I
The girl cried out, "Let me go!"
He frowned, making his way over to the dim alley. She was being restrained by two young men, a third fumbling with the zipper on his low-riding jeans. His frown deepened. Moving into the alley, he placed a well-directed fist into the fumbling man's face, feeling and hearing something break. He felt a mean grin creep across his face, "Leave," he growled, glaring at the other two. The one that had been trying to open his pants had sunken to his knees, now being pulled back to his feet by his buddies, his pants slowly sliding down as they dragged him away through the alley. He smirked.
Turning back to the quietly sobbing girl, he pulled his face back into something resembling a sympathetic smile, "This isn't the kind of neighborhood a young lady should be wandering about in."
He watched her swallow, mumbling an apology before admitting, "I live here…"
He frowned once more, this was troubling. He didn't like troubling, "Do you need me to walk you home?"
Her eyes wide, she bit her lip, obviously anxious. He tried for a comforting smile, but it didn't come out right, his face distorting to an almost wicked smirk in the face of so much trouble. He sighed. She fumbled with the buttons on her shirt, her blush bright. He sighed once more, "Don't bother. I'm not interested."
A quick glance up, tears filling up big, green eyes once more. He explained, gesturing towards her feminine features, "Too much boob, lack of proper plumbing downstairs," her blush brightened, he chuckled, "Relax, kid."
Turning away, he started home. Annoyed when she seemed to follow him. He turned on his heels, scowl securely in place, "What do you want from me?"
She gestured toward the building he wryly called 'home', "I live there…"
Frowning, he retorted, "No you don't. I live there."
A soft smile appeared, it made her look cute. He didn't like cute. Not in these parts, at least, "I do too. I moved in a few days ago," her tone soft, almost a whisper.
"Damn," the word escaped him, looking straight into her eyes he demanded, "Move. Find another place to live."
She replied that she couldn't, that all she had was in that apartment. He scowled at her, "Idiot. Move! It's not a place for a young lady to live. It's not safe. You just saw that for yourself."
She cried again. He sighed, crying girls were the worst kind. He gently took her arm, pulling her along and off the street. People were staring, it was infuriating. Still holding her arm, he started up the stairs, "Which floor?"
"The third, apartment 305… Could you please let me go?"
He ignored her request, frowning once more. He pulled her up the stairs, not speaking a word as her request was repeated over and over again. Turning unto the third-floor landing, his eye caught sight of the only thing in the world that kept him breathing, kept him afloat. His voice warm, tone soft as he called out, "Love, I'm home."
She was startled by his words, it was evident. The way she tugged at the fingers around her arm, her bright blush. He ignored her still.
The other man, searching for the keys in his pocket, looked up. A warm smile on his face, a welcoming one, "Kakashi!" his gaze drifted to the girl, "Who's that?"
He shrugged, he'd neglected to ask for a name. But the girl finally wiggled free of his hold, politely bowing her head at his lover, pink hair fluttering about just slightly, "I am your new neighbor, Sakura Haruno, nice to meet you."
His lover frowned, "If I can give you one piece of advice miss Haruno, move."
"That's what I told her. Says she can't."
She frowned now, too. Probably the lack of proper etiquette getting to her, he didn't really care. There was no such thing as proper etiquette in these parts. You were lucky if you managed to get through your days unharmed – why would you want to give a stranger your name? But his lover seemed to care, a little at least, "Genma Shiranui. This is my partner, Kakashi Hatake," he nodded to the man slouching against the wall.
She looked at him, he frightened her somewhat, the eye patch covering his left eye, the mask that he wore over more than half his face. He looked dangerous – she knew he was, the way he'd handled the thugs in the alley testament to that. So she swallowed nervously, bowing her head ever so slightly. She thanked him again, moving to the door of her own apartment.
He didn't know why, but he found himself halting her steps, giving unwanted advice to the girl that promised unwanted trouble, "The laundry room is in the attic. Don't go down to the basement, whatever you do. The super lives there, he's a dangerous man, stay away from him."
She nodded, biting her lip, "I know… I wanted to do my laundry this morning, but…"
The two men watched her swallow, trembling ever so slightly. Genma spoke, "Stay away from him from now on. And change the lock. He has a key. The last girl that lived in that apartment left because of that."
"The last three girls."
"We told them to change the lock, same as you. Take the warning to heart, girl," he turned to the door once more, keys in hand, "Whatever you do, don't let the super in when you're alone. Don't leave him alone in your apartment, either. If something needs fixing, just knock on our door, we're both pretty good with our hands," he chuckled lightly, the happiest sound to have rung through these halls in days probably, "Well, Kakashi's hands are mostly good for beating people up, but you know what I mean."
The door opened, Genma walked inside. The man with the disarrayed silver hair looked at her once more, "Knock, don't ever use the doorbell," He moved inside too, leaving her alone in the hallway. She trembled, fumbling with her keys until she finally managed to open her door. Once inside, she locked the door behind her. Sinking down on the floor where she stood, Sakura cried.
II
They had been home for a few hours, happy to be together once again. They had been apart nearly three weeks, it had been almost unbearable. Genma's body was warm as he straddled him. Soft lips on his own, he groaned. His body heating up, his lover's body heavy on his lap, "Love," a mere breath, spilled into his lover's mouth.
A slow smile crept across the brunette's features, his body moving up as quick fingers worked the button on his faded jeans. Kakashi lifted his hips, allowing the fabric to be slid down. His own fingers returning the favor, pulling down comfortable sweat pants, Genma had showered before and hadn't bothered to put anything else on. Moving back briefly, the brunette ridded himself of the restricting fabric. Then he straddled his lover once more. His lips found Kakashi's again, the kiss feverish. Panting, he found Kakashi's lips leaving his own, trailing hot, open mouthed kisses along his throat. He moaned, feeling a soft finger slip inside him.
A hesitant knock sounded on the door, startling the lovers out of their embrace. Kakashi frowned, "It's the girl."
Genma nodded, slipping his sweatpants back on. He moved to the door, opening it. The girl was standing there, crying. He sighed softly, "What's wrong?"
She pressed her face against his body, ignoring the sweat that made his skin sticky, the hardness that was all but pressed against her belly. Genma threw his arms around her, there was not much else to do. Glancing around the hall, he noticed the super. He frowned at the man, pulling the girl inside and closing the door behind her, immediately turning the lock. He could hear Kakashi rustling on the worn couch, pulling up his pants, his mask. Thank god the girl didn't seem to notice. When the sounds died down, he shot his lover a look. The man had shifted slightly, resting his arm on the back of the couch as he regarded the scene before him wearily. This wasn't the first time they had found a crying girl on their doorstep. He gently lifted her chin with his finger, "What happened?"
She swallowed, not sure if she could even trust these men, but they were all she had now. Her voice soft as she spoke, "The bell rang, so I opened the door and –" she couldn't continue, sobs shaking her petite body violently.
Kakashi sighed, addressing his lover, "We messed up," his tone soft, he turned to the girl, "The only one who ever uses the bell is the super, girl. Don't open the door when you hear it."
She nodded, neglecting to snap at them, saying they should have told her sooner. Genma held her close for a second, "I'm sorry, we should've told you. I guess it slipped my mind, I'm so sorry."
She shook her head, taking a small step back, "It's not your fault," a quaky breath, "And I managed to push him away, anyway," she gave the brunette a weak smile, "I was just hoping that maybe I could use your phone…"
"Don't bother calling the police," Kakashi's tone was soft as before, but still it startled her. The words themselves, most likely, "His uncle is the chief of police, any report you file will simply disappear. What did you think the other girls did?" he turned away from her, not wanting the girl to see how frustrated he was, "Have you had dinner yet?"
She said she hadn't and Genma moved into the kitchen to see if he could find enough to prepare a meal for three. Not that he told her, although the sorry state of their apartment had probably already told her all she needed to know.
"You're staying here tonight," he informed her, his tone indicating that it was merely a statement; not a request, "There's a guest room with a bed. You'll be safe here," he turned to her once more, his gaze softly examining her features. She looked scared, of course. He patted the couch beside him. Hesitant, the girl moved over to sit down, "Why did you move her in the first place?" he didn't particularly want to know, but maybe if they understood the girl's situation, they could help her get out of here. He didn't want to see another young woman get broken. Not again.
"My business is my own."
She was quickly catching on, he had to give her credit for that. He glanced at the clock, eight-thirty. Iruka probably wasn't back yet. Still, he rose, "I'm going to go see if we can borrow the bike chain from Iruka."
Genma nodded, bringing the girl a glass of water. He warned her to be careful; the glass was chipped. Still it was the best one they owned. Kakashi left the apartment, locking the door behind him as he was accustomed to do. He could hear the girls voice, questioning. Genma would explain that you always lock your door here. Genma was more of a people-person. Kakashi only got along with two, Genma and Iruka. The younger man probably wasn't home, still he knocked on the door across from theirs, number 304.
To his surprise, the door opened, revealing puffy eyes over a scar running across the bridge of his nose. His complexion pale under the tan.
"She wasn't worth it."
He smiled softly, "I know. Still hurts."
'You're too soft'. He could never say the words out loud, "A girl moved into 305."
He groaned, "Not again."
"Yes," moving inside, he closed the door behind him, "We need to borrow your bike chain."
Iruka nodded, removing it from his bike, "You're going to get in trouble again."
He shrugged, "I'm not watching another one get broken. Did you eat yet?"
"No, I still have some vegetables, but nothing else. We could share?"
"We have rice, I think Genma found some eggs, not sure if they're still good. The girl's staying with us tonight. She hasn't eaten yet either."
He watched his friend nod, "I figured. Let me get the food," moving away, one more quiet sob shook him. Kakashi ignored it. Once, he had believed that this man would toughen up in time, but that had been years ago. He no longer saw it happening.
After securely locking the door, they moved across the hall together, unlocking the next door. They found the girl still sitting on the couch, slowly sipping her water from the chipped glass. She was mindful of the sharp edges and Kakashi almost smiled. But there wasn't enough to smile about, so he turned to Genma. The brunette had emptied the box of screws and hooks on the unsteady coffee table, trying to find something to rope the bike chain through. They would keep her safe together. They would not fail again.
Iruka moved over, handing the bike chain to Genma. It was a solid, heavy duty thing. The most expensive thing he owned, probably. Still he handed it over without hesitation, knowing that it might very well be cut through by the super. Genma thanked him with a nod, adding it to the items on the old coffee table. Iruka chose the chair, not wanting to sit next to the girl and possibly upset her even more. Kakashi took his place next to her, awkwardly patting her knee a few times. Iruka almost smiled, Kakashi always had trouble with human interaction. He briefly wondered if he should have sat down on the couch after all. But no. Genma looked at him, nodding at the small plastic bag still in his hands. He extended it, watching the older man's eyes light up a little. But Genma didn't speak, moving back into the kitchen to place the vegetables on the counter. Returning, he continued his work at the coffee table. No-one spoke.
She studied him through her lashes, the man that had just come in. He hadn't spoken, and the scar across his face made her wary of him. But his smile was soft when he turned his gaze on her, his voice softer still, "Iruka. Apartment 304. You can knock if you need me, just don't use the doorbell please."
She nodded, the warning about the doorbell had come too late, but she couldn't blame any of them for that. They were trying to help her after all, "Sakura, 305."
"I'd say welcome, but you really shouldn't be living here. Can you move?"
She shook her head, taking another little sip of water. The man sighed.
Genma suddenly stood, holding a few pieces of hardware in his hands, "Come with me, you can get what you need from your apartment while I set this up."
She only nodded again, setting the glass down in between a hammer and a pile of screws. Genma led her out of the apartment, locking the door behind them. She unlocked her own door and he went in first. Swiftly walking through, he explained that he checked if the super had returned. She'd already realized. He asked if the place looked disturbed at all, she shook her head. He then turned to attach the rings that would hold the bike chain to the doorframe and the door. She quickly gathered a few things and put them in her backpack before joining Genma at the door. He was almost finished, putting in the last screw. He clipped the chain on, she closed and locked the door. They walked back to apartment 303.
Kakashi was cleaning up the mess on the worn coffee table, he and Iruka spoke in soft voices, "We'll find a way, Iruka."
"I know. I just wish we had a timeframe…"
"Same here," he looked up, nodding at Genma and the girl. She had a backpack with her, he pointed toward the guest bedroom.
Walking in, she found the space to be tiny, the bed occupying most of the space. There was only a foot of floor left between the narrow bed and the other wall. A small bedside table stood under a cracked window. It had been repaired with duct tape and rags. There were faded curtains, once they had been moss green. Boxes were stored under the bed, she didn't look in them. The bed was bare, just a mattress and a pillow. She didn't really care. Dropping her backpack on it, she turned again, heading back into the living room.
"…most likely, still –" Genma stopped mid-sentence, regarding her with tired eyes. He shrugged, "We'll manage. I'll get started on dinner."
She watched him turn into the little kitchen, shoulders slightly slumped. Iruka looked up, watching Kakashi bring the box of hardware supplies back into their bedroom. She sat back down on the couch, "I'm sorry. I'm a burden, aren't I?"
The man named Iruka smiled at her, a warm smile even though it was still small, "We'll manage."
She almost giggled, "You guys seem to say that a lot."
"We do," Kakashi came back into the living room, taking his place beside her once more, "We'll cope sounds so depressing…" he offered her a light smile, she could see it through the mask.
Some of her confidence returned and it was a question she needed answered anyway, "Should I be afraid of you?"
He chuckled, the first time in days probably, if not months, "No."
Genma returned briefly, explaining, "Kakashi's only a danger to people that are a danger to the people that he cares about. Somehow, that includes you now, too," he turned away again, returning to the amazing smells that came from their little kitchen.
She could feel her mouth water, how long had it been since she'd eaten anything? Still, "Why?"
He shrugged, "You needed help. Still do. You need to learn how to survive here or you won't."
He seemed done talking, crossing his arms before his chest as he stared out the window. There was nothing to see there; it faced a blind wall. But she wasn't done yet, "You could have left me there. You could have shoved me out when I knocked. I'm trouble for you, aren't I?"
"You are. But that doesn't change anything," he looked back at her, "Stop asking about it. You may make me reconsider."
Iruka smiled, another one of his soft, light smiles, "Kakashi, don't frighten the girl. You know you won't."
"Maybe. But she has to learn not to trust random strangers on the street or she's not going to make it here."
The brunette turned to her now, "You trusted the only random stranger on the street that would actually help you. You understand that much, don't you?"
She nodded, unable to ask what else she had on her mind now. She wanted to ask if this man would have helped her too. If Genma would have. But she was starting to realize that they probably wouldn't have. Even if they accepted her now, this place did not seem to call forth any chivalry. She sighed.
III
Two months had passed and not much had changed. When there was food, they would all eat together in apartment 303. When there wasn't, they would all curl up in their own beds, trying to ignore the sharp pains in their stomachs. When the super rang the doorbell, she wouldn't open the door. If he rang a second time, Kakashi would appear out of thin air, glaring at the man until he left again. After, he would always knock on her door to ask if she was alright. She never was, but would tell him yes. She was sure he knew, but he always accepted her answer. He made her feel a little bit safer. Not really welcome, but safer nonetheless. Genma made her feel accepted. Iruka made her feel like she belonged. Even though he kept telling her she didn't belong here. He made her feel like she belonged with him, with Kakashi and with Genma. They lifted the perpetual loneliness that she had felt before coming here. Even if she couldn't remember much else from that time, she remembered being lonely.
Sakura had tried to look for a job, but there were none. The best she could get was standing on the street corner, belonging to a guy, being guarded by another guy that was even scarier than Kakashi and sell her body to strangers. She had decided she wasn't going to do that. They would manage. They always did.
Genma had taught her how to pick a pocket, something he could no longer do. Tremors shook his hands, gnawed at his confidence. But Sakura was improving and Kakashi always went along to protect her if she got caught. She still got caught a lot. But no-one blamed her. Not even Sakura blamed Sakura. She would improve. She would help all of them have dinner, not go to bed with empty stomachs.
There was a knock on the door, Iruka. She went to open the door, he looked rather unsettled.
"Sakura," he pushed inside, closing the door behind them. She locked it, "Sakura, please tell me you're not picking pockets."
"I don't intent to lie to you," she spoke softly, her eyes lingering on the locked door.
"Why?"
"Because we need to eat."
"But Sakura –"
She looked up now, her eyes hard, "We'll manage? No, we won't. None of us has eaten in days, Iruka. I'm going, whether you like it or not."
"I don't. But thank you…"
She smiled at him, a light smile, a soft one. Like his was when he looked at her, usually. His eyes lingered on her face, drinking in the smile. He needed it, he felt like he was about to break, "Sakura… please be safe."
"I will be. Don't worry."
His smile was distorted, "I can't. I can't not worry. I care about you."
"I know. I care about you too. That's why I'm going."
He sighed, "I know…"
She stepped closer to him, unsure but needing to say it, "I think I care about you the way Genma cares about Kakashi."
He sighed again, "I know. I care about you the way Kakashi cares about Genma."
"Why does that make you sigh?"
A sad smile appeared in his eyes, it didn't make it to his lips, "Because that sort of caring brings trouble."
"They seem alright."
"They have each other."
She frowned, "So do we, right?"
Another sigh escaped him, "No, we don't. Not like that. I've learned not hope for that anymore."
"Why?" she cocked her head, her lips pursed slightly.
"Because it is always one-sided, Sakura."
"No it's not."
He closed his eyes then, leaning against the wall. He quickly stood upright again as the wall slowly gave way under his touch, he frowned, "Somehow, with you, I can't."
"Why not?"
"I'm not sure. Something feels… wrong about it."
"What does?"
He sighed, turning away from her, "You're younger, but that's not all of it. The rest I can't seem to wrap my head around."
"Then don't try."
"Sakura…"
She made a decision then. Turning his body back to face her, she pressed up against him the way she'd seen Genma press up against Kakashi, her hands softly brushing past his rear, covered in worn jeans. He leaned into her touch, objections forgotten for now. Something pressed against her stomach – she paid it no mind for now. It was something she would deal with at a later time.
There was a knock on the door, Kakashi.
She sighed, relinquishing her hold to open the door. Kakashi walked in immediately, but unhurried. That meant the super wasn't around right now; she felt a little relieved.
He regarded Iruka with a tired eye, a knowing look on his face, "I'm sorry."
"It's alright," Iruka had to push the words out. Right now, it wasn't alright.
Kakashi knew, "I can come back later."
"No," her tone was strict, "We need to eat. Dinner first, everything else second. We'll manage."
Iruka nodded, leaving the apartment. She locked the door behind him, "I need to change first."
He nodded, watching her step into the bedroom. The soft sounds did nothing to him, but knowing what he had just unintentionally interrupted did. She returned quickly, wearing the same green tank top and faded blue jeans. He felt even worse now.
They walked out on the street together, side by side. Careful not to attract any attention, they sauntered through the foggy streets. Once far enough away from their apartment complex, their eyes roamed the people walking around, searching for a target. It was Kakashi who spotted her; Fair skin, dark hair. An air of kindness about her. If Sakura was caught, this woman would not make a big scene, most likely. It would create an escape for the two of them. He nudged the girl beside him, discreetly nodding at the woman standing but a few feet away. She seemed to be looking for something or someone. All the better, the more distracted the target, the easier to get the wallet and get out. The woman's clothes proved a bit difficult though, Sakura frowned lightly. Her tone hushed as she whispered, "Where does she keep it?"
Kakashi shrugged, eyeing the mark once more. The woman was dressed in white; a short dress that seemed to consist out of straps of fabric wrapped around her, her short pants were the same. One red sleeve covering her right arm, continuing into a shirt with mesh under the weird short dress. Her hands were both wrapped in white bandages. He pushed his hands deeper inside his faded jeans, "Dunno… Boobs maybe?"
"I can't very well grope the women!" She hissed, cheeks red.
Kakashi nearly smiled, "I can. You the take second shot in case I fail. Now push me toward her."
She complied, shoving him away fiercely, "Keep your hands to yourself, you dirty pervert!"
He 'bumped' into the woman, grinning mischievously as her eyes seemed to widen – they were red, almost like his own, left eye, but different. Odd. Swiftly pushing his hand against her, he reached inside that weird dress, but found nothing but mesh-covered boobs. She shrieked in surprise, and Kakashi quickly walked away before she could yell for help. Not that there would be any, but it would attract attention. They needed to stay under the radar. Putting up his empty hands in an apologetic gesture, he turned away from her, knowing Sakura would try next. Behind him, he could hear the girl yell at him, calling him all sorts of things. Kakashi almost smiled, she had learned a lot of new words lately. Seemingly ignoring her, he continued to walk. The girl was now yelling at the woman, provoking her by calling her out on 'fondling her boyfriend'. It was almost enough to smile. Turning into an alley, he waited for the girl to join him.
"Nothing. She had nothing," the girl was obviously fuming.
"Oh, she had something alright…" he teased, eyeing the girl's rather flat chest.
She scowled at him, "Shut up!" then, calmer again, she slumped against the wall, "Did she seem familiar to you somehow?"
Kakashi shuddered, he didn't want to think about that. Somehow, touching that woman had felt… wrong, "No, why?" his tone only sounded bored.
"Just…" she hugged herself for a moment, "Never mind. We still need to eat. Let's find another."
He only nodded, stepping out of the alley once more.
IV
There had been dinner tonight, the unnerving encounter with the raven-haired woman all but gone from her mind as she followed Iruka across the hall. They'd silently decided to give the two men a little privacy as they'd been stealing touches all night. Sakura smiled softly, tonight she would too. Iruka looked a little surprised as she followed him inside his apartment, but then he smiled softly, locking the door behind them.
"Sakura," he hesitated briefly, "This might not be the best of ideas…"
"It's not the worst, either."
"No…" he moved over to his couch, dropping down.
She sat down on his lap, looking him in the eyes before leaning over, kissing his lips softly. He smiled, wrapping his arms around her. As she relinquished his lips, he smiled again, "You've never done this before, have you?"
"No," she swallowed, "But you'll let me, right?"
She watched as he bit his lip, looking a little nervous, "No, I won't 'let' you. I'm not the kind of guy who's going to sit back and let you do all the work."
He smiled again, gathering her in his arms and carrying her over to his bedroom. Laying her down on the bed, he quickly moved to lay on top of her, resting most of his weight on his arms, "You see, I happen to know what I'm doing here…" one hand wandering down her body, he gently caressed her between her legs, over the old pair of jeans she was wearing.
She swallowed, he certainly did know what he was doing and she could feel her breath hitching, her body arching into his touch. Iruka smiled again, placing a soft kiss on her lips before pulling his hand back.
"You've got the reigns. I'll only go as far as you'll let me."
She frowned, the sudden loss of contact very unwelcome, "I'm not stopping you, am I?"
His smile widened a little, "No, but you need to understand something, Sakura. I'm telling you that you're in control. But I also know that it would be very difficult for me to stop once we get to a certain point, and –"
"Shut up. I know," her tone was clipped, "I don't want you to stop. And yes, I know it's gonna hurt. I'll deal with it. Just do it already."
He sighed, staring at her for a few long seconds, "Alright."
Getting up, he shed his T-shirt and jeans, feeling her eyes on his body. He gave her a soft smile, reassuring her before pulling down his boxers and sitting down on the bed next to her. His hand found the little wet spot in her jeans without even needing to look, stroking her for a few moments, "This isn't going to work if I'm the only one that's naked. If you wanna look, fine. But so do I…" he cocked his head a little, biting back a moan as her body arched once more.
"Yeah…" she moaned, "Then let me…"
He retracted his hand once again, smiling as it took her a few moments to gather herself. But when she did, the pink-haired girl sat up, quickly throwing her shirt to the side, followed by her bra. She swallowed as she felt his eyes on her bare breasts, biting her lip a little nervously before sitting up on her knees. Inching closer, she pushed herself against him. He moaned softly, bringing one hand around to stroke her ass. She smiled, pressing against him a little harder.
"You like that?" His tone was soft. She could only moan, nodding as her fingers dug into his shoulder, her other hand almost flailing about in a failed attempt to get rid of some of the pent-up energy inside her body.
Iruka chuckled lightly, the happiest sound that had rung through his apartment in forever, possibly. Shifting, he gently pulled her legs out from under her, laying her on her back once more. Hands ghosting over her naked chest as he simply enjoyed the feel of her body for a little while. Enjoyed her panted breaths, her slightly parted lips. The blush on her cheeks. Her anxiety was clear in her eyes, but she didn't say anything, didn't try to stop him as she panted under his touch. Iruka reminded himself to tread lightly, that she was still so new to this, that he shouldn't hurry through anything. But his body clearly had other ideas.
As the girl shifted under him, he moaned softly, her eyes immediately searching his face for signs on what was going on. Unable to speak, he softly took her hand, guiding it to his throbbing erection, letting go the moment her eyes widened. Gentle fingers gingerly touched him, and he resisted the urge to push into her hand, to grab her hand and push it against him. But he couldn't suppress the moans coming from deep inside his throat. She smiled weakly, her voice coming out soft, trembling just a little, "Is that going to fit…?"
He swallowed, nodding. Realizing she was going to need more than that, he gently pulled her hand away, taking a few seconds to gather himself, "Yeah… but Sakura… you don't have to –"
The frown was back as she interrupted him, "I want –"
He interrupted her again, one finger pressed softly against her lips, "There are other ways… that's all I'm saying," to prove his point, he stroked her again, smiling as she gasped, pushing up. But then she brushed his hand away in an almost angry gesture.
"Don't baby me."
"I'm not. But I don't want to hurt you. And you're basically asking me to do just that."
She sighed dramatically, her fingers moving to undo the button on her jeans. He watched her, absentmindedly licking his lips.
"Sakura, if you pull those down now –"
"I'm getting what I want," she replied curtly, pulling down jeans and thong alike. He swallowed thickly before helping her out, pulling the clothing off of her all the way. He couldn't resist flicking out his tongue at her clit. She gasped.
He chuckled lightly, "You're so wet…"
She blushed, mumbling an apology. But he cut her off, tongue flicking over the little nub once more, making her gasp again, "It's not a bad thing, Sakura. It's…" he swallowed, "Perfect."
As he moved back up, he kissed her lips softly, his fingers slowly tracing around her sex before slipping inside. She moaned, biting down on her lip in embarrassment. His smile was soft, understanding. She dared not look at him, his fingers moving around inside her. Without permission, her hips bucked, and she moaned again at the friction.
"Relax, Beautiful."
She smiled at the pet name, it was so unexpected that it caught her off guard. Sighing, she willed her body to relax, tensing up even more in the process. He just smiled at her, that soft smile that she'd come to love so much.
In time, she really did feel her body relax, little by little. And as he gently eased her legs apart a little further, she only smiled. He pulled them up slightly, still she felt comfortable. But as he repositioned himself between her legs, she shivered, hands gripping the sheets tightly.
"It's okay," his voice soothed her, "It's alright, Sakura."
She nodded, one hand traveling up his arm, ghosting over his muscular chest, "I know… Iruka?"
He hummed, one hand returning to her wet center, caressing her softly.
"Just try it, okay?"
"Tell me if it hurts too much, okay? We can always try again," his tone and expression were serious, but she shook her head violently, her tone hoarse.
"Just do it."
He sighed softly and his hand disappeared for a little while. Next thing she knew, there was something pushing up against her, slowly sliding inside as his fingers had before. But this was much bigger, and it hurt. It hurt a lot. Somewhere in the back of her head, Sakura knew he hadn't even pushed in that far yet, that there was still a lot more to come. She fought bravely against the tears that threatened to spill over, but soon lost the fight as the pain only increased. His voice soothed her again, telling her it would be over soon, that it would get better, but she couldn't believe him. This was the most painful thing she'd ever had to endure. Suddenly frightened beyond the point where she could think, she pushed him back. He quickly gave way, and the pain lessened. But even though he was no longer insider her, it still hurt. She sobbed quietly, pulling her legs tightly together as she hid her face behind her hands.
"I know, it's okay," he softly stroked her hair, his tone soothing, "I know Pretty, It's okay. I won't hurt you again, it's alright. Calm down Beautiful, it's alright."
She shook her head, "No it's not…" turning away from him, she whispered, "It still hurts…"
"I know, I know. I'm sorry, it's going to be okay, Sakura, I promise."
After a little while, she turned back to him. He regarded her with soft eyes, an expression of concern on his face.
"I'm okay," she wiped the tears off her cheeks, giving him a weak smile.
He smiled back, warmly. His tone still soft, "No, not really… I'm sorry, Sakura…"
She almost chuckled, "What happened to 'Beautiful'?" she didn't dare look him in the eyes, her gaze instead fixed on his chest.
"Oh, I don't mind calling you beautiful, Beautiful," he gave her an unseen wink, "A rose by any other name…"
She chuckled this time, softly, "Iruka…" she looked up at him, "Try again."
He shook his head, "I'm not going to hurt you twice in one night, Beautiful…"
She sighed, "Do it."
"Now what kind of attitude is that?" he teased a little, trying to get her to reconsider, probably.
"The kind that won't allow you to decline," her tone was almost harsh as she shifted back on her back, "Now will you just…"
He sighed softly, "I wouldn't be able to stop again, Sakura. Please don't make me hurt you…" tears shone in his eyes, and he moved back a little.
She took a deep breath, "Then don't stop. Please don't make me beg…"
Biting his lip, he looked at her for what seemed like forever. Suddenly, he moved, straddling her stomach, leaning over her, "You're scared when I'm on top of you," he pointed out, noting her wide eyes, her soft gasp.
"Ignore that."
"I can't."
"Don't care!" frustrated, she slapped him in the face.
He moved with her hand, allowing her to vent her frustration, but said nothing.
"Iruka!" she slapped him again, with the same result.
"Damn you!" again, her hand connected to his cheek. This time, his own hand came up, grabbing her wrist in an almost painful hold.
"Are you going to hold it against me that I don't want to hurt you?"
"I damn well will!" tears in her eyes, she brought up her other hand, but he caught it before she could slap him again.
"Beautiful… stop hitting me. I'm not going to do it, so you might as well give up…"
"I'm never giving up…" sobbing, she squeezed the words out. Knowing in the back of her mind that this was more than a want. More than a need, even.
He sighed again, releasing her wrists, "Fine, have it your way," he growled, roughly turning her onto her stomach, "You don't want to listen to me, so I might as well do whatever the hell I want, right?"
He scared her a little, but still she nodded, pushing her face into his pillow, hands gripping it at the sides. He spread her legs, lifting her hips a little. When he let go, she stayed in position. Iruka sighed, "Sakura, stop this madness."
"No…"
He sighed again, "Fine. Fine. You'll get your wish, milady. Let's see if you're still so sure when this is over and done with."
With that, he spread her legs a little further, his fingers almost roughly pushing back inside her, his thumb still gentle as he moved it over and around her clit. She panted, moaning under his touch. He sighed once more before pressing up to her again. This time there was no pause to him as he pushed in. Slowly, steadily, unwavering. Two fingers still brushing over and around her clit. She cried out, the pain unbearable. But Iruka kept true to his word and didn't stop, didn't pull back, didn't even listen as she begged him to please hold on for a moment. She felt his stomach press against her ass, something else tickling slightly a little lower. He stopped then, panting. She swallowed, trying to discretely wipe her tears on the pillow.
"Happy now?" his tone was harsh, but he sounded regretful as well.
She didn't reply, hoping he would take it as a 'yes' and get this over with. But Iruka didn't move. His hands holding on to her hips painfully tight. But compared to the pain she felt where he stretched her beyond what should be possible, it was nothing. And the pain of his body inside of hers was nothing compared to the pain in her heart.
"Sakura…" his tone soft, he leaned over her a little. It caused him to shift inside her and she nearly cried out again, biting down on the pillow.
"Sakura, Beautiful, I'm sorry… please talk to me…" tears strained his voice, and she took a shaky breath.
"Ouch…"
He chuckled, and she tensed as once again his slight movement hurt her. But the pain was already getting a little less and she unconsciously moved her hips a little, moaning quietly.
"Are you okay, Pretty?"
"Damnit..." she whispered, upset with herself, "Yes, yes, I'm fine. Now stop asking."
"Alright… would you rather have me move, then?" a slight tease in his voice as he moved out of her just a little, gently pushing back in.
She moaned loudly, panting, "Aaahhh – Yes-I-think-I-do!" she cried out, amazed by how weird and… good this felt. It didn't even hurt so much anymore.
He smiled, she knew he did, "Alright then, let's try that again," he moved out a little further, pushed back in a little harder, his fingers still dancing around and brushing over her clit, "That feel good?"
"U-huh… fingers… ah…" she couldn't form a coherent sentence, but it seemed he understood, his fingers keeping up their pace as the rest of him remained still.
"Like this?" he whispered, chuckling as the only response was a loud moan. He tried to keep his body as still as possible. Only two of his fingers moving, pushing her closer to the edge. He felt guilty about how he'd treated her earlier, now trying to make up for it as best he could. As she tensed up, he eased his attentions slightly, keeping the slower pace up as she climaxed. He threw his other arm around her to keep her up, slumping down could prove painful for her. But as he did so, Iruka could not help but shift slightly. The man was startled as her back arched into him, a low moan erupting from the girl.
"Again," her tone was hoarse, commanding.
Smiling softly, he pulled back before pushing back in. She moaned once more.
"Again," she commanded.
He was getting the idea now, slowly starting to work up a pace. Going faster and harder quickly – needing the release more than he wanted to keep from hurting her again. It seemed fine. She was still egging him on between panted moans. Before long he collapsed on top of her, shuddering. Finally.
V
There was a knock on the door, Iruka. Genma groaned. Looking over at Kakashi he knew the younger man would not get up. Not even for Iruka. So he did. Grabbing a pair of sweat pants off the floor before leaving the bedroom. Opening the door, he was quickly pushed aside as Iruka entered. He shrugged, locking the door behind the man.
"Genma…" he nervously fiddled with his fingers, "Last night, I…"
He smiled a little, "We heard."
"Ah… hard to miss, I suppose."
"You hurt her," Kakashi appeared, frowning.
"Yeah… I –"
"Shut up," walking over, he threw a single punch at the younger man's gut. Iruka doubled over, landing on his knees. Not looking up, he apologized.
"I don't want to hear it. What do you want?" he crossed his arms, still frowning. Genma almost smiled. In his anger, the silver-haired man had forgotten to put any clothes on. Iruka was blushing, his forehead almost touching the floor.
"I… I realized that… I could get her pregnant…" he said quietly, his words almost lost on the fuming man.
"You'd ruin her life," Genma said softly, "Even more than it already is."
"I know. I don't –"
"Then stay away from her!" angry, he turned back into the bedroom. Closing the door gently for if he'd slam it shut like he wanted to, the door would surely come off its hinges.
"He might be exaggerating a little," Genma chuckled lightly, not what the younger man wanted to hear, most likely.
"Genma," he lifted himself off the floor, "She came on to me. And… I…"
"Love her. We know. Still, you hurt her. Next time, Kakashi will kill you," he was dead-serious, they both knew it.
Iruka nodded solemnly, his gaze directed at the floor. Genma sighed.
"Look, we don't have many. We don't use them anyway, so as long as she doesn't get hurt again…" he trailed off, turning into the bedroom.
"Thank you," It was a whisper, but Genma understood, nodding before he closed the door behind him.
"He hurt her," Kakashi sat on the bed, still naked. He glared at Genma as the older man reached into the box that served as a nightstand.
"I know."
"Hurt her," he emphasized, as if Genma hadn't understood him the first time.
"I know. You're being more protective of her than any of the others though. And Iruka's a good guy. Usually you're defending him against me. You're not thinking clearly about this. She wanted him, we all know it. First times hurt. We know that too. Stop being an ass and help me find the damned condoms. At least he thought about that much," out of breath, he let himself slide down to the floor. His entire body shaking from his little outburst.
"I'm sorry…" Kakashi reached into the box, rummaging through its contents until he'd found all the condoms they possessed. Then he turned back to his lover. Genma had just about caught his breath again, the tremors fading away once more, "Are you okay?"
Genma sighed, "Yes," he really wasn't, they both knew. But they would manage.
Kakashi put on a pair of ripped black jeans before leaving the bedroom, "Here. This is all we've got."
Iruka swallowed, accepting the handful of promised paradises. He quickly counted, "Fourteen… thank you," looking up, he found the older man looking at him questioningly.
"Why? She wanted you. Why did you hurt her anyway?" his tone was soft, he sounded as if Iruka had hurt Kakashi as well.
He sighed, "She… ordered me to. And then… I couldn't stop anymore, even when she…" he looked away, shame and guilt on his face.
Kakashi nodded, sighing. He turned away, walking over to the kitchen for a glass of water, "Where is she?"
"My apartment."
"If I ever hear her cry out like that again, I'm coming in, Iruka. And you'll be dead. You're my best friend, but no-one is hurting that girl ever again. Do I make myself clear?" he didn't look back, instead grabbing a glass and filling it with water.
Iruka gulped, "I don't ever want to hurt her again…" he shivered.
"Good. Now leave. Genma isn't well."
"Again?" concerned, he unconsciously took a step towards the bedroom door.
"Leave, Iruka. He's my responsibility. She's yours."
A wry smile appeared on the brunette's face, "And still you're protecting her against me…"
He turned now, fury in his one, visible eye, "I will protect each and every one of you at the cost of my life. But now you're leaving."
Iruka stumbled backwards in fear of his friend's sudden outburst, returning to his own apartment and the girl sleeping in his bed.
VI
"You were too strict again, Love…"
"Oh, shush," crouching, he carefully held the glass to Genma's lips, "He can be a little pest sometimes."
Genma obediently drank. Then turned his head away. Once the glass disappeared, he regarded his lover with a serious look, "It's back. The Darkness."
He sighed, "Yes. Don't speak of it, please. Here, drink."
"No, I've had plenty. Kakashi, help me up?"
He set the glass down, lifting his lover back on his feet, "Do I need to help you to the couch?"
A soft smile appeared on Genma's face, "No. Help me get on the bed. We'll fuck. You'll feel better. You always do."
Kakashi only nodded, gently helping the weakened man to lay down. Then he grabbed the glass, turning away from him.
"Hey!"
"You're not well."
Frustrated, Genma sighed, "Neither are you. We'll manage. Let me do this for you."
Kakashi turned back to face him, "I love you."
The brunette smiled at him, "I love you."
Kakashi left for the kitchen. Genma knew he'd be back. It wouldn't take him long. He always needed to reconcile himself with doing this when Genma wasn't well. But he never turned down the offer. He knew it would help. They both did. Together, they kept each other strong. For Sakura. For Iruka. For each other.
Kakashi appeared in the doorway.
"Are you still dizzy?"
Genma almost smiled. Almost, "No."
He approached the bed, dropping the jeans to the floor on the way over. Genma removed the sweat pants, sitting up. He smiled softly as Kakashi sat down next to him. He straddled the younger man. Hot lips immediately attached themselves to his pulse as gentle fingers found his entrance.
"No need, I'm still loose enough."
Kakashi grunted something that meant he didn't believe him, his fingers checking anyway. Genma almost chuckled. But the sound would be too happy for the silver-haired man, so he held back, moaning in delight at the attentions bestowed upon him. He felt feverish and it had nothing to do with Kakashi. But Genma did not complain. His lover needed him right now. It didn't matter that he felt sick. He would manage.
"You're right…"
He smiled softly, "Disappointed?"
Kakashi almost smiled back at him, the eye that was open held a little twinkle, "Maybe a little."
Genma cocked his head for a second, then slowly slid back. Taking his lover's cock in his mouth for a few moments, he slicked it up. He then moved back to straddle the younger man. Kakashi didn't waste any time slipping inside. Once more Genma almost chuckled. Almost. Not yet. When Kakashi felt a little better. Then he could show his contentment. Not before. Never before. It would make Kakashi feel worse. It would make him withdraw again. He rocked his hips for a little while, drawing a few moans from the younger man before moving up, tightening his muscles to increase his lover's pleasure. Kakashi's hand came around his own, throbbing cock. It was a little wet. Genma hadn't noticed his lover wetting it. It didn't matter. This felt good. He couldn't suppress a delighted sigh. Kakashi smiled back at him, just a little. He would be alright again.
For a while, they moved together. Perfect synchrony. Soft moans and panted breaths the only thing breaking the silence in their small bedroom, in their run-down apartment. For now, the rest of the world didn't matter. Not even Iruka and Sakura mattered. They had each other now, after all. Kakashi and Genma could ignore their existence for now. Genma knew Kakashi'd finally realized this too when the younger man's shoulders relaxed. He smiled softly before tensing up again. But this was the good kind of tension. The one that would make him smile again. A real smile. One that would reach his eye.
The silver-haired man shuddered, dropping back on the bed. Genma smiled, leaning over him to place a loving kiss on Kakashi's lips. The man was mumbling, his release never being cried out, but coming out in soft mumbles.
"I love you, I've always loved you," the same words over and over and over. Genma smiled, he loved hearing Kakashi say this. He always would.