AN: This is drabble #2. Its even more drabble-y than the first drabble. I've always thought the Narutoverse very hollow. People die left and right and you're suppose to walk right into their place. My fics correspond with this view, and are thus pretty depressing. I don't treat these two right.

Disclaimer: I disclaim my ownership of these two fantastic characters. But really you don't treat them right either Kishimoto.

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Kakashi sat, still and straight, one cheek pressed against the window, creating a faint reflection of himself. His one eye stared straight ahead, a waking sleep.

The door opened, a bright noise against the drop of silence.

"I'm home." Iruka announced according to routine.

Bags rustled. Oil sizzled. Then the clink of china.

"Dinner's ready."

Kakashi walked slowly to the dining room.

He sat down, staring at the table cloth, transfixed on a coffee stain. Iruka spilled that. The thought crossed his head.

"Iruka, why did you take that mission?"

But he knew why he took it. Iruka did what he could for his village. Konoha needed his charm and smile. It was an undercover mission, and who else had more charisma than the beloved teacher?

Kakashi got up quietly from the table. He cleaned up and checked his travel bag once again. Then he undressed and slid under the covers.

He closed his eyes. A pair of warm hands gently caressed his unmasked cheek. He leaned into the touch, desperate for more. But the hand was gone. Whispered words lingered in his ears, "I love you, Kakashi."

A single tear slipped out his scarred eye. "I love you too, Iruka."

Morning came to Konoha on cat feet and trained stealth.

The experienced ninja swung his pack over his shoulders, tucked in his mission scroll, and left without a backward glance.

He never came back.

The people of Konoha never went in the empty apartment. It was haunted, civilians say. The shinobis kept out out of respect. There were memories lingering in that place. Memories of:

The humble man who took the mission he shouldn't have and went before his time. The broken silver ghost he left behind, stuck in between dreams and reality.

And their love, their one salvation from their sad journey, that was remitting during life and death. And it spanned from heaven to earth, and rescued their souls.

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The ending is sappy isn't it. I tried my best to make it sound less awkward.

Thanks for reading! Reviews would be encouraging and comforting.