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Kakashi wears a mask.

But he isn't the one with secrets.

Kakashi's mask is cloth and everyone sees it. It is hard not to, when it covers half your face. Everyone accepts it as part of him. No one has ever questioned the reasons before. Everyone assumes.

Iruka wears a mask.

And he keeps his secrets to himself.

Iruka's mask is a smile and no one sees it. It is a brilliant smile, blinding in it sincerity and warmth. Everyone accepts it as part of him. No one has ever seen the tinge of sadness before. Everyone assumes.

Kakashi wears the mask as a reminder.

But he isn't the one who forgets.

Kakashi's life is wet with the blood spilt and dark with the shadows he hides in. He has never lived a different one. Yet he walks in the open, where everyone can see him. No one does.

Iruka wears the mask as a reminder.

And he tries to forget.

Iruka's life is wet with the tears he spills and dark with the nightmares he lives with. He misses his old life, before everything happened. He walks in the open, where everyone can see him. No one does.

Kakashi wears the mask to protect.

But he isn't the one who Iruka wears the mask to protect.

Iruka wears the mask to protect.

And he has never let Kakashi see underneath it.