Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters affiliated therewith. Neither do I own Riku, whom I am using with the permission of AzNcHiBi. I only own Katsuki.
Note: If I may be so bold, I suggest listening to either "Yuna's Ballad" from the Final Fantasy X-2 Soundtrack or "Tonight and the Rest of My Life" by Nina Gordon while reading this chapter.
Katsuki's legs trembled from the impact of the bomb Deidara had hurled at Kakashi's back. She didn't hear the copy nin's horrified scream or the sudden outraged roar of the Houkou as it turned on Deidara, jaws snapping at him as he lay on the ground, blood pouring from his shoulder. The blonde Iwa man was laughing maniacally with hysteria, tears of grief and utter shock streaming from his eyes as he saw the macabre result of his 'artwork.'
"Kah… Aha ha ha!… Katsuki…!" Genma watched in horror as the Five-Tailed Dog advanced upon the insane man, lips curling back from enormous white teeth, mouth opening in an unforgiving maw before snapping shut, cutting off the deranged laughter for eternity. The brunette cringed as blood streamed from between the Houkou's teeth and the Iwa nin's body fell limply away from her mouth in a crimson puddle. Genma looked on, stomach heaving at the extreme carnage committed by his beloved, as the Houkou turned to stare him in the eyes.
"Riku…" He couldn't do much more than whisper, before he turned away from the rage- and pain-filled eyes and was violently sick. Kakashi stood frozen in horror, shell-shocked by both the explosion and the scene of violence less than five feet in front of him. Viscous crimson liquid flowed around his feet from his lover, her body still hunched over. He didn't feel the thick, searing liquid as it dripped down his face, staining his clothes, matting his hair. It was a struggle to even lift a single foot in the air; harder still to put it back down in the puddle of Katsuki's blood. Kakashi's mismatched eyes couldn't help but stare at the gaping hole in her abdomen, through which he could see the bloodied remains of what had been her hands.
"Sen… sei…" Katsuki's voice was faint as her head lifted slightly, azure eyes unfocused as she tried to take a step forward, only to stagger and collapse. Kakashi, who had broken free from his initial shock, rushed to her side, tears flowing from his eyes in torrents, hands scrabbling in vain to try and heal her. Yet, the painful knowledge was already there in his mind, not quite registering, that she could not be saved.
"Katsuki… Katsuki… Katsu-chan, look at me! Please!" Genma wiped his mouth and hurried to his friend's side, gripping his arms as he rolled the brunette over so she lay face-up. The damage from the bomb was even worse from her front, and Kakashi's body went lax as he stared, unable to tear his eyes away. Genma was able to get him a few feet away, before the Houkou padded over to Katsuki, eyes dangerously narrowed. The brunette's eyes opened, still unfocused, and she choked out a mouthful of blood, the crimson liquid flowing freely over her throat. The remains of her right hand lifted, the bones of some fingers clearly visible, barely held together with bits of sinew, others blown off completely, and all covered in a sticky coat of blood.
"Sensei…" The Riku-Houkou gently placed its snout in her hand, trying not to inhale the harsh metallic stench of the blood. Katsuki glanced to her left, eyes focusing on her sobbing lover and Genma. The clouds over Konoha began to mourn, fat drops of rain falling from the sky to drench the dying woman in its own tears. But she was beyond caring with her life already half-slipped away.
"Kakashi… Genma…" Her other maimed hand, little more than a mangled forearm, reached out toward them. The copy ninja pulled out of his friend's grasp, crawling toward his lover, before gently wrapping his fingers around her bicep, avoiding any injured parts of her body. Katsuki's eyes turned to the sky above her, partly obscured by the damp, matted white fur of the Riku-Houkou's snout. A small smile broke out on her face, and the brunette felt happier than she had ever felt, on the verge of death. Her eyes became glassier as her life slipped away by the millisecond, but her lips formed a sentence which would long outlive anyone, the ones which would defy her death and serve as a reminder to all. And as she took her final breath, Katsuki closed her eyes and spoke in a clear, strong, bold voice.
"No regrets."
A/N: There you go. This is, officially, the end of the main plot line between AzNcHiBi and I. For three long years I've let this story drag on, procrastinating on it to the extreme, but I am glad it is finally done. However, I have decided to write up an epilogue to it, one which will help the transition between "Ninja Taboo" and "Destiny of the Forsaken" go more smoothly.
Many, many thanks to all my reviewers, who stuck with the story despite its extreme length between updates and overall lack of true Naruto-plotline-focus.
And, of course, the greatest thanks to AzNcHiBi, for without her brilliant advice and help via email, this story would probably not exist.
みんなさん！ ども ありがとう ございます！