READ-IMPORTANT
Author-ess: Hiya everyone! So, I was working a late night and listening to music. And wouldn't ya know, a song gave me certain inspiration. I feel I should mentally prepare myself for writing this… jeeze. As for actual notes, there are only a few. Every set of ellipses (...) indicates a time jump. Now these time jumps will vary in length and become more frequent as the story progresses to a point. But think of every passage you read between jumps as a memory (that's important). Also, although I'll imply it in the story, take note that before any of this occurs, our two favorite gentlemen have created a strong relationship. They are (in as corny a way of saying it) soul mates - evening each other out in every way & becoming the only person they can see themselves with. *girly sigh* So, here goes!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto :)
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"The finality of this is very important. You're the only one I can send to do this, Kakashi-san. I know you'll be able to handle things when they get hard." For the first time in the conversation, Tsunade let out a thoughtful (if not tired) sigh. She glanced toward the clock on her bookcase, noting the time to be nearly 1 o'clock in the morning and then glanced back to the jounin.
Kakashi's tense, erect position never faltered during the mission briefing, his stoic mask firmly in place as the Hokage informed him of every minute detail. Intensely trained shoulders sat perfectly square, legs crossed in front of him as he sat before the most important woman in Konoha. As challenging of a mission as it seemed, the silver haired shinobi knew that he'd make it through. There wasn't a doubt in his mind, but it still didn't stop his stomach from curling into tight knots, from needing to continuously monitor his heart rate, keeping it level and even. The emotionless face gazed back at Tsunade, not having said a word the entire time, but shouting in his own head. It's not right…
"I trust you won't let us down, Kakashi-san. You leave in the morning. Prepare as you see fit." the godaime finished, but as an afterthought added in a, "Good luck. We're counting on you." With that, Kakashi tersely nodded and stood to leave the room. Not wasting the time in travel, his hands flashed together through signs, and before blonde leader could blink, was gone in a puff of chakra smoke. Tsunade let out another long sigh, leaning an elbow on her desk and dropping her temple to her fingertips. He can handle this… I know he can handle this. She mentally assured herself.
Kakashi stood in his living room, eyes adjusting quickly to the darkness that enveloped him. Everything was in it's place, just like he'd left it. He glanced over books that were left strewn across his coffee table, noting recently graded academy homework scribbled on with red ink. Kneeling down to the table, he shuffled the papers into a neat pile and placed the books to their side. He didn't often need to, but it made him feel glad to be able to tidy up after his partner. They had grown to be so close in the long time they knew each other. A slightly forlorn expression tinged the jounin's face, as he knelt back up, instantly gazing toward the bookcase to the side of the room. Effortlessly he glided over the soft carpet and leaned down toward the shelves.
An immense collection of photographs in various frames covered nearly every shelf. So many photos taken with great smiles, happiness. He plucked one from it's spot and smiled softly. It was a picture of himself and Iruka at a new years festival a few years back. His favorite man had insisted that he throw an arm around Kakashi's shoulders, waving a stick of cotton candy in the opposite hand. Even then, the jounin had worn a pleased smile, arm wrapped around the brunette's waist. The tall shinobi placed the picture back down, gazing off at all of the memories they had collected over the years. They were memories captured in still frames, each one with an amazing story.
Forcing his smile to keep strong, he silently walked the hall to his bedroom. The door was slightly ajar, and through the dark crack he could see the shinobi that had captured his heart in all of those photographs. Iruka lay snoring softly, legs tangled in bed sheets, grasping a pillow tightly in a sleeping bear hug. The silver haired shinobi felt the tinge of happiness in his heart grow stronger, and he smiled weakly. He knew just as well that happiness wasn't the only thing he felt, anxiety rushing his blood with fierce pumps.
Lightly he pushed the door further open, silently undressing down to his undergarments and slipped in close to his partner. There was a love for this person that Kakashi could swear he'd never felt with anyone else. The intensity of the feeling only progressing as he watched the sleeping shinobi, meek and helpless in his unaware state. As he leaned in closer to the sleeping brunette, he thought for a moment. His only desire was to wake up the poor man, to hug the life from his body, to convey some semblance of what he felt through physicality.
It didn't take too much thought to succumb to his desire. Softly Kakashi leaned his arms around the man, plucking the pillow that he grasped to his chest. In a muted tone he whispered to Iruka, nudging his partner delicately with his nose, "Ru, wake up. Open your eyes, love."
Iruka nuzzled closer to the jounin, mumbling unintelligible words into the warm chest before him. Again the silver haired shinobi gently shook his partner, whispering for the man to open his eyes. Slowly one eye cracked open, bleary from sleep. The other eye sluggishly followed, trying to focus the gaze anywhere.
"Mreh… whu-what? Kashi, what's wrong?" the chunin stumbled over the syllables, voice husky from sleep.
"Nothing, love. Wake up for me, I need to talk to you." was the reply.
The brunette turned his head to look up toward Kakashi's voice, smiling some as he felt the arms around him tighten into a warm embrace. He rubbed a sleep filled eye, yawning loudly. The jounin's chest rumbled deeply, a chuckle forming at his partner's inattentiveness. Reaching a hand under the chunin's chin, the older man lifted his gaze to his own. After placing a kiss on the lips in front of him, Kakashi spoke in a hushed tone, "Ru, I have to go on a mission in the morning. I know you're tired now, but I wanted you to know I love you. I probably won't be here when you wake up."
Nodding some, Iruka leaned his head on strong shoulders as the grip around him tightened for just a moment. Sleep hazed his tone as he responded, "I love you too Kashi. Come home safe, I'll miss you, ya know."
With that, Kakashi felt his stomach knots tighten, a dry lump forming in his throat as he nodded. "I'll be safe."
"Promise?" the sleepy chunin half mumbled the question.
"I promise I'll be safe for you. Don't worry Ru, everything will be alright." The jounin swallowed the dryness in his throat, almost croaking at the last words.
Sleep quickly enveloped the tired man, gripping to Kakashi weakly as his head bobbed back down to his pillow. The silver haired shinobi exhaled a long breath he hadn't realized he was holding. With a soft kiss to Iruka's forehead, the man leaned back to his pillow, letting his eyes fall closed, the dark prickles of sleep pulling him under. It will be alright.
When morning came, Iruka woke up alone. The sharp blare of sunlight hitting his eyes immediately as they opened. He squinted some, turning his head away from the stinging to glance at the clock on Kakashi's nightstand. It was only 6:32 in the morning, but remembering the hazy conversation last night assured the chunin that his love had already left for the mission he'd been assigned. Slowly rolling over to glance at the empty spot that shouldn't have been so cold that early in the morning, he noticed a small piece of yellow paper. He smiled softly as he read what it said. "Be safe. I love you, always will. -Kashi." His chest warmed as he thought of his one and only true love. Letting the warm feeling wash over him, the chunin laid back down into the rumpled covers, letting the slight smell of his other half envelop him. Come home soon.
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Author-ess: Yo! So that's it for the moment. Of course, not for lack of motivation or knowing what to write. but it's nearly 4am, I just worked a full shift and I've been up since 11 yesterday. So sue me :) That's the first blurb. Not sure how long the story will actually be. But I anticipate myself really (and I mean really) liking this one. Chapters will probably get longer as well. Hope you enjoyed! Keep tuned in, and I may just surprise ya! love love love!