what is this I don't even

My favourite pairing, straight up.

"Who's there?"

Sakura launched herself to her feet, swaying dizzily as blood rushed to her head.

Kakashi inclined his head, hands in his pockets. "Yo."

"Oh, it's just you." She sat back down with a plop. "I thought you might've been someone important."

"You wound me."

"You shouldn't sneak up on a kunoichi like that. One wrong move and you could've been missing an arm. Or a testicle."

"You can take an arm, I have need for those testicles. And it's not my fault that you're sleeping."

"I wasn't sleeping. I was going over mission details. In my head."

"You have drool on your chin."

Sakura quickly removed the offending traces of drool from her face. "What brings you all the way out here, Kakashi-Sensei?"

Kakashi took a seat beside her, and stared off into the distance. "Oh you know, this and that."

Sakura stared off as well. "Tsunade sent you to find me, didn't she?"

"That she did."

"She's pissed, isn't she?"

"That she is."

"How bad is it?"

"She's offered fifty ryo to whoever finds you first."

Sakura smacked Kakashi in the arm. "I should've known better. Here I thought you actually cared."

Kakashi winced, and rubbed his arm. "Hey, I go where the money is. Besides, I really… Wanted to spend some time with you."

"Do you mean that?"

"Not at all."

Another smack to the arm.

"God, I'm wondering if fifty is even worth the abuse."

"Don't push your luck," Sakura said threateningly. "One more dig, and I'm putting chakra into it."

"Alright, alright!" Kakashi held up one hand in defence, while one protected his nether regions. "Just… Aim for the face. Remember, I use those testicles."

'Yes, yes. I remember." The two soon lapsed into silence, each wrapped up in their own thoughts.

"Kakashi- Sensei?"

"Hm?"

"Aren't you going to ask why I'm skipping hospital duty?"

Kakashi leaned back on his elbows. "I'm sure you'll tell me anyway."

A glare bored into the side of his head. "I thought you wanted those testicles."

A deep, rumbling sigh. "Very well. Why are you skipping hospital duty?"

Sakura wrapped her arms around her knees. "Do you ever wonder what the point is?"

"The point of what?"

"I don't know." Sakura flopped onto her back, blowing pink strands out of her face with a great gust of air. "Everything."

"I just love it when women are specific."

"Idiot!" Hissed Sakura. "I'm baring my soul over here!"

Kakashi flapped his hand in her direction. "I kid, I kid. Go on with your world-weary ramblings."

"Well," Sakura began tentatively, "I heal people every day. And sometimes they make it, sometimes they don't. But even if they do make it, they'll just come back later, bruised and bloody, and I'll stitch them up again. And it goes on and on."

"Hm."

"And they'll just go out, and come back, until they can't go out anymore." Sakura looked at Kakashi. "Because, you know, they're dead."

"I got that, thanks."

"Just yesterday, a genin was sent in, but I couldn't help him. He died on the operating table, and I had to tell his whole squad."

"It happens."

"But why?" She turned to Kakashi. "Why does it happen?"

He stared at her seriously. "It's the life we chose, Sakura. We do things that are both honourable and dishonourable every day, and sometimes it's hard. But we chose it as ninja."

"I know." She wiped her nose with her hand. "It just sucks, is all."

"Hey, stop crying. It makes your face look weird."

"Testicles!" Sakura screeched, waving her fist threateningly.

Kakashi laughed. "Life goes on, Sakura. It always does."

"Yeah." Sakura stretched out on the ground. "If I go back with you willingly, can we split the ryo?"

"Sure."

"Good." She closed her eyes. "We'll go in a bit."

Kakashi flipped Icha Icha open. "Sounds good to me."

They stayed that way for a while, and Kakashi didn't protest when a small hand found its way into his.