Disclaimer – Characters property of Kishimoto Masashi.
30 Forbidden Fruits – Ibiki/Iruka – Set One
I - Bitter
Ibiki marveled. Nothing ever darkened Iruka. No matter what life threw. He carried on life as he always did. Never a grudge, never malice, never bitter.
Even when he grew angry, when life took his parents, took his mentor. When his friend turned on everyone. He never grew bitter. Not at life, and especially not at love.
Ibiki was the bitter one. ANBU saw to that. Torturing souls day after day, and having been himself. He felt dirty for having someone as good as Iruka love him. But, Iruka made him less bitter.
He showed him life still had light.
II - Sweet
If sweet was defined by kind words and gestures, Iruka was a sweet man. He accepted his kind nature and spared it no thought. For him, it wasn't special.
But, for his lover, being so was. No one expected it. Each kiss, each gift . . . each smile. Every display of gentle caring warmed Iruka. Because he knew the sweetness was his and his alone. No one else ever saw it, or would even believe it existed, if told. Ibiki simply was not a sweet man.
But, Iruka would never tell, never share. This one thing he would forever be greedy over.
III - Love
Love for Iruka was simple. Easy to give, easy to show. He had enough love for everything, everyone. But, he also had special loves. For friends, for family, for his lover.
Ibiki was sparing with his love, what little he gave. Rarely showing or expressing any emotions, one so precious and vulnerable was last to creep out. For him, this was expected.
However, when together, they shared a love pure and strong. Everything paled in one another's eyes when compared to their lover. They were opposites, in many ways, that made a whole.
Iruka and Ibiki embodied the truest love.
IV - Hate
"Calm down." Ibiki's voice was a deep, soothing timbre.
"I hate them! All of them!" Iruka huffed, voice muffled, his face pressed into bear-like chest.
"I know." Running a hand trough the chuunin's hair.
"Why?! Why do they have to be so cruel?!" He demanded, not of Ibiki but the world. It wasn't fair!
"Because they're ignorant."
"That's no excuse!" He exclaimed, trying to move away from the embrace.
Holding tighter. "It's not right, not fair. You . . . we will just have to make up for them."
Yes, they would show Naruto the love he deserved. Not the hate the village showed.