A/N: One more week to Valentine's Day and thus, I'm embarking on my very first KakaIru V-day fic. And well, hope you guys will enjoy it. Cheers!

Chapter 1: Out for Mission

Iruka stretched himself, having finally finished grading the stack of assignments. He glanced at the clock in the classroom and sighed. It was almost midnight. Straightening himself, he started to pack his things, preparing to go home.

He shifted the stack of assignments and something lying at the bottom caught his eyes. He frowned as he picked up the small envelope and flipped it over. His name was scrawled on it and a knowing smile came on his face as he recognized the handwriting. Though he wasn't sure when that envelope had been left there. He slipped it into his pocket as he stuffed his lesson plan and a few books into his bag. Slinging it over his shoulders, he hurried out of the classroom.

He walked down the quiet corridors of the academy and out into the night streets of Konoha. A gentle breeze was blowing and the night was cool. The late night saw little people out on the streets, with the only few as the ones doing the night patrol.

Iruka opted for a slow walk back to his apartment, just so he could enjoy the serenity and calmness of the night. He pulled out the envelope from his vest pocket and looked at it for a moment more, before he shrugged and tore it open, pulling out the contents.

Inside, there was a piece of paper and a necklace. Iruka raised an eyebrow as he studied the accessory in his hand and unfolded the piece of paper. The words made his lips quirked up in a smile and he felt a rush of warmth fill his heart.

'I have to leave for a mission and I guess I'm not able to wait for you to come back from your lunch break to bid you goodbye personally. So, I'm leaving this letter. I will be back soon, and hopefully, will be back in time. Here's the first installment for what is to come. Hope you like the necklace. Love, Kakashi.'

No wonder he had been left in peace the entire day, without a single disturbance from his silver-haired lover. Iruka clasped the necklace tightly and grinned, though he was a little confused over the message left by his boyfriend. Was there something urgent that Kakashi needs to return to tend to? Why was he mentioning about coming back in time? He had never done that before. Or did he mean that he would be back at the designated time?

Iruka shrugged and continued on his way, feeling some of the stress being washed away by the sweet message left for him. He was so looking forward to having his boyfriend back and the surprise that Kakashi seems to have for him.

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"Hey Iruka."

The chunin looked up from the scroll he was reading and stared at the person standing in front of his desk.

"Izumo, what's up?" Iruka smiled at his friend.

"It's Friday night. Join us for a drink later?"

Iruka quirked an eyebrow. "Who's going?"

"Anko, Raidou, Kotetsu and Kurenai. Oh, we invited Iwashi and a chunin who has just been inaugurated. You should know him. He's an assistant teacher at the academy." Izumo grinned.

Iruka returned his focus to the scroll in front of him. "I'm too tired to guess. Just tell me who it is."

"Oukei. I'm sure you know him."

Iruka looked back up at his friend and frowned as the gears in his head turned slowly. Then it clicked and he nodded slowly.

"I think so. I saw him a few times at the staff room. He's new, isn't he?" Iruka mused.

Izumo nodded. "He was in the same team as Iwashi when they were genin. So, Iwashi wanted to celebrate for him for having made chunin in the last exam. And he invited him along for our drinking session."

Iruka sighed as he rubbed his temple. "I would love to join. But……"

"Kakashi-san is out for a mission, isn't he?" Izumo placed his hands on the table to support his weight and leaned down to study the tanned chunin's face. Iruka nodded wearily.

"So there's no excuse not to join us, isn't it?" Izumo raised an eyebrow. "It's not like you have to go home to coddle your lover boy."

Iruka frowned as he folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "I'm not sure if he will be coming home tonight. And if he does and I'm not home……"

"Iruka, when did you ever see jounin out for missions coming back on time, much less early?" The other chunin cut in. "Asuma-san is out on the same mission. Or at least that's what Kurenai said. And she said they will take at least three weeks to finish the mission. It's only been two weeks. There's still a few more days before he will come back."

"But still……"

"Iruka, chill it. I don't care. You have got to come tonight. We haven't hanged out in a while." Izumo frowned. "Just come for a while."

"Alright." Iruka gave in with a sigh. "But I will only stay for an hour. After that, I will be leaving. I still have a stack of assignments to grade at home."

"Fine." Izumo smiled. "That's fair enough. So I will see you later then."

Iruka shook his head as Izumo walked out of the mission room. He sighed and turned back to the scrolls that needed his attention there and then.

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Genma hissed in pain as he bandaged up the wound on his arm. His other two comrades looked at him in concern.

"Are you alright?" Asuma frowned.

"Yeah." Genma muttered. "Just a scratch. It's nothing."

Kakashi sighed and leaned against the wall in the cave as he rubbed his face tiredly.

"This took longer than expected."

The two turned to look at the silver-haired jounin before Asuma nodded grimly.

"But at least we manage to accomplish the mission." The bearded jounin sighed.

"One more week and we will be home." Genma secured the bandage and grinned at them. The other two looked at him and smiled.

"Aa…" Kakashi turned to stare out of the cave.

"I wonder if we will be home in time." Genma chuckled. Asuma quirked an eyebrow. Kakashi stared at him amusedly.

"Trust you to think about that when we are so battered." Asuma snorted as he pulled out a cigarette and lit it.

"Of course." Genma rubbed his neck tiredly. "I missed Rai."

Asuma snorted again. "Stop that."

"Well, are you going to deny the fact that you miss Kurenai?" Genma gave him a broad grin. Asuma scowled. Kakashi let out a low laugh.

The honey-haired jounin turned his attention to the other man. "And you. It's going to be your first with Iruka, isn't it?"

Kakashi blinked once. Then twice, before he ruffled his silver locks. "Yeah."

"And what are you planning to do?" Genma smirked.

Kakashi shrugged. "Something."

"That's not answering the question." Asuma shot him a dry look.

Kakashi grunted. "That's not the both of your concern either."

"Oh well, we just didn't want you to screw up your first valentine's with Iruka." Genma chuckled.

The copy nin glared at him. "I won't."

"So confident, aren't you?" Asuma looked amused.

Kakashi shrugged and stood up. Ignoring his two friends, he walked out of the cave to survey his surroundings.

As his thoughts trailed off to his tanned lover waiting for him back in the village, a smile formed on his face behind his mask. He wondered if Iruka had found the note and gift that he had left before he went on the mission.

Then he grinned. He was sure the chunin had already seen it. But he was somehow regretful that he hadn't been there to give his lover the necklace personally. It would have held a different meaning if he had presented it to Iruka in person.

But well, he had a lot of time to make up for it.

This Valentine's, he's going to make sure, that it will be a memorable one for the both of them.

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