A Dragon's Fate

Chapter 19

Third person pov

It was dark by the time Kath got there, and before she even landed, she knew she was too late. Her wings and body ached. The kunai, shuriken and senbon needles were still embedded in her painfully, and she was nearing her limit. Kanabi bridge was in ashes, so she knew searching around there would be pointless. She just did her best to go the way she thought Kakashi and his team might, smelling the air for any traces of the boy. She could smell his blood. She could smell Obito's too. She could smell all sorts of blood, and Kath didn't like that. 

Kath beat her wings harshly as she struggled to stay in the air. She could just barely make out Rin's figure through the darkness, and it made her speed up. She remembered this scene. Kakashi waking up on the boulder, and looking out into the field to see Rin staring up at the stars. She was sure he was sobbing. Crying, and so frustrated with himself. Kath knew she would be. She was going to be. She was late. Too late. The dragon should have realized what this big mission was. Kakashi even told her it was on the front lines, and only did it click when she heard those two men outside.

Kath attempted a graceful landing, but ended up rolling painfully due to the kunai and shuriken embedded in her scales. She knew there was also a senbon somewhere in there, although she couldn't pinpoint where. She still managed to roll and land on her feet, her legs nearly collapsing. She let out a weak noise, staring wearily at the terrified Rin in front of her. The girl seemed frozen in fear, her face tear stained, and her eyes wide with horror. Rin shook in Kath's intimidating presence.

Minato was in front of his student in a second, a kunai raised. Kath let out a small roar, stumbling back. "Stay away!" Minato breathed, his eyes wide in fear and awe. Standing before him, kunai and shuriken embedded in it's purple body, was a dragon. A real, breathing dragon. It looked tired and desperate, blood dribbling from it's wounds, and it's chest heaving. Minato didn't want to draw any conclusions, but he was quite sure this large reptile was a female. He wasn't sure how he could tell... but the thing just looked that way. Sort of like how dogs look feminine, and others appear more masculine.

Kakashi didn't look over at his team, sitting at the base of the boulder he'd woken up on, staring at his shaking hands as he processed what had just happened. Obito was dead, and it was his fault. As much as Kakashi denied it, Obito had been his friend. They didn't get along too well, but they were friends. They were comrades. Obito was supposed to be able to count on him, and Kakashi let him down. Not only that, but Obito sacrificed himself for Kakashi. Of course the Hatake thought it was his fault. This was all his fault. Everything was his fault.

Kath tried to speak, but she couldn't seem to form words. Her attempt at speaking came out as a rather pitiful whine. She was still tired, ready to pass out. But she couldn't. She had to get to Kakashi, and she had to make sure he was okay. Of course he wasn't okay, but Kath had to make sure he was safe. She wanted to provide comfort for her friend, and honestly, she needed comfort too. She'd killed thousands of people, including Neji Hyuga. She killed the jinchuuriki who'd been caught, and she killed Gaara, even if he was brought back to life later. She killed Jiraiya, and she killed Minato. She killed Rin too.

"Stay. Back." Minato said firmly as the creature stumbled forward, knees nearly buckling as it's large frame shook and trembled. Kath ignored him, shuffling past him slowly. Minato slowly turned, blue eyes wide as the creature slid past him, not sparing him a second glance. Minato clenched his kunai, contemplating stabbing the thing. He'd never seen a dragon before, let alone fought one. Stabbing it didn't feel right. It wasn't doing anything wrong.

"K-Kakashi." Rin's voice was hoarse, and it shook quite badly. "No!" Minato shouted as Kath dragged herself towards Kakashi. Minato watched in horror as Kakashi looked up, feeling the dragon's hot breath ruffle his hair. Rin's scream fell upon deaf ears as Minato scrambled forward, his world going in slow motion as the dragon crouched down to Kakashi's height, her eyes meeting his only visible one, which was wide with surprise. Minato cried out, chakra exhaustion catching him before he could perform the Hirashin.

"I'm here." Kath whispered just so he could hear. Fresh tears welled up in Kakashi's pained eyes, and he hugged the dragon around the neck, wailing. "K-Kath!" He sobbed pitifully as the dragon sat down, wrapping her arms around him the best she could, doing her best to cradle and surround him on this cold night. Minato stopped, nearly tripping at his students cry. That name... Kakashi's girlfriend? There was no way it could be the dragon, which could only mean one thing...

"He lied." Minato whispered, staring at Kakashi in shock as he sobbed. The dragon's tail flicked back and forth, and she licked his hair like a cat grooming it's dear companion. Minato watched in awe as the dragon's rumbles soothed Kakashi, her warmth calming him, and her whispers reassuring him. Minato wasn't sure what the creature was saying, but he knew it was talking. He knew she was talking, and by the looks of it, she and Kakashi were close. They were friends.

"What are y-you doing here? You're going to get yourself killed." Despite his despair, Kakashi felt immensely worried for his closest friend. He could now see the way she struggled to catch her breath, and he could smell the metallic tang of blood coming from her. "I had some trouble getting out of Konoha because I'm a dumbass who forgot she had wings, but I'm okay. Just tired." She assured. "How... How did you know?" His voice was muffled by the soft scales on her chest. "I heard some people talking outside your window and I just... I knew. I knew something was wrong." She mumbled, shaking her head sadly. Kakashi looked down at his lap, closing his lone eye.

He pretended he was in his bed, asleep just like always. Kath was curled around him just as she always was, and tomorrow he would wake up and go to training. He'd ignore Rin's greeting, and he'd nod to Minato-sensei. He'd scold Obito for being late, and then he'd beat the Uchiha at taijutsu. He'd correct Rin's stance, and tell Obito that his grip on his kunai was wrong. Obito would call him uptight, and Minato-sensei would laugh. He'd come home and see that Kath knocked over the fridge again. He'd smile at her sleeping form as she lie awkwardly on her back, twisted in an odd position. 

And just for a second, everything was okay.