Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto, I wouldn't be writing fanfiction, now would I?

Prologue

He felt hot wetness seep into his mask. It was not the sticky warmth of his blood, or the cool wash of the rain. It wasn't the bitter, burning sting of acid poison, or the steady drum of bath water. It was hot and salty, the taste of tears. He cracked open one onyx eye, fearing what he would find.

"I love you. Please don't leave me, Kakashi-sempai. Please…"

A/N: This is sort of from somewhere in the middle of my story. I just thought I'd through it out there.

-Kakagurl