The fire is burning.
He watches the flames dance around and takes a swig of alcohol.
"You should stop drinking, sensei," comes the voice behind him. Kakashi turns and sees his female pupil crouching behind him and grinning. "Offer me some instead."
Her hair is a vibrant pink; her green eyes sharp and watchful.
"'fraid I can't do that," he says, smiling easily. She pouts and leans her chin on her knees. "Why not?" she wants to know.
"Sakura-chan!" says another voice and suddenly Naruto is there. "What are you doing here? I felt lonely without youuuuu."
Sakura rolls her eyes. "You had Sasuke and Sai with you, Naruto; I think you were fine."
Naruto's eyebrows furrow and he whines, "But Teme's an, ugh, teme and Sai is just awkwardly sitting there and painting."
"What is so awkward about painting, Dickless?" Sai says, appearing next to Naruto with Sasuke. Sasuke does not stay next to Sai for long; as soon as he sees Sakura, he plops down next to her, his eyes following the strands of her short hair that move as she does.
"Hello," he says quietly, ignoring Naruto's and Sai's bickering in the background. Kakashi observes as Sakura smiles—a sweet, soft smile of forgiveness and feelings, so different from the smile she gives everyone else, the one full of secrets she never shares.
"Hi," she whispers back and they inch closer to each other, so close that her head fits into the crook of his neck and his fingers are curled around hers.
Kakashi chuckles softly. taking another swig.
"Kakashi!" says another voice; this time it is Tsunade. "Kakashi, what are you doing here? Did you steal my alcohol again?"
"I didn't steal it; I conveniently found it on the Road of Life."
Tsunade stops in front of him; her gaze does not waver from his.
"Why," she says softly, "are you in the cemetery?"
Kakashi glances behind himself at his team, together and normal and happy.
"Kakashi," Tsunade repeats, "what are you looking at?"
He grins up at his Hokage and thinks, Only ever happy in death.
A/N: So. This idea came to me in Spanish today when someone asked our teacher if she celebrated Halloween and she said no but they do celebrate the Day of the Dead in Mexico. And then I started writing this instead of doing my work. YAY TO ME.
Don't favorite without dropping me a revieeeeew.