A/N: None of the charactres belong to me. Duh. ;)
Simpleton
Every time he had forgone her training, concentrating on one of the boys instead, he did it simply because she didn't want to be trained.
Every time he had saved her life, protected her from unnecessary harm, he did it simply because she was the weakest.
Every time he had refused to let his team see his face, he did so simply because he knew they would try again.
Every time he had refused to drop his mask, he did so simply because he knew she would ask again.
And every time he had trusted her with his life, was simply because he knew her strength.
Now, standing before the memorial stone, mask of indifference firmly in place, he didn't let go until the very end. Simply because she wasn't there to ask him to.
Hatake Kakashi was a simple man.
R&R