Okay! I decided to do a little KakaSaku for this one. It is no where near as long as the last one, but oh well... It seems lately I've been into more scandalous relationships, so I just want to remind everyone of the apparent age difference between Kakashi and Sakura. My next major KakaSaku fic is epsecially going to deal with such things.

Thank you to everyone who has reviewed! I've posted responses at the bottom :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

Deception

A man lies curled up in my bed. He's the last thing I see at night and the first thing I wake up to in the morning, but this is the only time I've ever actually watched him truly sleeping.

One arm protects his dreaming eyes from the dawn's sunlight, while the other dangles haphazardly off the side of the mattress. Pale sheets drape along his body, and he looks somewhat out of place in my room. A small orange book lays flat on his chest. His mouth droops open ever so slightly, letting his breath escape in small and gentle sighs.

He will probably be angry when he wakes up to find I've removed his black mask again. I will probably just smile and laugh. He's beautiful when he's mad.

We've only been doing this for the last six months. It wasn't planned or expected; it just happened. He came home one night from a mission and knocked on my door. He'd been reminded of someone from his past, and the man who never hesitates had indeed faltered.

I invited him in for tea. He ended up staying the night.

Rain stains the windows, washing away the traces of the morning mist. Thick droplets streak down the clouded glass, leaving stains of the outside world behind. I consider going out there for a moment, wishing that everything could be washed away so simply.

How much water would it take to drown the whispers out of my ears? To erase the appalled faces from my vision? To heal the cuts their glaring eyes have etched into my skin?

I know what everyone's been saying; the rumors that have spread like wildfire through the village. I hear them everyday as I make my way down the street.

She's only sixteen years old. If she weren't a ninja, then she would be considered a minor. That pervert is pushing thirty. He used to be her teacher. They continue to churn out useless facts I already know.

I'm well aware of the age difference. The faintest hints of laugh lines have started on his cheeks, and the wrinkles on his furrowed brow just won't seem to fade anymore. His body is bruised and battered, telling the story of his life in nicks and scars. His hair has always been silver, but here in the morning light I see a strand or two that surely must be turning gray. It's not the first time, though; I've noticed this before.

Meanwhile, my skin is still firm. My flesh remains unmarred. My hair is forever pink like the cherry blossoms in the spring.

That is what everyone sees, the fact that he is old and I am young. But who are they to judge? They do not know everything.

We are not so different anymore. He has lost everyone before; I have lost someone before. He's killed a hundred enemies without a second thought; I killed one for the first time last year and broke down into tears the minute I got home. I'm not looking at numbers, however. One is enough to taint you. I am no longer an innocent child.

So I've learned to ignore the remarks and stares when we take walks; or when I invite him in for the evening, even though he's been here before. I look past the fact that he's getting wrinkles just as he looks past my childishly pink hair.

He tries to be tender and gentle, and that's enough for me. There isn't any taking advantage or manipulating of what this relationship is. It's hardly perfect. Everything balances on one thin string, but I prefer to not think about when it will snap. Frailty makes it that much more beautiful and precious. It's not companionship. It isn't even a love affair. It just is.

We close the door on the world and try to heal our respective wounds in peace. An assassin's death grip becomes a lover's embrace, and a girl's affection blossoms into a woman's love. He feels younger; I feel older. We've learned to compensate for fourteen years.

Age is just another deception.

Thanks again for reading! Reviews are welcomed! As promised, here are the responses!
Kawaii Koneko92 : I take it that you liked it :-)

emir : Thanks for pointing that out! I couldn't believe I let those slip by me when I posted this. Already taken care of, hehe.

armed and dangerous : I know what you mean. I didn't plan for Sakura to appear that way though. Then again, you know thatsomething like this would so happenSasuke showed back up. Thanks!

allyluv : I'm glad I was able to have that effect on you lol. I always enjoy reading your reviews .

Jess : I'm working on more Sasusaku : ) I don't know when I'll get it finished though. I have summer AP homework, and it's taking forever to finish! Updates coming a.s.a.p., though!

roomfishing : I thought the paralleling of experiences would be a nice touch, hehe. I felt so bad for everyone, too. When I was writing it, though, I decided I would not make it a happy ending, even though those are my favorit kinds :)

lady flay : Thanks. Reading these reviews always make me want to blush, lol.

myworld101 : I thought about it! Maybe I'll write one from Sasuke and Sakura's daughter's perspective, like she doesn't quite realize he's her father or something to that effect, hehe.

ms-thang : lol, thanks for signing up for all my alerts! You're my kind of reviewer, hehe .