Before I Sleep

By BrokenFlavors

Disclaimer: This drabble is officially disclaimed.

Warnings: Extremely short. Alcohol consumption. Expletives.

Characters/Pairings: Hatake Kakashi / None

Summary: He told himself that this was something he had to do in remembrance. To preserve their memory so that he wouldn't forget—he wasn't wallowing.

Additional Notes: Written for the LJ Community - 500themes' prompt; 13. Left behind.

-x-

The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

-Robert Frost, 'Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening'

-x-

The grass swayed around the young silver-haired Jounin in the otherwise still midnight air. The delicate blades whispering in silent desperation as Hatake fumbled with a bottled of sake, his shaking hands hastening to fill a saucer with the liquid.

He raised the ceramic glass to the stone.

"Obito."

And then pressed it to his bare lips. The pungent liquid bit at the back of his throat as he swallowed forcefully, grey and scarlet eyes clenching in a grimace. He filled the cup again.

"Rin."

Even in the dark summer's night, he could trace the kanji of his fallen teammates littering the memorial stone's smooth face. He told himself that this was something he had to do in remembrance. To preserve their memory so that he wouldn't forget—he wasn't wallowing. He wasn't depressed. This was honoring.

Oh kami. This was pain.

"Minato-sensei."

He had let them all down. He had let them all die. And now he had to live with the consequences; the least he could do was bear a little inconvenience.

At the very least, until the sun came up.

-x-

-fin-

-x-

Parting Notes: I wrote this a while back to try and get into Hatake Kakashi's character. He'd been giving me trouble with my other fic, Taken at the Flood. My feelings on the end results are... mixed. Feedback is appreciated. ;]