'The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.' - Author unknown.

All I knew about these words was how to say them and what they meant. Everything else was just blurry for me. Since my parents couldn't afford the simplest education, I was taught only the essentials, like cleaning and cooking. I learned it either from them or by my self. I cheated my way in and out of ninja school, because not knowing how to read or write makes life harder then it already is. People assumed I was lazy because of my bad grades. Even as a Chuunin at age 24, all I could write was my name, rank, village and shinobi registration code. I had my reports written by others, friends.

Recently, well about a year ago, they asked me to teach at the largest academy in Katon. Only, I refused, not just because I couldn't read, he works there. I always told myself that if he were to find out I cannot read, I would cease to exist as a ninja. But he is the only one who can help me. As for the last couple of months, I have been following reading and writing courses, with him. When I explained to him the problem for the first time he kept asking who the person in question was. I kept saying it was just a suggestion, "Is it possible to teach an almost adult person to read and write?"

He pondered for over 5 minutes, but eventually said yes, I prayed he wouldn't laugh the second time I saw him...

"Iruka? Are you here?" I said as I knocked on the door, afraid he had already left my features saddened. As I desperately wanted to turn around and walk away crying, I heard him from the back of the classroom.

"Just a moment Ashika-chan, I'll be right there!" he said, but as I thought to myself, 'Please don't worry, I know you're not going to take this seriously.' things seemed to shift for the even worse.

"I heard you wanted to talk to me. It's about the reading course, correct?" Shied away and quite nervous I nodded slightly. "I asked around, but personally I believe that anyone who can't read yet can always learn, but only if they really desire to. 'Cuz hey, if kids like Naruto can become ninja... Then adults can learn to read or write. It's their passion that counts, not ability."

I faintly smiled at those intelligent and inspiring words, although, apparently it looked quite sad.

"What's wrong?" he said, the only words that came to mind were of a blunt confession. "Why won't you tell me who the person in question is?" he tried to pull my attention towards him by grabbing and holding both of my hands close to his chest. I didn't understand what was happening, my heart was beating so fast and his was, so calm as I could feel it beat slowly beneath my fingertips. I started to figure he didn't feel the same way, didn't love me back, that I was just weird, so I cared less and spilled it. "It's my… twin sister, she can't read."

What was I saying?! I don't have a sister! My parents had trouble feeding one child, another would kill them!

"You have a sister? Oh, how strange... well if she wants to learn how to read just come over with her."

"No! That's not possible, uh- one of us always has to take care of our mom! That's why she can't read. She spent her entire youth at home, working..." Secretly I held my breath, hoping he'd buy my pathetic little lie that only held a grain of truth.

"Oh," he said, "Well that's a pity, then... but you can read. Why don't you teach her?"

"Well, you know I'm a terrible sensei! You're way better..." my face flushed as his hands grew tighter around mine. I tried to look away but there was something about his eyes, so warm and loving. Finally I knew why he teaches so well, he inspires them. Only, he inspired me to cry whilst running away because I didn't know what to do.

Later I helped him clean up a bit around the class room, well I tried to. See, when I was sweeping the floor I found a note. Probably written by some of the students and passed around, it was crumpled into the shape of a ball. When I unfolded it I noticed a drawing of Iruka-kun, as a woman... without clothes and surrounded by clouds. They had scribbled something around it and of course, I couldn't read what it said. As I studied the drawing even closer I had yet to notice Iruka watching over my shoulder. Deep from inside I wanted to stuff the paper away in a pocket and cherish it for ever, demo...

"Oh my god, what a terrible drawing!" he said as he reached for it over my shoulder.

"Why? I kinda like it! They did capture your 'curves' so nicely." I mocked him as I held the drawing even further away. He hung over my back and shoulders, reaching for the drawing. I could feel the heat of his body through our vests and blushed. Thank Kami he didn't notice it, only my blush grew worse as he threw his arms over my shoulders and loosely hugged me. I heard him make a dissapointed sound when he couldn't reach the drawing, but I dared not to face him as his lips were so close to mine. I felt his breathing and heart beat almost fall into sync with my own as mine slowed down. At that moment I felt so peaceful, I placed my hands on the arms around me and said,

"Iruka, about the reading thing."

"What about it?"

"When can my sister follow your classes?"

"Well they're not really classes so I can't use the school. I guess she can drop by my house for some lessons." Those words... I couldn't believe he said that. I started to doubt about what kind of man he was, would he make advances towards my 'sister'? My first plan was to do a jutsu and dress up like my 'sister', but his specialty is Genjutsu so that wouldn't work. All I could do was tell him, but I just felt like a fool lying to him and an even bigger fool if I had told the truth.

"I guess she, could stop by tonight..." I felt his weight leaving my body and taking his heat as well, pity though. I wondered to myself, what have I gotten myself into?

"I'll write down the address so you can explain to her where my house is." he somehow snatched the drawing from my hand and scribbled something on the back, great! Even more things I can't read but really need!

Frightened I walked over the streets, it was already dark as I approached the Ichiraku Ramen booth.

"Teuchi-san, can you tell me where this address is?" he greeted me and I showed him the piece of paper. He smiled faintly and nodded, "Let me draw you some directions..."

After I received another note, one I could read, I walked on. He had moved a lot in the past, and even though Iruka now lived in the better part of Konoha, I never really liked walking in the dark all alone. After almost getting lost a few times I actually reached his door, but just couldn't knock. My hands were shaking because of the nerves so I rang the bell instead. As I was imagining how he would be dressed for my 'sister' I only kept getting more jealous. I saw his hair falling down, framing his face and draped slightly over his shoulders.

He wouldn't be wearing a shirt, well… a uniform shirt that is. His white shirt would be unbuttoned from the top, two maybe three buttons down. The more I focused on that mind swirl, the warmer I got. I heard rumbling and cussing from behind the door as I prayed to Kami, I hoped that I was at the wrong house. Aware of not being transformed I corrected my clothes which were my only cover, he would look straight through any jutsu. All I could do was act different and say I was my own twin sister, a bit more ditzy and clumsy though… Whatever ditzy may mean.

The clothes I wore were nothing like a ninja would wear, more like an old housewife. Perfect for my 'sister', right? The man who opened the door was a stranger to me, or so I thought. Like my imagination, the mind swirl was correct… He looked like he just showered beneath a waterfall as his hair was dripping wet, pity that he wore a bathrobe though. Still, my eyes were feasting upon what I saw, I felt myself sway into his arms. But in reality I stood like a statue. "Ashika-san, what are you doing here? Sorry for my appearance, I just rushed from the bath. I had quite a rough day…"

Words left my lips as well, but only in my mind. I wanted to tell him so much, everything… But I couldn't. I bowed deep only to cover up my blush, "Gomennasai! I didn't wish to disturb you! I hope I'm not inferring at the wrong time."

"Oh, you must be Ashika's sister. Just between us, the proper way to apologise to a superior is 'moushiwake arimasen'. You don't have to use it towards me though." He corrected me like a gentle person would, and he smiled like a real friend would. Did he know it was me...? Or did he play along with my silly little game?

After he invited me in, he led me towards the living room. I made myself a bit comfortable as he slipped into his bedroom to change into something decent, he said. Another mind swirl deceived me, his loose hair and loose lips, his white unbuttoned shirt smelling exactly like he does. His eyes like those of a tiger, always on the hunt. Am I in love? Or just a pervert…? I shifted the cushion on which I sat, only to sit even more uncomfortable. I startled as the door slid open and proofed my was mind wrong, I AM a pervert. How could I think something like that of Iruka? As he walked into the room he went straight to the kitchen,

"Would you like something to drink? Maybe a little snack?"

My voice refused to cooperate, "I-I'll just have some water, please."

From the living room I could see into what he had changed. A pity though, I liked my imagination better. His black Chuunin sweater with rolled up sleeves and black sweat pants weren't what I had imagined along with his hair up in a high pony tail. To be honest I was quite relieved and disappointed, but still concerned. Being dressed like a gentleman doesn't mean he'll act like one.

With a few cups of some sort on a tray he walked to the table, the bitter smell of sake reached my nostrils. I hoped it wasn't too late to bail, the only way I'd be getting away here was fighting or crawling. As he placed a glass of water in front of me I blushed, for absolutely no reason! So it seems the sake was for himself, he must have had a very rough day. Whilst pouring his own sake he tried to strike a conversation. His voice sounded different then it used to this morning, it was more... seducing? I couldn't say, I had been too concentrated on him. "Your sister forgot to mention your name, or I missed her telling me. Could you refresh my memory?"

Chikusho.

"My name?" Double chikusho.

"Uhm," This I hadn't thought about, a name... A name for my 'sister'.

"Azamuku desu, hajimemashite Iruka-san." I said and bowed slightly. His smile was so heartwarming all I could do was blush and look away. With my hands on my lap I tried to keep myself up straight, the fact that there was either little to no blood in my head or way too much wasn't helping me to stay conscious.

From the corner of my eye I watched him drink, I watched him getting drunk slowly. His lips touching the cup, his tongue licking the sake off his lips, driving me crazy. A blush crept onto his face and as my eyes crawled upwards I noticed he was looking dead straight into mine. My breathing stocked as he had stopped drinking, only I hadn't noticed he stopped drinking the moment I laid my eyes on his lips. "So, what do you know so far? What can you write, read?"

I nearly stuttered as I tried to respond, "Just my name and stuff... Where I'm from. Reading is quite different though, when I look at some writing, it doesn't remotely look like the hiragana or kanji I use for my name. Do you understand what I 'm saying?"

In a very weird way he nodded his head, the look on his face told me he wanted to eat me alive but in fact he was thinking, "You might be dyslectic. To know for sure you'd have to do some exams of sorts."

That look in his eyes, I've seen it before. I've felt that sensation before, but this time I was scared. Because I wasn't Ashika, I was Azamuku...

In silence I thought, 'Iruka, what are you doing? This isn't how I know you! You're a role model, a father to those children! And what do you do, in your free time? You drink and flirt with someone, non existing!'

The slight temper I knew of, but this playful, arousing side... It was almost scaring me. His supposedly empty sake bottle returned on the tray, that reminded me of my water which I hadn't yet touched. In order not to get too entangled in him I focused on that glass of water and its substance. Apparently the tray had been switched with a pen and some paper. As Iruka suddenly sat almost behind me the water in the glass began to swirl slowly, when he placed the pen in my hand he held it tight. I kept hoping he hadn't seen that I kept concentrating on the water,

"This pen, will become your best friend for the coming weeks, maybe months. Depends on how fast you can learn and how many classes a week you'll want to be taking."

I almost forgot to breathe as he still held my hand, he brought the pen to the paper and scribbled something, "The first things you'll be learning, are the hiragana, katakana and combinations. Then simple words and phrases. This will take at least 25 lessons."

I could care less, even if it would take 25 years, as long as I could spend that time with him. I nodded slowly, as my eyes tried to deceiver the 'code' on the paper I blushed, he had written down my last name, a heart... And from what I could read, his own... I was still scared for who he meant though, because if things were going like I had predicted, either I or 'Azamuku' would taste his lips and the other would know none of it. My concentration had the water in the glass not swirling, but evaporating slowly. Aware of being so close to my sensitive ears, he whispered from behind me whilst softly caressing my hand, "Next lesson, you'll receive some school and study supplies from me... But don't tell on me,"

His voice, was so stimulating, "every lesson we'll have you shall take them with you. You will study every free minute you have, read as much as possible. It doesn't matter if they're children's books, as long as you learn from it." I nodded, foolishly I nodded! I shouldn't have, I should've told him from the start... But it was almost too late, almost.

My eyes were still fixed on the paper but got distracted when loud knocking commenced at the front door.

"Who could that be?" Iruka said quite annoyed as he walked up to the door. As he answered the door he softly cussed, I was standing at the door to the hall, listening to his conversation whilst peaking through the tiny opening. "Kakashi, what are you doing here?"

Kakashi's one eye seemed to be scanning the paper of his book, but I swear he noticed me and occasionally glanced at me. Iruka tried to shake him off only Kakashi invited himself in, stupidly enough I was gripping the door slightly and by accident it slid open. "Ah, look who we have here? I see I'm interrupting your date, Iruka?"

Kakashi looked again and as his eyes lay upon me and my wardrobe, his eyes widened, I gasped as I saw Kakashi on the edge of exploding. "This is Azamuku, Ashika-chan's sister. Have you met before? It seems you do…"

Iruka saved my ass, as well as his own. "I'd love to invite you in, but we're quite busy at the moment." Iruka said as he didn't seem to notice Kakashi's death glare.

"Doing what?" I signalled him to kill off the questions by waving my hand like a knife past my neck, thank god Iruka was being quite smug about all of this so he had his eyes closed. "Iruka-san is teaching me how to write and read, my sister Ashika, arranged this to be possible."

I winked at Kakashi, hoping he'd play along. He only narrowed his eyes as he shook his head in a disappointed way. "I gotta get going, I hope I didn't ruin your evening."

Without any other words or hints, he left… like that.

"Iruka-san, thank you for the lesson so far, but as it's getting late I should go home as well, my sister's probably worried to death." I stood up accepting his hand for a gracious rise. His eyes were clear as they bore into mine, I could swear he was sober at the moment, only… he pulled me close and held my body against his. The heat of his body was so, different then the heat I felt this afternoon at school. His heartbeat was racing as well unlike this afternoon. Did he love me, or Azamuku?

Slowly, the gap between our faces was closing up. The urge to face the wall instead of him was so strong, yet, I desired the touch of his lips for so long… I couldn't let this chance pass… But Azamuku could. His eyes lured me closer, the moment I felt his breath dancing on my lips I knew we were too close. I pushed him away as I backed up and said, "I'm sorry, I got dragged away in the moment."

I faced the floor but stared at his feet for moments passing. My hands folded before me were taken by his, as he spread my arms and pulled me close it felt like we were dancing. He hid his face in the nape of my neck, he whispered, "Please don't go..."

Suddenly I felt his lips on my skin, as well as his teeth. He placed my hands on his shoulders as his arms disappeared around my waist, he pulled me close. My breathing was slower then I thought as it almost sounded like moaning. "Iruka-san, please... We shouldn't."

Even though I was begging for him to stop my heart pleaded for him to go on. The blood rushing through our veins seemed to come to no end only… I sensed a presence that was said to be gone. Once more I pushed him away, I brought no belongings so I was sure to leave none. As I stood in the door opening I looked back only once before closing it behind me, his eyes haunted me, eyes like those of a tiger.

Once outside of his door and 10 feet around the corner, my heart came to a rest. I sensed the presence, I stepped into the light whilst facing it and said, "Take me book shopping Kakashi."

All I heard was a huff, until his words spoke up for him, "I'm disappointed in you Ashika, I really am. If you wanted Iruka to teach you how to read, you could've just said so."

His passes were big as I had trouble keeping up with him, for someone who's always late he walks quite fast.

"What do you mean?" His eyes lazily glanced at me as I sensed anger and disappointment, "Like in many books and stories, there's something everybody knows, except the main character."

Those words struck me as I visualised them in my mind. Because I never read a real book in my entire life it was hard to imagine something so lively when your imagination has practically run dry. As I was so concentrated about what Kakashi had said I didn't notice we were standing in front of a bookstore.

"Listen, we are going book shopping…" he said, I looked around and replied as I smiled slightly, "You do know that the store is closed, or are you thinking about breaking and entering?"

I saw him smile behind his mask in return and huff once more, "It's getting late. Go home, tell 'your sister' how great your evening was, go to sleep… And meet me here in the morning, 8 A.M. sharp."

His eye was dead serious, for him I had only one burning question, "How do I know for sure you're not going to turn up late?"

"Trust me on this one…"

When I got home I kicked off my shoes by the door, as I walked into the living-room/kitchen I fell onto the couch while tears ran down my face. All these mixed emotions ran through my head leaving my heart on the verge of exploding. Even though I was alone I wanted to dismiss these feelings, erase these tears… Simply because the rules said so, a shinobi is never allowed to show his/her emotions. Only this time, I got overwhelmed, my emotions attacked me from various angles, thoughts about Iruka kissing me… thoughts about Iruka kissing Azamuku. Ravishing her skin with his lips, touching her like that, but there where our skin met raged an after burn, a sensation only felt when in serious passion. Only I knew from the bottom of my soul, he didn't share that passion with me. He shared it with her, a girl he assumed was my sister. A girl he met just minutes before… Before soiling her innocence with lust she didn't deserve nor wanted! I concentrated all the anger into my fist as I hit the couch, almost breaking a wooden beam, "Why does he love her? And not me?!"

My parched throat reminded me of feelings I had earlier when I lost precious persons before, only now. Now I lost my last precious someone without him/her dying, I lost him/her to someone who doesn't even exist… And it's entirely my fault, I shouldn't have lied to him the first time that I saw him. "I should've told him I wanted to be more then friends when we were younger… Just like he wanted."

"You've been crying last night, haven't you?" he asked me as he saw my obviously swollen-from-the-tears-eyes, I kept looking at the brightly colored books made out of cardboard and ignored that question.

"Hello Kitty? Seriously Kakashi, you've got to be kidding me…" I said as I held a pink little book with a stiffly drawn cat on it.

"Well, seriously I'm not. Believing it is your own choice." Kakashi said as he was walking towards a different section in the bookstore, one with many complicated kanji which I didn't understand although the hearts said enough, "Seriously, 'Hello Kitty'?"

"If one wants to learn something new, one has to start at the beginning."

"You're starting to sound like a fortune-cookie." I retorted. Kakashi surprised me more then once that day though, for example… He showed up early making me think I was late, when I saw him standing there I started to panic and hasted my way over. Then, he hadn't read his orange little book the entire time, for a reason though.

"Kakashi, what books are you looking at?" I innocently asked him, as I was standing next to him I eyed the many books with intricate titles.

"These are none that you're ready to read yet, go back to your 'Hello Kitty' and 'Doraemon' pop-up books."

"More like 'Hello Shitty'…" I knew he was stifling a laugh, his smiling eye said enough. I picked up a little red book with the title 'Icha Icha Violance'… I think. As I opened it and flipped through the pages I noticed there weren't any pictures at all!

"Maybe I will stay with 'Hello Kitty' and 'Doraemon'…" I said, he looked over and snatched the book from my hands.

"Then I'll take that weight from your shoulders."

"Dear Kami-sama, please don't tell me that it's related to that orange book of yours?" I said, he placed his hand on my shoulder, looked me dead straight in the eyes and said,

"I'm afraid it is. As it is the sequel…"

"Ashika-chan? Where have you been? It's almost noon!" I heard a familiar voice but I failed to find the face, I looked around quite frantically afraid I had lost my mind.

"Down here!" the voice said, a little hand waved near my face pulling my attention downwards.

"Oh, Moegi-chan, why aren't you enjoying recess with your classmates?" I said, she climbed the wall I was sitting on with great effort and sat next to me, "Iruka-sensei was really nervous this morning, he was afraid you were hurt when you didn't show up!" She swung her legs in the air back and forth.

"Hurt as in, what?"

She looked around, trying to find the words, "Well, he knows you can fend for yourself… But he said something that sounded like he was afraid he had hurt you. Or something like that… He was muttering the whole time."

'That's not like him', I thought as I looked away, I thought about the possibilities of how he could be afraid. Was he afraid Azamuku had told me everything that had happened and I was about to smite him? Or was he afraid he had hurt my feelings by violating my 'sister'? I'd never know, until,

"Where is he now?