Chapter 48

"What's wrong, Kakashi? You look absolutely petrified." Kyoryu said with a wide grin.

The mocking tone grated on Kakashi's ears. That wide cheshire grin had never left the man's face. Trying to overcome his shock, Kakashi did his best to reign in his composure. His fists tightened at his sides and his eyes narrowed, jaw flexing as he held himself together. He had to keep it together. It was only him and Pakkun against this man, and while he found himself wanting nothing more than to watch the life leave his eyes, Kaklashi couldn't risk being hasty.

The scarred man whistled, "That's a face." He slung the mask he held over his shoulder and took a step closer to Keiko's body.

"Who are you?" Kakashi's statement came out more as a demand than a question.

The two men locked eyes as Kyoryu crouched down next to Keiko's prone form. With each step the man took, Kakashi could feel the rage within him roar. The man gestured to the sword still firmly planted within her chest cavity. "Wouldn't you rather know, 'why'? I went through so much trouble to bring you here, after all. To return the favor."

Kakashi didn't bother responding, so the man continued, "I know what it's like, you know. To long for that warm touch, hear the smile in their voice, see the light in their eyes. I know exactly what you must be feeling right now. Regret, despair, an unbearable amount of rage." He smirked and reached to brush the dark hair from her deathly pale face. He cast an almost thoughtful look down at her face as he did so. The wind almost immediately tossling the hair back to where it had been. "It's almost regrettable to kill something so beautiful. But then again, you never seemed to mind." His words dripped from his lips like venom and he stood. Meeting Kakashi's flaming gaze as if to dare Kakashi to challenge his statement.

"What are you talking about?" Kakashi bit out. He was becoming fed up with this man's cryptic words.

"I'm talking about how you murdered Junko. My beloved."

For the briefest of moments, Kakashi's eyes widened in clarity. He had no idea who his woman Junko was, but this man said he had killed her. His mind flashed to his days in the Anbu. How many people had he killed? Lord, he couldn't even fathom... Too many.

And now it seemed all of it was coming back to haunt him in the worst way. His eyes flickered to Keiko's face and his eyes clamped shut. Even just looking at her was too much. Like a knife twisting in his heart.

"I do have a question. Did you enjoy her body as much as I did?"

Kakashi's breath caught in his throat, eyes wide. "What?" Came his enraged whisper. Far too quiet for his enemy to hear.

A sickening smile spread across the man's face. "I could never quite get enough of this sound." He pressed his heel into her wrist, a sharp crack sounding from where the bones had snapped. Yet there was no reaction from the empty shell. "I truly will miss her screams."

Like a thread snapping, Kakashi couldn't hold it in any more. In a burst of blinding speed powerful enough to leave a cloud of upturned snow in his wake, he rushed forward.

Kyoryu's grin widened and in one fluid motion he wrenched the blade from Keiko's prone body. Not a moment later, his blade met Kakashi's kunai. The clang of the metal singing in his ears.

"Well, what an honor it is to see the famed Sharingan up close." Kyoryu chuckled, looking into Kakashi's mismatched and furious eyes.

Kakashi's kunai strained against the blade of his opponent for a few moments before Kyoryu threw him off with a powerful swing. The Copy Ninja jumped back but his opponent wasn't far behind. He had to gauge how powerful this man was. He couldn't let his emotions get the better of him and underestimate the man.

The two men engaged in close quarters combat. Kyoryu lashing out attack after attack while Kakashi dodged and parried, testing his opponents defenses. The clang of metal on metal pieced the high winds.

Suddenly, Kakashi lost his footing and Kyoryu smiled as he took full advantage of the opening. Slicing in an upward movement, his blade cut deeply into Kakashi's chest.

Or so he thought.

Kakashi disappeared in a puff of smoke and a log was in his place. Kyoryu cursed. Such a juvenile trick and he fell for it.

He knew Kakashi must have hidden somewhere, but he hadn't been expecting him to erupt from the snowy ground just behind him. Even though his body twisted rapidly in an attempt to block the attack, his ears heard it first. A rapid chirping. Just as he held his sword up, his eyes widened seeing what could only be the infamous Chidori bearing down on him.

Kakashi had been aiming for the man's chest or any other vital area, but his opponent moved quickly. The man's sword offered just enough time and leverage to grant him a few precious seconds to get his viral points out of harm's way. By not before the sword snapped in two. The Chidori grazed the man's upper arm with a satisfying crackle.

Kyoryu jumped back as did Kakashi. The Copy Ninja looked back at Pakkun who was still standing there with his eyes wide. It would seem Pakkun was just as taken aback by it all as he was.

"Pakkun! The others!" Kakashi shouted, bringing the pug out of his thoughts.

As Pakkun ran back to gather the others for backup, Kakashi watched as Kyoryu stood and chuckled. As he clutched his now injured arm he stood straighter, "But the others will just spoil our fun. I've still got so much I want to share with you."

"What are you talking about?" Kakashi demanded.

A foul laugh echoed through the area. "She never told me anything, but she didn't need to. All I wanted from her was her screams."

Kyoryu rushed Kakashi once again. He reached under his poncho and pulled out a shorter blade as he moved closer.

As Kyoryu made his advance, Kakashi made his hand symbols and slapped his hands on the ground. The earth rumbled under him before the earth erupted into spikes. Unfortunately, Kyoryu was able to see the little trick coming this time and jumped to avoid the attempt to impale him. While in the air, Kyoryu made a few hand signs of his own and inhaled deeply. A mass of fire erupted from his mouth as he descended.

Kakashi moved out of the way quickly, drawing another kunai to defend himself. It would only be a matter of time before Pakkun led the others to them. Then he would be able to pin the weasIe down and be rid of him for good.

The flames engulfed the ground leaving the snow half melted and iced over with the wilted grass peaking through. Kyoryu didn't skip a beat and leapt right for Kakashi. The two engaged in rigorous combat as Kyoryu spoke venomously between attacks and dodges. "If only you could have heard it, Kakashi! The lovely sound of her bones breaking!"

The sudden declaration caught Kakashi off guard. For only a moment, his attention was off what was in front of him and instead he envisioned the sight Kyoryu spoke of. It was just long enough that Kyoryu was able to take advantage of a small opening. Slashing his sword across Kakashi's side.

Kakashi grit his teeth, tightening the grip on his kunai as he blocked the next attack. Kyoryu continued, "Watching the blood seep from her wounds. Hearing those delicious screams!"

Leaping back, Kakashi tried to steady himself. He had to keep it together! Hold this guy off long enough for the others to arrive or find an opening. Feeling the wet warmth spreading on his side and the throbbing pain, he cursed. He couldn't allow himself to become distracted. He couldn't think about her. He couldn't think-

His thoughts were interrupted by Kyoryu as the man admired the fresh blood glistening on his blade. "The only thing that brought me more pleasure was knowing that you would have to live with the guilt. The guilt of being too late. But don't worry, you won't live for long!" With those last few words, he sprung forward with his hand raised to prepare a jutsu.

For a moment, everything seemed to slow and the world fell away.

Kakashi felt cold, hollow. Not from the blistering wind or snow, but from deep within. Since coming upon the clearing and seeing sight, Kakashi had done his best to ignore that unfathomable feeling brewing within him. As if his heart that had so painstakingly been pieced back together, crumbled to dust.

He was too late. Why was he always too late?

He couldn't save Obito.

He couldn't save Rin.

He wasn't there for his Sensei.

And he couldn't save Keiko.

This had been his fear. To once again have someone so important ripped away from him.

His body trembled as his eyes darted toward Keiko's body once again. He could feel something within him building as his despair faded and was replaced with something else. All at once, the pent up emotions came flooding out of him. All of the grief, anger, guilt and regret, erupted at once.

To hell with waiting for backup.

Kyoryu smiled as he raised his blade and lunged forward readying a jutsu. This was it! The moment he had been waiting for for years! To finally put an end to the Copy Ninja once and for all! And to finally avenge his lost love.

But something changed.

Suddenly, Kakashi's hands flew in a flurry of movements that his eyes couldn't comprehend. He'd never seen anyone weave a jutsu so fast! Realizing he was approaching a hazard, he dug his heels in and leapt back just in time.

The jutsu Kakashi had used seemed to encase his whole body in flames and he spun. His chakra flaring as the flames spread around him and engulfed the area. Kyoryu caught himself, sliding back against the snow covered ground he could feel the intense heat radiating.

Kyoryu watched with wide eyes. Where did that come from?! All his research led him to believe that Kakashi was the type to conserve his energy in a fight. He wouldn't waste so much chakra on such a display!

When the flames died down, Kyoryu saw him. He looked just the same as before. Standing in a now barren circle, a few licks of flame dying out on the newly uncovered grass. Kyoryu smirked, he wasn't going to be frightened by something like this. He knew Kakashi was a calculated fighter. This display could only mean that the man was growing desperate.

He opened his mouth to shout another remark but before he had a chance he was knocked back. A solid kick to his chest sent him flying back again And he tried to catch himself but tumbled before flipping back onto his feet. Unable to mask the shock on his face any further he looked up, flipping his hair out of his face. Then he saw it, his eye.

It wasn't the same Sharingan.

He grit his teeth, "Some cheap imitation won't work on me!" Kyoryu shouted, bringing his hand up to perform a jutsu. As he did he looked around to the tree line on either side of him.

Where the hell was Kabuto?

Kakashi flexed his hands. Something was different. Somehow the normally pristine and vivid vision from the Sharingan was even more immaculate. Not only that, he could feel his stamina draining by the second. He had to finish this and he had to finish it now. Readying his chidori, Kakashi looked up to find his opponent also weaving hand signs. Kakashi couldn't even admire how much easier it was to read his opponents movements. Without even focusing, he could see the ripple of muscle almost in slow motion down their arms and into those familiar signs.

His teeth clenched. If he was left as an unconscious motionless mess after this, so be it.

As the familiar chirping played in his ears, he noticed the unmelted snow around him move. With the unparalleled perception now granted to him, he knew exactly what was coming and without hesitation moved.

Kyoryu laughed as thousands of needles flew at Kakashi in every direction. His chakra melted the snow and ice and sent it flying toward Kakashi at breakneck speeds. This was it! He had him cornered and there was no way Kakashi would be able to escape this assault!

Until he seemed to blink out of existence.

"Wha-!"

Kyoryu stopped short and he couldn't breathe, couldn't comprehend what exactly had happened. That insistent chirping still loud in his ears. Kakashi was there, blood splattered on his face and body. It only took Kyoryu a second to know that it was his own blood. Unable to grip his blade anymore it fell to the snow and he grabbed for Kakashi, his hand gripping the man's flak jacket in a shaking grip.

He was going to die.

In only a few moments he was no longer going to be part of this world. He had hoped to go on living for just a bit longer, but he supposed this was all he needed. He may not have been able to defeat the Copy Ninja, but he knew he had given the man a wound that wouldn't be so easily healed. If it ever would be.

Coughing blood, Kyoryu looked into Kakashi's furious and bizarre pinwheel eye and grinned. "A-at least… I might see her again… Will you, Hatake?"

As the last word was forced from the man's lips, Kakashi ripped his hand from his chest and stepped to the side to allow the body to fall.

His breathing heavier, he reached up and covered the Sharingan with his headband once again. As he did, the sudden exhaustion swept over him, bringing him to his knees with a groan. He overdid it. And with this new unfamiliar power no less. He'd been reckless and while he knew he should be berating himself for going too far, one glance at the body next to him and those regrets were no more.

All of the pain and anger that had been brewing within him was gone. Grunting, he stood and forced himself to walk. Each step felt heavier than the last. Willing himself not to collapse entirely.

Not yet.

When he finally stood just a few feet from her, he allowed himself to collapse once again to his knees. For a few moments, all he could do was look down and stare at her. Silently praying that she would open her eyes, take a breath, something to alert him that what was in front of him wasn't real.

He reached out, scooping her into his arms so that she leaned against him. She was cold, her skin as icy as the snow she had been laying in. He reached to cup her cheek with one hand and he let out a shaky breath at the soft feeling of her skin against his.

This was real.

This was his fault. She had been targeted because of him. She had been killed because of him. But what could he have done to avoid this? In a world like theirs, killing was an everyday occurance. You had to live with death looming around every corner, breathing down your neck.

That man, whose name he still didn't even know, had a vendetta against him because Kakashi had killed the woman he loved. Well, he had returned the favor. And for a brief moment Kakashi had to wonder if killing him had been a kindness. He had said that he might be able to see his lover again.

Kakashi held Keiko tighter, so tightly that had she been alive he was certain she would protest. He buried his face in her hair, picking up on the faint scent he had grown so familiar with.

And that's how they found him.

"Kakashi! We're-" Guy started as soon as his foot landed on the snowy terrain of the clearing. His words froze in his throat when he saw the scene. "No," he said in a whisper.

Not a moment later, Pakkun, Shizune, Anko, Miura and Musashi landed in the clearing as well. A few cuts and scrapes but everyone was mostly fine, though some of their clothes were tattered.

"Keiko!" Musashi shouted. His voice betrayed just how relieved and worried he was. He ran forward, not noticing how everyone else looked at the scene in shock.

It wasn't until he was much closer that he noticed what everyone else had. The deathly pale skin paired with the blood and the vice grip Kakashi held on her. He slowed to a stop as the realization slowly sank in, his expression showing just how much he couldn't believe what was happening.

"No," he said suddenly, his heart breaking. A hand fell on his shoulder and he looked to find Miura looking at him with a pained expression.

Kakashi, fully aware of the others, laid Keiko down gently and forced himself to stand. They deserved the right to mourn her without him there. Forcing himself not to limp, he made his way over to the nearest tree and leaned his hand against it with his back facing them.

He couldn't face him. Musashi was her father and Kakashi couldn't face him knowing that it was his fault Keiko was dead. He knew the others would deny it and tell him that her death wasn't because of any one person other than the man who plunged the sword into her chest. He knew better though.

His grip on the tree tightened as he heard the hushed sobs behind him. Kakashi lowered his head and clenched his eyes shut.

A large gentle hand fell on his shoulder and he could instantly tell who it was. "Kakashi," Guy said, his voice just barely able to hide the swelling emotion. Kakashi could sense that he wanted to say more, but didn't have the words.

And that was how the group spent the next several minutes. Heads hung low as the weight of reality fell upon them. Musashi's choked sobs and the whistling wind were the only sound they could hear.

Until Anko jerked her head up, "Something's coming."

Her declaration did little to change the atmosphere they were all sitting in. Nevertheless, they readied themselves for whatever was coming. Or, at least, Anko, Shizune and Miura stood ready. The others were too entwined with their grief to look up.

Kakashi remained where he was, confident that if it came to another fight he wouldn't be of any use in his current condition. It was taking enough energy just to remain standing and willing his knees not to buckle beneath him. He closed his eyes again, trying to think of how he could be of use if it came to another battle.

Finally, he heard something land on a tree above them.

"Oh, good."

His eyes snapped open and his head shot up at the startling familiar voice. A tingle ran up his spin and his heart skipped a beat when he heard that soft, soothing and exhausted voice. Kakashi's gaze locked with striking brilliant blue eyes and a weak smile that sent his heart pounding.

"I made it."

Wonder who that could be! (I think we all know, haha)

And yeah, that was the Mangekyo Sharingan. Yes, Kakashi awakened it at the same time as Obito did when Rin died, but obviously Kakashi didn't know he could use it or even know of it's existence until he saw Itachi use his at the river. Since he passed out immediately after it was awakened I thought this would be a great time for him to rediscover it. That was always the plan. More details on this in the next chapter or two. Yes, he didn't use kamui, but the Mangekyo still drains your chakra hella fast, especially since the Sharingan isn't actually Kakashi's.

Really hope you enjoyed the chapter even though it was a bit shorter. I feel like the fight was so much more epic in my head but I tried. At least I'm getting better with fight scenes.

Don't forget to Favorite, Follow, and Review!

Posted - 12/13/2022