Day 3

During the evenings that went by, Naruto and Sakura did not sleep… nor did they have an appetite, making them go slender, and vulnerable to death-causing conflicts. On a night where both were finally asleep, Iruka-sensei went out in search for the missing jonin, Kakashi. His wandering lead him to a nearby bar where Kakashi sat, trying (or so Iruka thought) to drink himself to death.

"God… you look like shit," Iruka commented. Kakashi heavily lifted his head, knowing the familiar voice.

"I don't usually do this…" Looking at Kakashi, Iruka noticed how his skin was turning a ghastly gray, and that his eyes looked damp from hours of sobbing. He had already drunk over ten shots of sake, which is pulling him to death's door.

"You have to stop this Kakashi," Iruka said reaching for the glass in Kakashi's hand. He just pulled away to set it down on his own.

"Never in my life have I cried this much, not even for Obito…" Kakashi took off his mask for some air that he could finally breathe for the longest time. Iruka now could see his true facial features. His nose was long but nicely shaped, and his lips looked as smooth and as pink as a baby's butt (GOD WHAT AM I SAYING!). The hitai-ate headband was the next thing to come off, showing his naked face, and the pain and sorrow with it.

"Has Sasuke's death been this hard on you?" Iruka took a seat next to his sad friend, asking the waiter for some sake.

"You don't understand, this was one of my student's that died. A student that I had to care for and never to see him die like he did." Kakashi smashed his fist on the table, tears beginning to well up inside him.

"And now that he's dead… and right in front of Naruto's eyes… it's unbearable." Hearing this Iruka realized his pain. He softly patted his back.

"Sasuke was a very good kid, except for the fact that he always wanted to do things on his own. However, he was honorable enough to put his life on the line for another's safety, this is including Naruto." Iruka sipped some sake before he continued.

"He is going to be put on the memorial y'know. There is a bit of good in thi-"

"How is this good!" Kakashi grabbed Iruka's vest before he could continue.

"This was my kid dammit! My student! How could you say that there's some good in this!" Iruka was shocked, but before he could speak, Kakashi loosened his grip. He fell of the chair and onto the floor unconscious.

"Holy cow! Kakashi-san, are you alright?" No answer came from the jonin. With what had just happened, Iruka wasn't certainly going to leave his fellow friend to lie there in the bar. Iruka grabbed one arm of Kakashi's and placed over his shoulder to lift him up. They then left the bar.

"Okay," Iruka started while he was walking along the streets, "Where do I take you?" The only thing that was in his mind at the time was taking Kakashi-sensei to his house.

When he finally reached his apartment, he gently laid his friend on his bed, worrying that he might vomit while he was asleep.

"You can be a real pain you know that?" Iruka moaned pressing his back into place. Iruka decided to leave, not to wake his friend, but it was too late.

"Iruka…" Kakashi whispered. Iruka turned around to see that Kakashi was staring right back at him. Both of them were blushing red. Iruka, as if in a trance, moved right back to the bed and sat down.

"Forgive me for what I did," Kakashi croaked, "It's not in my reputation to snap like that," Iruka gave out a soft chuckle.

"You really do care for Naruto and the others don't you?" Kakashi turned away wincing at the thought.

"I felt like a total idiot…not being able to save Sasuke. It makes me feel weak," Iruka looked at him with the same sad eyes.

"You're not an idiot and you're not weak either. It's takes true strength to care about others than to care for more power." Kakashi returns his glance shocked at what he said. Iruka gave off a big smile, scratching his nose in embarrassment.

"That must sound really stupid coming from me… forgive me, I'll leave you here to re-" Before he could continue, Kakashi cupped his hand around the back of Iruka's head, pulling him closer. His gentle lips touched his friend's, and in turn, Iruka closed his eyes (he was however in complete shock) and admitted the fact that he was in love with the infamous jonin ninja Kakashi.

The night was warm for those two while the children slept restlessly, their dreams invaded by Orochimaru and a dead Sasuke right in front of them forcing a shiver up their spine.

Sakura woke up in the middle of the night, afraid of returning back to sleep. Tears rolled down her eyes as they mixed with her cold sweat. Her breathing was heavy and the muscles around her arms tightened.

"W-why Sasuke?" She sobbed as she curled up into a ball. Her long sakura-colored hair began to dull and rat up, for she had no intention of impressing anyone else. She was only there to impress Sasuke. During her time up, she decided to make a call, trying to keep both of her parents asleep. There was a dial tone…one, two, three…

"He-hello…" A familiar voice answered on the other side.

"Hello, Naruto? It's Sakura," There was a short pause, then a yawn.

"Hey Sakura…H-how's it going?"

"Ah nothing, really… How's it going with you?"

"I'm tired…but I'm doing okay… is…everything okay?"

"Yeah! Yeah…………I-I really miss him…"

"Me too…" Sakura wipes her eyes, swishing her tears away. The moon was a tad bit brighter that night.