Silence
Kakashi was fine.
He was his perfectly normal, sarcastic chipper self during the whole entire week voyage home − eye always creased with a smile, hands always interlaced with Icha Icha, chuckle ever-so bright. Even when Sakura collasped into his arms in fits of utter despair, screams echoing in the valleys, tears staining his shirt − his hands were steady, his smile never fading.
Nights were spent in the cool spring air sharing numerous stories, all humorous in nature to help the girl laugh through tears. The rest with her curled up in his sleeping bag, trembling silently, crying silently.
It was when the young woman had finally collected herself, come to terms with their loss, and they stepped through the open gates of Konoha, did Kakashi break.
At first, bruised fingers began to shake, so much that they could no longer hold the book in their grasp. With the thump of his priced possession hitting the dirt, Sakura turned behind her to find the find the man on his knees, head fallen to his chest. His silence disturbing, heart-wrenching.
She ran to him, falling to the ground herself, so she may collect the broken man in her tiny arms.
"Kakashi, why?" She let out a sob of desperation. "Why now?"
"A student's needs always come first. You deserve to have your heart mended."
"And what about you? That's not fair!" She pulled away, trying to look at the shadowed face before her. It did not move. "No. No." She grabbed hold of the man's face with both hands, forcing it to look at her. "It is not your fault. You hear me?" A blank eye stared at her in response. "You hear me?"
"No." He said. Flat, tired.
Sakura let out a sob at this, and shook her head violently. "If you want my heart to be mended, you will stop blaming yourself. We will grieve, and we will move on together. For Naruto's sake!" At the name, she noticed a wet line trace itself down her sensei's cheek.
Green eyes grew wide, surprised, terrified at such an uncharacteristic sign.
"I can't..." He whispered, weakly.
"Kakashi..." And the girl smiled, ever so faintly, and brought his head closer so they bumped foreheads. Then moved her lips to his skin, kissing the fallen tear gently. At this moment of endearing innocence, Kakashi reached up and hugged the girl tightly, burying his face in pedal-like hair.
And there they remained, silently sharing pain, silently understanding, and silently starting to slow their heartbeats into one final rhythm of peace.