Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto (unfortunately) in any way, shape, or form.

They say your life flashes before your eyes in that one instant before you die, but he knew better now. It all focused down into one pinpoint of memory, where all he knew was the face of the one he loved, the smell of cherries in her hair, the sweet exotic taste of her lips, the silk of her skin, and the music of her voice.

And the achingly empty words of his last exchange with her.

"I'll come home, love, I promise."

He would never see her again and he knew it.

"I'm so sorry," he whispered now. "I love you."

And so, with these memories, Hatake Kakashi died with the taste of Haruno Sakura's name on his lips.