispered, more to himself than Akamaru. "Everything will be fine..."
But it wasn't. Akamaru lay at Death's door because he, Kiba, had failed. He'd seen the signs and thought nothing of it. If only he'd had the money for this sooner. If only...
Kiba's thoughts wandered back to his childhood when he had just gotten Akamaru. The shadow of a person entering an old room, the smell of burning wood and a bark that had taken his attention from the door he was so close to opening. Akamaru had really saved him that time.
Yet he could not bring himself to return the favor. He knew that the best thing to do, the most humane thing to do was to put Akamaru out of his misery. Akamaru looked so peaceful relaxing on his favorite blanket. He knew his time had come. Dogs were weird like that.
"Kiba, I'm here!" Hana yelled across the house.
She quietly approached Kiba and Akamaru.
"Isn't there anything we can do?" Kiba asked, hoping for something, anything to save Akamaru.
"Even the best medication will only keep him alive for two days at the most."
"It was only a cold. How could a cold progress to this?"
"I'm really sorry, Kiba."
Kiba put his arm around Akamaru hoping to comfort him.
"Do it," He said softly.
Hana prepared the first shot to make Akamaru more relaxed. Kiba began petting Akamaru, talking gently to him like the night before when Akamaru had recovered.
"I'm injecting the euthanasia now," Hana said. "I'll tell you when he's gone."
Kiba began petting Akamaru in addition to talking. He took in Akamaru's soft fur for what would be the last time. He continued gently comforting his dog until Akamaru's eyes dilated.
"He's gone," Hana said.
Kiba closed his eyes. He wanted nothing more than to wake up from this nightmare.
"Goodbye, Akamaru."
Author's Note: This was based on my cat, Smokey's, death back in August. We thought he was getting sinus infections. By the time we found out that it was cancer, it was too late. He had a seizure and couldn't breathe anymore. We couldn't stand watching him suffer, so we asked the vet to put him to sleep. Thanks for reading.