Slipping Away

X/1999 fanfiction. My standard disclaimers apply.

Slipping Away

by Lady Aria (writersblock@edsamail.com.ph)

I have to run.

I have to fight.

Run.

Fight.

Run.

Fight.

A blast knocked me to the ground. I heard a growl to my right and then a yelp of pain coming from in front of me. An instant later, I saw a gray/white shape landing in a painful heap at my feet.

"Inuki…."

The next thing I knew, I was drowning. I watched, helpless, as poor Inuki tried to help me, but he was flung away again and again. He was just too weak. After all, he's only a puppy.

Maybe I called for help. Maybe not. In any case, I felt the pain as my body gave up holding its breath and water rushed into my lungs. I was already losing consciousness. It's funny how time seems to slow to a crawl when you're dying. My life flashed before my eyes, but that was brief. I didn't have that much to reflect upon. My life had just been too short for that.

In what was almost like a waking dream, I felt the water recede. Its cold replaced by the warmth of strong arms on my cold skin. I could hear Inuki whimpering somewhere far off and I could vaguely feel a pair of familiar lips press upon mine in a desperate attempt at CPR.

Too late… too late….

I wanted to open my eyes. I wanted to see my Inuki before I die. I wanted to see HIM one last time. But my fate robbed me of even that small comfort.

So I slipped away into the darkness… hearing the sound of my inugami's keening howl and a desperate voice calling my name.

********** The End **********