I gave a groan as my leg snapped beneath me, blood pooling onto the earth.

Nearby, the large form of Akamaru lay limp, the dirt surrounding him stained a deep crimson.

No... not Akamaru... he was my best friend...

"Akamaru... you can't be dead... please..." I whispered, coughing blood onto the ground.

My throat felt as though someone had shoved a flaming stick down it.

My eyes were weak and blurry, and I squeezed them shut as tears rolled down my cheeks.

I glanced to my side, seeing your body crumpled up like an old toy shoved in a box.

I bit my lip, causing a trickle of blood to drip down my muddy chin.

Your pale eyes seemed even paler, staring off somewhere that I assumed to be peaceful and safe.

They looked empty.

Your clothes were tattered to shreds, scars covering your body.

Your face was covered with tears and blood.

"Neji..." I whispered, my voice breaking.

I crawled next to you, struggling to make it the 10 feet towards your dead body.

I squeezed your hand tightly with the little remaining energy in my body.

"Neji... I had always admired you..." I whispered, barely able to speak, due to the dried blood coating the inside of my throat.

"You were like my idol, my light..."

"And now..." I murmured, the tears coming out in great, big gulps.

"And now you're dead, and it's all my fault! It was all my fault, Neji!" I cried, collapsing onto your limp form.

"Please, wherever we go..." I squeezed out, the tears pouring down my cheeks making marks in the warm blood that laid on them.

"Forgive me..." I whispered.

I was hanging by a thread, barely able to stay alive.

I closed my eyes, hoping my sleep would take me somewhere peaceful.

A breeze blew past, tossing our limp forms to the sky, passing us into oblivion.