Okay, I decided that it was cruel for me to give you guys the cliff hanger in the last chapter, so I typed this chapter up as fast as possible. Before that, of course, I have some reviewers to thank, who will all receive some digital popsicles.

meikim82- Glad to hear you're enjoying the story! I never thought someone would be so immersed in one of my little tales...

freshman007- It's good to see that the emotions I was trying to convey were believable. I was so worried it would just come off as being overly cheesy, so thanks a lot!

werewolfluvr147- I didn't want you to go through withdrawls with this story, so I hurried to write this chapter especially for you. Enjoy!

Rose Tiger- Trust me, I've devoted too much time into this story to drop it now. There's just a few more chapters left, so I hope you stick with it as well!

Now, on to the chapter-

Chapter 9

It all happened rather quickly. One second Naruto was starting across the street without a care in the world, the next he found himself stumbling back he was pushed onto the sidewalk.

He heard it before he actually saw it… the accident, that is. At first it was just the call of his name, lingering for a moment in the eerie stillness. This was soon engulfed, however, by the screeching of tires, Hinata's horrified screams, and the sickening thud of his rescuer's body connecting with the car.

It was this sound in particular that drew Naruto's attention to the scene unfolding before him. Everything seemed to play out in slow motion, like he was meant to see every detail of the accident just as it occurred. He saw his savior's side bend over the car hood, watched as his head slammed into the windshield and tumbled over the top, and was entranced as the body bounced a sickening three times before rolling to a halt further down the road. As soon as that limp form had stopped, however, Naruto instantly sprung into action, darting down the sidewalk to his fallen rescuer, his eyes wide with fear.

He couldn't have… tell me it wasn't…

Rushing to the injured boy's side, however, Naruto's fears were confirmed. The fang-like marks on his cheeks, that messy, brown hair, and that distinct hooded jacket, now reduced to tatters by the rough pavement…

"Kiba!" the blonde called, lightly lifting the Inuzuka's head off the ground. "Kiba! Snap out of it!"

Naruto could only watch with paralyzing anxiety as he waited for some sign that the dog-boy was still alive. A sound, a movement… anything that could give him some hope. It was the longest minute of the vulpine boy's life, but soon Kiba's eyes opened a crack, accompanied by what could only be described as a groan. "Hmm?"

"Oh, thank God!" Naruto whispered, tears of relief forming in his eyes. "Hinata, call an ambulance, quick!"

He's alive… we still have some time. If they hurry…

As the blonde finally examined his roommate, however, he felt his hope slowly diminish. His body was covered with cuts and bruises from the fall, the blood having already stained what remained of his clothing. Further down, it was quite apparent that his right leg was shattered, given the way it bent in such an unnatural manner. Even worse than this, though, was Kiba's labored breathing, which made him sound as if he were choking on the very air itself.

"Naruto… don't bother…"

"What are you talking about, Kiba?" Naruto asked with feigned ignorance.

"The ambulance… don't bother," the dog-boy continued with an uncomfortable sense of serenity.

"Don't talk like that, you're going to be fine, okay?" Naruto responded with a sniffle. "We're gonna get you to the hospital, and they'll fix you up good, you hear?"

"Naruto… I can't feel… my legs," Kiba said before coughing up a mouthful of blood. "Heh… and I think… I punctured… a lung."

The blonde could only stare in horror at his friend for a second, hoping that this was all just a dream or something… that he could wake up and go apologize, make everything right again.

"Listen, Naruto… I'm sorry."

"Kiba, don't –"

"No, let me finish," the dog-boy interrupted. "Look, I'm sorry… about yesterday… I was wrong…"

"Kiba, it was my fault, I shouldn't have –"

"Damn… you're always… so stubborn," Kiba continued between strained breaths. "Listen… just promise… you'll make her… happy … okay?"

"Of course," Naruto said, wiping the tears from his eyes.

"And… you'd better… take care… of Akamaru… or I'll haunt you… got it?"

"Sure… anything else?"

"Yeah… one more thing," Kiba murmured, his voice growing faint. "Goodbye… Naruto…"

With those words, Kiba's eyes sealed shut for the last time and his head rolled slightly to the side, a peaceful smile on his face. The blonde gazed down at his friend, the tears freely running down his cheeks to join the rain and blood in the street.

"Goodbye, Kiba…"

Okay, this was a really short chapter, I know. I wanted to focus entirely on Kiba's death, though, and I have to say, I actually cried a little bit while typing his last words. I never thought a fan fiction would grow on me so much...

Well, enough of my babble, I want to hear your reviews! Tell me what you think, and stay tuned for the next installment of The Fox and the Hound!