Kakashi's Teammate, the Lightning Goddess

Failure

*edited*

Chapter 23: Failure

                You have been defeated.

                “Shut up!” I yelled at the voice that seemed to come from nowhere, and yet everywhere. “You don’t know me!”

                You need to learn to give up, Kira Izanami.

                “I’m not going to back down,” I announced to the darkness. Why was I floating in space again? “You can go stick your words up your ass, because I’m not listening.”

                Ah, but one day you will. Listen, Kira. Just listen.

                Something inside me compelled me to do as the voice said, and I stayed silent, straining to hear sounds. And then, the black darkness became clearer, and it all made sense again.

                “You need to kill me, Kakashi.”

                “I can’t do that.”

                “You need to! Otherwise, I will betray the village without meaning to…”

                Rin’s voice trailed off, and the space again went silent… but not for long.

                “Obito is dead.”

                A new, familiar voice joined the conversation. My heart ached.

                “I am aware of that fact, Kakashi; however, what of your other teammate?”

                Kakashi paused, before saying, “It is my fault; please bestow upon me whatever punishments would be fulfilling for such a crime.”

                “So you weren’t thinking clearly, or you truly believed…”

                Minato’s question wasn’t completely phrased like one, but it was obvious that it was one, and that Kakashi was expected to answer.

                “I don’t know,” he said finally. “I don’t know.”

                There was another long silence, in which I played with my fingers out of boredom, but soon enough, yet another familiar voice floated through the darkness.

                “I’m sorry for all I did.”

                There was silence after that short sentence, and I quickly guessed that he was alone, talking to perhaps whatever spirits or gods were up there.

                “I’m sorry for abandoning Obito. I’m sorry for letting Rin go. I’m sorry for letting Kira and Obito die. I’m sorry for the deaths I caused. I’m sorry for all the mistakes I made – “ There was a small sob, and I could feel my jaw drop; Kakashi never cried. He rarely even showed emotion. “ – and most of all, I’m sorry that I can’t go back and fix things. It was never meant to be this way.”

                I know, the strange voice said. I know. I agree.

                “How I wish I could take it all back… everything… if only I could travel back in time and make things right – “