Notes: Won third place at naruto_contest for the prompt "Need". Naruto belongs to Kishi.
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If Kakashi was completely honest with himself, and that was seldom, he could fathom why it worked. Why Sakura could have chosen to love a man like himself, and he did not resist, and she did not regret.
To be so honest, required the ability to look beyond his heavily-fortified ego, behind the mask under the mask, which was so much more substantial in its construction than the physical - and had required nothing more substantial from her than simple desire for her to worm beneath.
She didn't need him. She wanted him. If he died the next day, she could accept it. She'd even understand. When he was away, she went about her duties, competent and satisfied. She didn't need him, but she wanted him body and soul as long as she could have him.
The kicker was, he was fairly certain it would kill him if she did the same. Kakashi had survived the deaths of dogs and teachers, friends and comrades, losing large chunks of his heart every time.
The dogs were always the worst. He expected the people to die, they were fragile, they were diseased with righteousness.
Dogs just were. They enjoyed life and love while it was there in front of them. With them, Kakashi was just part of the pack. So simple. His dogs didn't need him, they wanted him around, when he was gone they could accept it.
Which was not comparing Sakura to a dog, honestly, because she fulfilled his desires in ways no other creature of the earth could hope to match in this lifetime. The high price he paid for allowing himself to be human and letting her in.
Sakura was one week late coming home. One more day without news, and orders or not, he was going out.