Disclaimer: I do not own "Naruto". The manga belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.


Because I Hate You

Rating: K+


"Do you love me?" The question caused him to halt in the middle of the street. Kakashi turned around, charcoal eyes locking with a pair of green ones. "Do you love me?" Sakura repeated, as she walked over to him, jacket forgotten somewhere in the dark of the bar. It was chill outside. He could see the goosebumps rising on her flesh. "Tell me the truth," Sakura demanded as she stopped in front of him.

"No," he mumbled with an aloof tone.

The young woman smiled. "Liar," she whispered. "You can't lie to me and you know it."

"That's why I hate you," he told her sincerely, turning around to continue down the road. He heard rather than saw her follow him. He did not look down to see her walking next to him, her steps matching his.

"You don't hate me." They both knew it was true.

"I do, deeply."

"Why are you leaving?"

He sighed, pulling down his mask only to place a cigarette between his lips. "Because I'm bored," he mumbled around the roll of tobacco. What else did she expect in a time of peace where he no longer was Hokage?

Sakura crinkled her nose, waving her hand in front of her face to remove the puffs of grey escaping the man's lips. "What, isn't 'Icha Icha' enough to keep you distracted anymore?"

"You could say that."

"Tell me the real reason."

The silver haired man stopped to lean his back against the building he called home. "There is nothing left to make me stay." He took a deep drag from his cigarette, watching Sakura as her eyes focused on the burning object. She frowned, her expression forming into a disapproving grimace.

"What about me?"

"What about you?"

"Am I not enough?" she asked, ignoring the smoke that caressed her cheek as she stepped closer to him.

"Enough to?" He knew the answer.

"Make you stay," she whispered, as she reached for his cigarette, before throwing it on the ground.

"No," he answered, but accepting her hands as her fingers intertwined with his.

"Liar," she accused, leaning closer to his frame. Kakashi closed his eyes as her lips made contact with his. He did not kiss her back, but he did not push her away either. He accepted her. He let her kiss him. "You taste awful."

"Thank you."

"I mean it. You should quite. It's not good for the children."

Kakashi chuckled, wrapping his arms around her. "Which children?"

"The ones we will have one day."

"We're not having any."

"Liar."

He smiled.

"Why are you leaving?" she pushed once more. Kakashi watched as she entertained herself by pulling at a lose thread on his vest.

"Because you terrify me."

Her eyes darted to his, trying to decipher his lie, but gasped as she only saw truth in the charcoal pair. "Why?" she asked, suddenly hopeful.

"Because you do." She threw him the one syllable word again, causing Kakashi to smile. "Because I hate you."

"How much?" she questioned, moving her hands to rest in his hair.

"Not enough."

"Liar," Sakura mumbled against his skin. "Tell me you'll stay."

"I won't lie to you."

"But you just did."

Kakashi sighed, letting his head drop only to place it in the crook of her neck. "Come with me."

"What?" He smiled at her shock.

"Come with me to Suna."

"You'll be gone for over a year. I can't just leave. I have responsibilities."

"Well, so do I and I've already told Naruto that I will go. So the question is really, do you hate me enough to follow?"

Sakura stared at him for a moment, before she sighed and slumped against his chest. "I hate you."

"No, you love me."

"I do not."

"Liar."

The pink haired medic smiled, lifting her eyebrow as she gazed up on him. "Do you think that the others at the hospital would let me?"

"They will. You're the director after all," he told her with confidence.

"How can you be so sure?"

"I already asked."

"You did what?" Sakura hissed, hitting his chest, probably more from the surprise than anger.

"Easy, do you want me to be able to teach our kids how to throw a kunai?"

"Do you mean it?" She smiled this time. It was small, but it was there. "Do you want me to come?"

"I wouldn't lie to you."

She chuckled, warming his heart. "I hate you," she told him, standing on her toes to kiss him.

"I hate you, too," he confessed, meeting her halfway.