Star Stuck
Chapter One
It was long past midnight. Reasonable people and children were long since asleep. Bars were screaming for last call and drunkards were stumbling their way home, hoping to avoid a mugging by any of the number of hooligans wandering the streets of Konoha after dark. Umino Iruka was normally a reasonable person. He tried to live by a strict schedule and firmly believed in the saying 'Early to bed, Early to rise.' However, he bemoaned as he hastily dried his dripping hair with a towel, searching for a clean suit to wear, he never actually wanted to rise so much earlier than the sun. He hopped to keep his balance, still not fully awake, as he pulled on his trousers, glaring at his cell phone as the obnoxious ringing began again. He ignored it, pulling on his button down shirt as he ran back to the bathroom to brush his teeth.
None of his kids had ever been this much trouble! Naruto had been loud and he had needed a lot of positive encouragement to do his job well, but Iruka would always prefer to be the manager of child stars. It came with a lot less problems. He was never assaulted by a child stars fans on the way to a job. . He hadn't had to frequently dodge paparazzi with disturbingly personal questions when he was managing kids! They had never sent him vague text messages almost every morning at three AM saying, 'EMERGENCY! Iruka I need you to come over right now!' He grabbed an apple on the way out the door and ate it on the ride down the elevator to the parking garage. When the doors slid open he cautiously peeked his head out, finger on the door close button, eyes darting around to make sure the garage was deserted before he ran to his car, jumping inside and slamming the door behind him.
He turned on the radio as he pulled out onto the street, cringing at he recognized the song. Syndrome was currently at the top of the charts and had been for the last three weeks. Hatake Kakashi was the most popular visual kei artist in the Land of Fire. Possibly in the neighboring countries as well. His singles hit the top of the charts the day they were released, and they stayed there. When Sarutobi-taicho had called him into his office at the top of the Shinobi Talent Industries building two months ago, he had never imagined that he would be reassigned. Let alone reassigned from children to an adult. Sarutobi had been extremely careful not to mention who exactly his new charge would be until Iruka had signed custody of Naruto over to Jiraiya, which he hadn't done lightly. But Sarutobi had been positive that Jiraiya would be able to transition Naruto from child star to teen idol and Iruka only wanted what was best for the boy. He had almost fainted when Jiraiya had laughed as he left, calling behind him, "Have fun with Kakashi Iruka-kun!" He had wanted to refuse, Hatake Kakashi was notorious for driving his managers to near insanity. The last one had stayed for two and a half month, it was a new record.
Now two months after working as Kakashi's manager, Iruka finally understood why Sarutobi had put a man used to dealing with children in charge of his top star. It wasn't easy, Kakashi jumped drastically between the personalities that he showed to his fans, he colleagues and the side that now only Iruka was allowed to see. They ranged from the aloof radically dressing man that the fans admired, to a childish person with no real concept of 'personal boundaries.' Iruka was learning to tell, what he secretly called Kakashi's characters, apart and react to them suitably. Working with Kakashi wasn't that bad. They got along well enough, for the most part. But with no heed to his protests the rest of the managers at STI were still taking bets on when he would break. The shortest had been Ebisu, who lost after one week. Raidou had the longest estimation so far, guessing at three months.
Kakashi was waiting for him behind the door, yanking it open before Iruka even had a chance to ring the bell, latching onto his wrist and dragging him inside almost spilling the two scalding cups of coffee that Iruka had purchased for them in the building's lobby. "Ah! Hatake-san be careful, this stuff is hot!" The taller man frowned, impatiently taking the cups from his hands and setting them down on the hallway cabinet. Iruka couldn't help but smile at the idol's appearance. His silver fly away hair was messier than usual, sticking out at random angles wearing nothing but a pair of cotton pajama pants. Light blue and decorated with panda's from some children's cartoon that Iruka could remember Naruto watching religiously every night at seven. He wondered what his fans would think if they saw their idol this way.
Kakashi latched onto his wrist again, persistently pulling him towards the media room, babbling as he went. "I was checking my email before I went to bed last night like I do every night. But one of them said that when I sang on Bridge Rock yesterday I was flat for most of the song!" He pushed Iruka into a large armchair that had been dragged much too close to the giant screen TV. "I remembered that you always set the Tivo to record my performances, so I watched it. I've watched it over and over again but I can't tell! So you watch it and tell me what you think." Kakashi splayed himself over the back of the chair, resting his chin on Iruka's shoulder(and taking advantage of the situation to take in a whiff of the other mans shampoo scented hair) as he pressed play. Iruka tried to listen closely, he had never been very good about knowing if something was in tune. But Kakashi's voice always seemed flawless when he performed. He watched, fighting to keep a blush off his face when he felt Kakashi sniff his hair, Kakashi always looked amazing when he performed. His movements were fluid, graceful almost catlike as he prowled across the stage.
When the song was over he turned his head slightly to look at his charge, who met his look with anxious eyes. Iruka smiled, "Hatake-san, I might not be an expert, but it all sounded fine to me." Kakashi smiled, a dazzling sight that temporarily distracted him from the hand slipping under his shirt. The tingling sensation over his stomach, that clearly wasn't butterflies, drew it to his attention and he squawked, jumping out of the chair and plastering himself against the opposite wall. "Hatake-san! What have I told you about crossing personal boundaries?" The dazzling smile had morphed into a predatory grin that threatened to send the blood collecting in Iruka's face south, but Kakashi respectfully kept his distance.
"Sorry Iruka-kun! I was just so happy that you had agreed with my that I forgot." His expression changed and he pouted at his laptop, still displaying the offensive email. "It really had me worried for awhile." Iruka sighed, rubbing his eyes as he sat down and took a quick look at the email. He frowned and did a quick search of the address finding several negative posts on a few fan sites. Sighing he blocked the address and deleted all the remaining junk mail. If Kakashi was going to be loosing sleep over trolls maybe Iruka should start monitoring his emails.
That thought snapped him from his thoughts as realization dawned and his attention turned quickly to Kakashi, taking in his tired appearance. His eyes widened, mouth gaping open with shock. "You!" He screamed, standing and pointing an accusing finger, "You haven't slept at all have you?" A child! He was dealing with a child in a mans body! His hands fisted into his hair in frustration as he chased Kakashi from the media room towards his bedroom. "You have to be awake and alert at nine AM to start shooting the Syndrome music video! That's six hours from now!" A rough shove sent the idol tumbling into his bed. In his anger Iruka missed the mischievous grin spreading across his face. "If you don't get any sleep you won't be at the top of your game and your performance will show it! Then your reputation as the best will be shot!" He missed the reaching hands as he tried to maneuver the covers over legs a mile long. "Go to sleep-ARG!" Iruka was proud that he didn't squeak as Kakashi's hands latched onto his waist with a firm grip and pulled him down on the bed next to him.
"Shhh," Whispered Kakashi, nuzzling against the back of Iruka's neck, causing him to freeze in his struggles. "It's so hard to fall asleep by myself. I end up lying awake for hours!" He was practically purring now, pulling Iruka flush against his chest. Iruka fought to gain control of his pounding heart, certain that Kakashi would feel it as close as they were. "It will be so much easier to fall asleep if you stay and help me. I'll be a lot more rested if you do."
Iruka was blushing furiously, but it wasn't a new argument. Anytime they stayed out of town Kakashi begged to share rooms, and if they didn't Iruka heard that he was wondering the hotel at the oddest hours the next morning. It was a proven fact that the star fell asleep faster if he had someone to hold. But that didn't make the situation any easier on his flustered managers heart. Giving in he kicked off his shoes and socks, grateful that he had a jacket in the car to wear over the shirt that would no doubt be wrinkled later. He asked if the alarm was set as he wormed his way under the covers, taking Kakashi's mumbles into his hair as an affirmative. He fought to stay calm as Kakashi's arms tightened around his waist, mentally counting to one hundred. Soon his grip loosened and his breath slowed, warm and tickling the hair on the back of his neck. Slowly Iruka relaxed into the embrace taking in the scent of Kakashi from his pillow. He smiled as he slipped back to sleep himself, just like dealing with a child.
Iruka woke later to silence and darkness. He yawned wondering what had woken him, he couldn't have been asleep very long if the sun hadn't risen yet and the birds weren't singing. Kakashi shifted beside him, muttering something about 'Ruka' and 'peanut butter' and he froze as he realized that they were in Kakashi's penthouse apartment. Complete with the blackout curtains and soundproof windows. He jolted out of bed, disentangling himself and waking Kakashi as he searched frantically for the alarm clock. Digital green lights proudly displayed that it was eight AM. Iruka resisted the urge to scream as he dragged his charge from his bed, issuing orders to 'shower fast' as he pushed him towards the bathroom. Kakashi had half pulled him into the shower and had most of his buttons undone before Iruka realized what he was doing. He gave up resisting his urge and threw a bar of soap for good measure as he charged out of the bathroom to redress himself and make a quick breakfast.
Ten minutes later they stumbled into Iruka's car and set off. Kakashi always loved this part. He smiled as the watched the normally polite and quiet man as he became a screaming devil of road rage. He cursed grandparents for driving to slow, students for loitering on cross walks and small furry animals for choosing "That particular damn moment to cross the fucking road!" The sped through red lights and bypassed police officers, Iruka laughing ironically as they gave pursuit, losing them in twisted back roads and alleys. The car screeched to a halt in front of STI at eight forty five and Iruka motioned for Kakashi to go on ahead of him, groaning as he noticed that a few lucky officers had managed to keep up. Several apologies, autographs and cell phone pictures later Kakashi and Iruka finally arrived on the set as the clock struck nine.