My Love

Kakashi leans against a tree, reading.
Sakura stares at him, a thoughtful expression on her face.
What do I care?  Kakashi thinks.  She can stare at me as long as she wants.  I don't care at all.
He's not good at lying, even to himself.
He DOES care.
Especially since she's been staring at him for most of the day.
So what?  Kakashi thinks, keeping up the pretense.  She can stare at me all day if she likes.  I don't care.
Sakura clears her throat loudly.
Kakashi pretends to ignore her.
"Kakashi-sensei," Sakura says quietly.
Kakashi sighs.  "Yes, Sakura?"  he says, looking up from his book.  Sakura looks at her shoes.  "Well.....you see.......earlier......me and Naruto and Sasuke were..talking...," she hesitates.  "...about YOU."
Kakashi says nothing.
"About you," Sakura repeats.  "And Naruto said that you probably didn't love anyone, and I said that that was ridiculous, because everyone loves SOMEONE, and Sasuke said that maybe you loved someone, a long time ago, but now all you love is your perverted books.  And I said that you probably love someone....."  Sakura's voice trails off, and her cheeks turn bright pink.  
Kakashi opens his mouth to speak, but words refuse to come.
After what seems like an eternity of silence, Sakura speaks in a voice just above a whisper.
"Kakashi-sensei, who do you love?"
The question startles the grey-haired Jounin.  He is unable to say anything for several seconds.
Finally, he manages to find words.
"Love?"  he says, as if the word is unfamiliar to him.  "Love?  Well......I.....I suppose I love Naruto, though he can be a bit of a pain.....and Sasuke, too.....and Iruka's a nice guy, too...."
"Sensei!"
"What?"  asks Kakashi innocently.
"You know exactly what I mean," Sakura scowls.  "Stop avoiding the question."  "I suppose there is someone I love," Kakashi says quietly.  "Who?"  asks Sakura with  a hint of excitement.  
Kakashi smiles.  "I really shouldn't tell you," he says.  "What's she like?"  Sakura demands.  "You can tell me that, can't you?"  
Kakashi looks up at the sky.  "She's pretty," he says in a slightly dreamy voice.  "Prettier and smarter than any other girl I know.  A goddess.  She always smells so nice.  And her eyes are so beautiful.  Like emeralds......"  He sighs.  "I'd do anything to hold her hand," he says quietly.  "To feel her lips against mine.  To whisper loving words into her ear......"
Kakashi suddenly looks sad.
"I wish I could tell her how I feel," he whispers.
"Kakashi," Sakura smiles at him.  "You should tell her how you feel.  It's obvious that you care about her a lot."  "But she wouldn't understand," Kakashi shakes his head.  "She'd never understand my feelings.  Never."  "Of course she would," Sakura says in a voice just above a whisper.  "In fact, I know she does."
Before Kakashi can reply, he suddenly finds Sakura's lips pressed against his.
The kiss ends ten seconds later.
Kakashi stares at Sakura.  He tries to speak, but the words somehow become trapped in his throat.
"It's me you love, isn't it Kakashi-sensei?"  Sakura asks with a small smile. "How.......how did you.....?"  Kakashi stammers.  "I've always known," Sakura tells him.  "I was just waiting for you to admit it."