Sakura still remembers the last thing Kakashi said to her. If she remembers right, it was "I Love You". But her mind wanders these days, so she can never be sure if she wishes he said it, or if he truly did. She often regrets that she can't keep herself focused for Hatake – no, Junior. She doesn't call him Hatake, or even Kakashi. It would remind her too much of his father. "Mom? I'm home" Hatake Kakashi –Junior- called through the house, one slightly bloodied hand gripping his kunai. He never knows whether she is there or not; sometimes the body is there,but the soul is lost in memories.

Hatake Kakashi learned a long time ago not to ask about his father. Everytime he does, his mother cries. He can't stand it when his mother cries.

"Hello Junior"

"Mom…..why…" He tries to think about what to say, so she won't cry "Why do you call me Junior?"

"Your father" She answers simply, and looks away. He knows that he shouldn't pry anymore, because it makes her sad. But he's confused, because what the hell did "Junior" have anything to do with his dad? But he doesn't like to see her sad. So he only readjusts his headband – to cover his right eye- and walks to the cupboard. Sakura sighs, sadly, or maybe she'sfrustrated.

"Please, show your right eye Junior"

"Why?"

"You have no Sharingan!" Her tone is almost harsh, and he is almost – almost- afraid. His mother never speaks like that to him.

"What does the Sharingan have to do with anything?" He wonders, because wasn't that a Uchiha trait? But then again, his father could be anyone. Except, at this point in life, he thinks his father might be dead. Why else would his mom look so sad when he mentioned him?

"It has to do with a hell of a lot. Now, adjust that headband" She speaks briskly, as if she has no time for silly things like that. But inside her heart is breaking, because Kakashi wore his headband like that. Junior looks like his father, too. She realizes this everyday.

He hears them whisper

She knows there must be rumours. He looks too much like Kakashi-sensei. Yes, sensei, even fourteen years after he died. He taught her so much, even after they were no longer "Squad Seven". So much, so much, so much.

Hatake Kakashi thinks he needs to know, soon. But who to ask? Iruka-sensei? It was a miracle that Iruka was still alive, so his mother had told him. He thinks he should ask, but he is almost afraid.

Sakura wishes that her son was never born – that they had used some goddamned protection. Somedays she hates herself for thinking that, because he's her son and she should love him, right? But he is also Kakashi-sensei's son, and that hurts too much to think about.

He always imagines that there's a line. The line seperates him from his mother, and from his father – though he doesn't know who that is. Sometimes he thinks maybe that line isn't there for his mother, and that's why she's so distanced from him.

She thinks that if it weren't for Junior, she could have moved on. She knows that her sensei would never fade from her mind, but she thinks life would be less of a silver haze.

His hair was silver.

Hatake Kakashi does things like his father without realizing he does it. She realizes it though, and she is on the verge of telling him to find someplace else to live, someplace where no one cares how he wears his headband or if he's chronically late or if he likes to sneak volumes of "Come Come Paradise" into his room

He is tired of waiting. He hates to see his mother cry, but he needs to know. So with a hint of defiance he tilts his headband down over the right eye, and walks into the kitchen.

"Hello Junior" She speaks calmly and levelly, but her sea-green eyes flash him the warning about his headband.

"Mom……tell me. Please? I need to know" He doesn't forget his manners; after all he is her child as well.

"Tell you what?" She feigns innocence.

"About my dad." A snarl almost escapes her throat, but she pushes it down.

"You know I don't like talking about it"

"I need to know" He repeats. She points to the door.

"Out"

"What?"

"I don't want you here anymore. It's not good for you." She looks at the door, then at Junior, then down. He wants to ask where he will go, but he no longer cares. He knows Sakura is right – it isn't good for him. So he turns and walks out the door. He leaves everything behind.

Tears slip down her face, splashing onto the counter. She thinks she could cry a river, if she wasn't so sure she could drown in it.

And unable to stop the emotion and the pain, a single word, a name rises from her throat and shatters the air.

"Kakashi!" She sobs, and it is unclear who she is crying for.

A/N: Yes, this will be a series. I didn't tag this onto "Things They Taught Each Other", because they're two different stories that connect to each other. Hence,a sequel.