Part 2.

"Reliving last night's sordid sex session?" inquired a playful voice. Anko flicked one eye open and beheld her best friend Kurenai leaning against the door frame with her arms folded and a quirky smile as she regarded the daydreaming jounin.

"Actually we did it slow last night." Replied Anko.

"Wow. That must have been boring." Said Kurenai with a chuckle as she sat down opposite her friend. Anko lifted her legs and let her chair fall forward with a clatter back into its correct position as she propped her chin on her hands.

"You kidding? It was Heavenly." The dreamy smile that now adorned Anko's face may Kurenai cock an eyebrow. Anko was obviously completely lost in her memories.

"Now that's something I'd never thought I'd see." Said Kurenai.

"What?" said Anko, snapping out of the memory of being in Iruka's arms. "See What?"

"You gazing off into the distance with a sweet smile, a smile not a smirk. Your acting like a love struck student." Replied Kurenai with a smirk.

"You're one to talk." Shot back Anko, jabbing an accusing finger at the illusionist. "During our time here you spent most of your time sighing and mooning about who ever the hot guy of the week was."

Arguments, like the one, were common between the two konuchi. Whenever the two were together, whether in public or private, insults and accusations would start flying. Although it may look like a battle of wits and words between two bitter rivals, due to the horrendously colourful language used, it was just how the two communicated and bonded. For those who knew the female jounin they could easily see laughter in their eyes and the real humour hidden within the mocking grins.

Kurenai found out when she tried to become friends with Anko that the aggressive woman did not believe most people when they tried to be nice to her, due to have been tricked and deceived soon many times into having her feeling hurt that it was better to insult her. After a while Anko trusted Kurenai and they could actually have an ordinary conversation about personal matters but Kurenai found that it was enormous fun to continue their banter battles so they carried them on to this day. Kurenai only knew one person, Iruka, who Anko had believed right from meeting him, it was that special talent of his to make people trust him.

"And if anyone knows anything about mooning it's you." Snorted Kurenai, getting into the swing of their conversation. "Kenji Sensei almost had a heart attack when you did that." Anko shook with mischievous laughter as she tried to restrain the giggling fit that she was feeling at the memory of the prank she had played so many years ago came flooding back to her.

"Did they ever get the ass prints off that window?" Said Anko once she had gotten control of her mirth.

"No, they had to replace the whole thing. I'm surprised you haven't done that since then."

"I have been tempted" Said Anko, looking as though she was running through the best way to do it in her devious mind.

"I'm sure Iruka wouldn't mind too much." Said Kurenai with an impishly grin.

"If I did that his brain wouldn't function for the rest of the day and we would both miss lunch." Said Anko with a matching grin. Kurenai gave a small giggle

"I knew it. You've corrupted that poor man turned him into your love slave."

"I haven't corrupted him, not yet anyway. He still won't let us do it in the academy." Anko pouted at the thought of not being able to make her boyfriend suffer a major nose bleed at the sight of her in a dangerously short skirt and a shirt that is two sizes too small.

"That would raise a few eyebrows, not to mention lower a few jaws." Said Kurenai. Anko just waved off the comment.

"Ah. They can view it as a sex-ed class." Anko's face then sombered, the smile slipping and the constant gleam in her eyes fading. She gave a heavy sigh. "Iruka's not just my love slave. If anything I'm as much his as he is mine."

"Another thing I'd never though I'd hear you say." Said Kurenai but without any trace of mocking or snide undertones, only deep caring for her friend. This was something that she did not see often but knew well enough that now was not the time to mock her friend. Anko was a person who lived life how she liked and wore her heart on her sleeve. While this meant that she was generally upbeat, her moods could shift with out warning, most often to anger with Anko, but Kurenai, along with only a trusted few, had seen her become sad, even miserable. It was more surprising than her Angry because there was no build up to it. Her face just seemed to droop and melt into the glum expression that she wore now and Kurenai knew exactly what troubling her friend.

Anko really hated the reputation she had picked up and hated the thought that most people, those that did not know her that well, that her relationship with Iruka was just sex, not the kind of relationship she had dreamed about for years. Kurenai reached across the table and placed her hand on top of Anko's. "You really do love him."

"Yeah, I do." Said Anko, almost shyly, a tiny smile forming, which made Kurenai feel reassured knowing that Anko felt better now.

"And he loves you too." Said Kurenai softly, knowing that reminding Anko she had find the type of man that most women would kill for would bring her back to her usually self.

"Yeah." This time Anko's cheeks turned red. Having known her student, the lavender eyed Hinata, for so long she knew a blush, or a Love Blush as she now called it, when she saw one. Kurenai withdrew her hand and placed it on her lap, squeezing her thigh hard as she tried her best not to giggle at the sight in front of her.

"And it really shows." She said, just about keeping control.

"What?" Said Anko dangerously, now that she realizing why her face felt so hot. The look she gave her friend just dared her to mock her. Rather than face a pissed of Anko, which she had seen and faced before, the red eyed konuchi decided to give an equally true but different answer.

"I'm just saying that Iruka makes no attempts to hide the fact that he is going out with you and that, more importantly, he loves you." Anko cocked her head to one side and looked at Kurenai like she had just explained an incomparable battle plan.

"Eh?"

Kurenai tutted and Rolled her eyes. Some times Anko could be so dense, which reminded her or a certain blonde ninja.

"Unlike some men, most of them you ex-boyfriend, Iruka has never acted embarrassed or ashamed about the fact that he is dating a woman with one hell of a reputation, as false as it is." The last part was added quickly to stop the snake ninja jumping upon the red eyed woman and giving her an amateur face lift. "He never denies that he's going out with you, neither does he boast that he is. The only thing he does is cover up any love bites when he is teaching. Oh by the way how come you don't have any? Iruka's normally covered in them. People are going to think you're a vampire if it keeps up."

"I do have love bites." Said Anko. "Just not on my neck." The suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows just made Kurenai sigh. She decided to finish off explaining the bloody obvious to her friend.

"Anyway, he would do anything for you and I know you would do anything for him, or to him." Anko grinned at this.

Good. Thought Kurenai. She was pleased that she knew the best way to bring her friend quickly out of her brooding, just as if she was never sad. Kurenai was always a little surprised at how much her friend's emotions could go up or down. But it made her interesting and easy to cheer up once you knew how and Anko had definitely cheered up, which was good as the red eyed jounin wanted to ask a question that many have wanted the answer for a long time.

"What's with that tattoo that he has?"

"What tattoo?" counted Anko.

"The tattoo of a snake wrapped round a heart that's on his shoulder. He's never even hinted of getting a tattoo and then when he's going out with you he got one, a good one at that. I bet he's lost count of how many times he's been asked where he got it from people who admire it. He only says that he got it from you and I've seen rubbing it and smiling when he's day dreaming. So spill, have you become a tattooist in your spares time or is there something else about it?"

"Oh its just one of those things that people in love do." Answered Anko with a smirk. It was a complete lie; she knew that the tattoo was actually a seal. She had given it to Iruka when she bit him on the night that they were together, on the night when they both fell in love. Neither of the two lovers had any ideas what it meant but they both took it as a sign of their bond, a bond that would be impossible to break.

If Iruka did not want to say that it was a seal, and that Anko had bitten him at the height of passion to give it to him, then neither would she. But she Kurenai would not be satisfied without an Answer, a better one than one she had just given. "I've been thinking about getting a tattoo myself." Said Anko truthfully. "But I don't know what to get or where to have it."

"Have you asked Iruka for his opinion?"

"I have but he insists that he finds the perfect spot on my body himself. Every time he begins looking something big pops up and we have to see to that as it's such a big distraction. And that takes a lot of time and effort to get that sorted and by then we're both too tired and have to sleep to regain our strength. But when we wake up Iruka has forgotten where he had got up too, so we're back to the beginning." Anko had a look of contrived innocence which Kurenai did not believe for a second.

"Must be terrible for you two." Said Kurenai with a deadpan tone.

"Oh, it is. Sometime we try several times a day, but to no avail."

"Deviants." Snorted Kurenai.

"Hey, we can't be that bad if you hang out with us." Said Anko with a laugh.

"Only because you drag me out with you." The red eyed jounin shot back. It was true that she had been harangued by her friend into going out, or at least at first she did. After Asuma had died, Kurenai, while not sinking into an all consuming depression, had begun to become slightly withdrawn. Most people decided that giving her some space was the best course of action, although a few did frequently check upon her but not enough to be crowding. All except Anko. She knew full well that while time to breath could do some good, too much time alone liable to widen the spiritual hole inside a person.

After one week of putting up with Kurenai's miserable state she decided to take action, just like people had done for her when she needed them, well maybe not exactly the same. One evening Anko grabbed Kurenai and dragged her to their favorite bar, ignoring all of Kurenai's excuses or shooting them down with out mercy. Even telling Anko 'but I'm pregnant' was met with 'Good! You can stay sober and make sure I get home ok.' Kurenai remembered Anko joking that she was now eating for two it was up to the snake ninja to drinking for two, and it seemed that was giving it a serious go.

After a few nights of enforced fun Kurenai found herself cheering up again. It really helped to have a friend who knew what it felt like to have your world crumble around you in an instant and could help her through her lose. Soon she was back to her old self and was even happier when she gave birth to her beautiful child. Anko became more considerate about just dragging her out without and warning. She now gave Kurenai a weeks notice before she dragged her out again. It soon became a staple event of the week for the two of them to go out at least once.

When Anko and Iruka started dating Kurenai thought that she would be left at the sidelines as those two went all lovey-dovey together. But all that changed was that Iruka joined them on their nights out. At first she was wary, she knew Iruka was the epitome of Mr. Nice Guy but she had been support on a few of Anko's dates before, and all of them were bad. It turned out that she was wrong, and gladly so. The couple never fought, or if they did they never did it in public, neither were they overly affectionate. They said 'I love you' and kissed but they never did anything so sickly sweet that they made Kurenai feel ill.

Much to Kurenai's relief she never felt like an extra person intruding upon a couple. It felt like three good friends having a night out. Kurenai was able to join in every aspect, including Anko's favorite game 'make Iruka blush'. They also played a lot of Kurenai's favorite game 'make Anko blush' with Kurenai leading to a count of twenty four to Iruka's of twenty two. It was always fun to make fun of each other with the best jabs being traded between the two females. All in all their evenings out were very pleasant.

"That reminds me." Said Anko "I got those pictures developed from last week."

"I know. Iruka has one on his desk." Stated Kurenai

" Which one?"

"The one of you singing while sat on the bar stool, where your really hamming it up." Both of he women giggled at the memory that the photograph had captured.

"That was a fun night." Said Anko with a grin.

The night in question had been the time that all three had decided to do something different for a change and go to a new up market restaurant that had just opened up. Since it was a lot classier than their local they decided to dress up for the occasion.

Kurenai had arrived at Iruka's house, which he now shared with Anko, and was greeted by Iruka at the door. She had worn a stunning ruby red dress inlaid with glittering sequins that shimmered and danced with every movement. Two small straps held the figure hugging design to her stunning body while the neckline dipped to show a tantalizing amount of cleavage. Evocative enough to be alluring but modest enough not to appear cheap. Kurenai just loved the dress when she saw it and had brought it in an instant and had been dying for a reason to wear it. It was a nose bleed inducing dress and would have any man drooling in desire, except Iruka. Always the gentleman he had just said 'you look nice'. Kurenai smiled, like she had many times since her friend had finally found a good man. Iruka wore a simple but very fine black shirt and dress trousers. He still wore his fore head protector; Kurenai doubted if he ever took the thing off when he went outside.

Anko was still getting ready so the two teachers stood in the hall and talked as they waited. They talked about the evening they were about to have to their students. Kurenai could tell that Iruka was dancing around the subject of Naruto and her student Hinata, but then again she was avoiding directly mentioning the heiress's attraction to the blonde jinjuriki. They had both agreed early on that they would watch over their charges but they would not directly interfere in anyway that would force them together. It was something the two students would have to figure out themselves.

Their conversation was interrupted by Anko calling from the top of the stairs that she was ready. They both turned to look and Iruka's jaw fell. The love of his life was wearing a midnight black dress that was split up the sides and showed fishnet clad legs. Anko knew hat Iruka had a thing for fishnets. The dress clung and glided over Anko's buxom figure and had a plunging neckline like Kurenai's dress. The dress was also held by two straps in the shape of snakes and a large silver snake adorned the front of the dress. Starting with its tail at the bottom of the dress the glimmering serpent was coiled and stretched from top to bottom with the head resting just above Anko's heart.

'Well, what do you think?' Anko had said as she gave a twirl. Kurenai gave an appreciative nod while Iruka remained still. A closer inspection revealed a small amount of blood and what sounded like 'thank you god' being murmured. Anko took the stunned reaction as a great complement and Kurenai gave her a high five. After reactivating Iruka's brain with a quick kiss they left for the restaurant.

The Red Lotus Restaurant looked spotless and fancy form the outside and even better inside. The three were sat down and were looking forward to an entertaining night. Ten minutes later they decided they were not having a good time. The food was overpriced and did not look very filling. The waiters were very snooty and very stiff. But the worst part of the whole situation was the atmosphere. It felt very cold and ridged, like the place was only visited by people who looked down their noses a lot. The three friends could only have felt more unwelcome and outer place if they walked into the stuffy place in full mission gear and trailing dirt, and by the way most of the other customers looked at them they might as well have.

They left before Anko pummeled one of the waiters, which was fortunate for the staff as Iruka and Kurenai would not have jumped in very quickly to save the man, and went to their regular place.

The Drunken Shadow was a favorite of the local ninja of Konoha and while it might look like a seedy den of thieves and villains there was no better bar in the whole of the leaf. Despite the way it looked the atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. The main room is filled with round tables each illuminated by a low hanging light, deranging the table with yellow light but casting shadows around them. A long oak topped bar dominates one side of the room, stocked with a vast array of bottles or local and exotic spirits and other alcohols. A double score of round stools sit in front of the bar and can be swiveled around to take in the whole of the smoky scene. The wall opposite the bar is adorned by a number of different shaped targets board and obstacles used for games of skill using kuni and shuriken. A squat semi circle stage sits as the far end of the room. It is often empty but sometimes host bands and other types of performers.

The clientele is predominately ninjas, either local or from another village, which goes along way to explaining why such a popular place looks some dim and seedy, ninjas just like the dark. Since the bar is often filled with friendly ninjas the chances of someone starting a fight is slim. The type of lowlife that goes out looking for a fight is not welcome inside the Drunken Shadow but every so often some fool drunk on ale and their own over confidence wanders in and is soon sent out the door on their faces'.

As they entered the trio of friends received hoots ands cat calls from the regulars in a show of appreciation for the fine clothes the three were wearing. The jounin women both gave a twirl as Iruka just blushed. They all knew that the cat calls were not serious and none of them were offensive or crude. Every one knew that Iruka and Anko were together and it would mean great suffering to anyone who tried to come between them. Kurenai was not interested in anyone so no one tried to ask her out anymore.

The stage that night was not empty. An old jukebox was stood to one side of the stage and half dozen microphones on long cables were sat in a rack bolted to the side of the box.

It was karaoke night.

Their overdressed state added to the enjoyment of the evening, if only for the shear ridiculousness that the elegant garments added. They normally did not get involved in karaoke but after being in the most joyless place they have been in for a long time they really could do with some very bad singing and silly behavior. They ate a good helping of low brow food, all of it very unhealthy and sinfully good, drank till they were all a little tipsy, played some kuni games and just because it was there sang some dreadful songs on the karaoke. All night pictures were taken on a camera that Iruka had brought thinking they would get some good shots at the Lotus and not the friendly local. But all the same it was a very fun night. A lot of pictures of the two jounin and chunin doing some ridiculous things were taken that night and Anko was going to make sure that little brat Naruto would never see any of them, he would most defiantly make fun of the snake jounin and Iruka would be upset if she was to do any permanent to him.

The night ended in a strange way with the lovers having and arm wrestling contest, with Kurenai snapping pictures all the way through the test of strength. The contestants both gave it their all, knowing that to throw the match would be insulting to the other. In the end Anko won but Kurenai suspected that it was only because Anko had employed nefarious diversion tactics. She had panted in an exaggerated fashion and Kurenai was sure that Anko leaning forward had something to do with her victory. Also the strategic placement of Anko's foot somewhere on Iruka's body surely had something to with Iruka suddenly going red and loosing all strength in his arm for the split second for Anko to win. Kurenai was sure if she got all the pictures of the arm wrestling together she could make a quick flip book of the contest.

"You must let me see those photos soon." Said Kurenai.

"Will do." Said Anko. " I only wish I'd gotten pictures of the week before."

"Why?" Asked Kurenai in a puzzled tone. The week before had been fun but nothing memorable like a week later so it must have been when it was just Anko and Iruka.

"After a walk in the moonlight we stooped for a quick drink at the Shadow and ran into Brick." Anko had said the last part in the same tone she used to use when she had a crippling hangover, like live was not worth living anymore. The red eyed jounin could not blame her friend. Brick was one of the worst men Anko had ever gone out with, and that was saying something. A giant ape of a man Brick had all the charm and charisma of a slimy piece of rotten flesh. That towering stain of a human being did not wash enough, if at all, and drank too much so much that he permanently stank of alcohol and his breath could peel the paint of walls and turn even the stoniest of stomachs. The man also hand the personality of a horny. Runty boar during the mating season, the only thing that out weighed his stupidity was his arrogance.

"What happened?" Asked Kurenai with a weary sigh. Anything to do with Brick was never good and seriously wonder what his parents were thinking, more probably taking, when they decided to conceive him. Anko gave her a very smug grin.

"He spent the night out cold on his back, missing six of his teeth."

"You must have given him one hell of a punch considering how thick his skull is."

"It was an impressive hit but I didn't smack him. It's was Iruka."

"What?" exclaimed Kurenai. "Tell me everything." She said leaning forward n her chair.

"Ok. We had just walked in and were half way to the bar when that big lump of human discharge somehow appeared right in front of us. He must have been hiding behind the garbage before it got taken out because it's the only thing that could have masked his smell."

"True. I thought he would have at least learned to have a wash by the number of times you told him he stank to his face when you two went out." Said Kurenai as she wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Don't remind me." Said Anko, equally disgusted. "He seemed to stink even worse than usually on that night. And he still leers at me, even when he could see that I'm with Iruka." Anko shuddered at the memory that she had gone out with that man. The dark haired woman was glad that she had dumped him, painfully on his head, before she did something really stupid, like sleep with the ape.

"Then what happened?" Asked Kurenai, edging even further on her seat. She damn near falling off thought Anko.

"Iruka looked calm but I could tell that he was getting pissed by the way Brick was looking at me." She said. Anko had learned that Iruka had an excellent hold of his Anger, almost as a counter point to Anko's loose grip of her infamous rage, but she had learnt by now how to read the subtle changes to his bearing and feature when he was mad. "Iruka's eye starting to twitch, but my fist is starting to shake, I'm about ready to twat the bastard, when Iruka says 'Excuse us'. Brick looks at him for a second like he trying to remember how to speak before he grunts 'So you're Anko's new man?'" Anko had relaxed her face so her features hung lose making her look very stupid and spoke with a long drawn out drawl. Kurenai thought it was a very good impersonation of Brick's simian attempts at human communication.

"'You gotta tell me what kind of kinky shit she gets up too.'" Anko's face returned to normal as she carried on. "If it was anyone else who said that I would have been too shocked to do anything but considering it was Brick I didn't even blink. Iruka was definitely shocked enough for both of us. He then glared at Brick like he wanted to pull out his tiny heart and ram it down his throat. Iruka can now glare almost as well as I do."

"I bet that made you feel proud." Said Kurenai with a rueful smirk.

"It did. Anyway Iruka says 'Excuse me?' Damn near growls the question at Brick. The asshole smiles at him like they've been the best of buddies for all their lives. 'You know. Kinky shit and stuff like that. She's always been a horny little slu…' WHAM! I barely saw it and Brick certainly didn't. Iruka lands a text book straight right that lifts Brick off his feet, sends him thought a table, knocks out some teeth and leaves him out cold on the bar floor. Needles to say everyone watching went wild at the sight of it and I think the bar keeper had put the missing teeth up on display."

Kurenai quickly slapped her hands on the table to stop herself falling off her chair as she rocked with laughter. Anko smirked knowing that her friend's hatred of her ex, and most of the others, ran almost as deep as her own.

"Do you know what Iruka did next?" She asked. Kurenai weakly shook her head as she took a better position on her chair. "He apologized."

"He apologized to Brick?" Asked a shocked Kurenai. She knew Iruka had the unofficial title of 'nicest man in all of the leaf' but even to say sorry to the man he just knocked out for insulting his girlfriend was a bit too much to swallow.

"No, he said sorry to me." Said Anko.

"Eh?" Said Kurenai, mimicking Anko for earlier.

"He turned to me, looking a bit sheepish and rubbing the back of his head like Naruto does, and said hew was sorry for jumping in like that. Thinking that I would be annoyed at him for defending me like that. Anko giggled at the memory of Iruka worried that he had offended Anko's independent streak.

"Well I can't blame him. You've always had this think about not needing any man doing anything for you."

"With Iruka it's different, he's not doing it to make him self look good, he just did it because he felt it was right. Also I've never had anyone stand up for me on the account of my honor. It was quite a nice gesture really." Sais Anko, a small blush dancing across her face. Kurenai shook her head slightly.

"Only you could find a knock out blow romantic. What did you do then?"

"Well we went straight home, I threw him onto the bed, ripped his clothes off and…"

"Whoa, whoa. Stop right there." Pleaded a desperate Kurenai. "I don't need to hear that. I'm fine with out mental scars thank you" Kurenai vigorously shook her head trying to dislodge the mental images of her two friends locked against each other in passion.

"You said to tell you everything." Said Anko with her usual grin.

"Not that much." Anko just sniggered as Kurenai fixed her with a cold look. "You're such a child."

Anko stuck her tongue out and blew a long wet raspberry. Kurenai just rolled her eyes.

"Speaking of brats." Said Anko. "Where is the short one?" Kurenai knew that she was referring to her baby. She smiled and felt herself fill with pride.

"Down in the nursery. I just thought I'd get sometime to myself when I could before we have to go home."

Anko studied her friend for a second and saw the sighs that she had missed before. They were not really big but there were noticeable bags under her eyes and a slight slump to her shoulders. Anko also saw a weariness mixed in with the love and happiness that were evident in the red eyed woman's smile. Anko cast her mind back trying to think of a time since Kurenai had the baby to a time when she was not either with her child or with somebody else. She could think of none. Anko had never seen a mother more devoted and protective of their baby than Kurenai but she also knew at time alone, to relax without having to worry about a single think were essential for any sane person to survive. She mulled over what she had just worked out before she knew just what to do.

"Kurenai. Me and Iruka won't be going out this week." She said in a solemn tone.

"Oh? Why?" asked Kurenai. She was a little disappointed as she had gotten to really enjoy the weekly nights out.

"Because we are going to be babysitting your little monster while you have some time to yourself." Said Anko, leaning back on her chair and folding her arms across her chest. Anko scowled and looked off to the side looking like she had just been told she would not have chance to snuggle up next to Iruka in bed tonight.

"What?" Asked Kurenai completely take back by the sudden and surly declaration.

"You heard." Grunted Anko.

"But…"

"No buts. Look, Iruka loves the little terror and you are in desperate need of some time off. So we are going to take care of everything while you have twenty four hours alone and enjoy yourself."

Kurenai looked at the uncooperative image her friend was displaying and smiled. While Anko had become a lot friendlier she could never admit that she wanted to do a favor just to be nice. She either made it seem that there was something in it for her or that she was being forced to do it, even when it was her idea.

"What do you suggest I do then?" She asked, a little unsure of what to do with her day's worth of free time.

"I don't know. Go to the bathes, get your nails done, sit around your house and slob out."

"Slob out?" inquired the red eyed jounin, dreading what the answer could be.

"Come on you must know how to slob out?" Asked Anko. Kurenai just shook her head with a look of disbelief of where this conversation was going.

Anko rolled her eyes. How could her friend not know of this simple joy?

"You sit down in your house and do absolutely nothing. And the clothes needed for such an activity is usual underwear or nothing at all."

"You really do that?" Kurenai realized it was a stupid question, she could really see the snake-nin doing that with a large grin, with drool running down the side of her mouth.

"Yeah. It's great. I do it when ever I'm not on a mission and have nothing to do. I just sit around, read scrolls and books, eat junk food and…

"Scratch your nuts." Cut in Kurenai with a devilish smile. "You can be such a bloke sometimes.

Anko's ladylike response, to disprove the slight against her feminine nature, was to give her friend the 'one fingered salute'

"Whatever. You going to owe me one for this by the way." Said Anko jabbing a finger at the woman sat across form her.

"Sure, because you absolutely hate being called 'Awunty Anko'" Kurenai said in a sweetly sarcastic voice. She ignored the killer glare Anko gave her and carried on. "Admit it. You love my 'little monster' as much as Iruka does."

"Good luck trying to prove it." Said Anko, although she was not sure she could hide any evidence that did exist, she was quite fond of Kurenai's child.

"Oh believe me I will. You know I think you two are rubbing off on each other and not just rubbing against each other."

"What are you talking about?"

"Well you both have subtle changes to your attitudes. Iruka has become more out spoken and, by what you told me, starting to act on impulse. You have cheered up immensely and stopped being such a hard assed bitch. You two are really good for each other."

Anko just snorted and looked away.

"You may have point." She grumbled. The nosey gossip was right, but if she got wind that she was Kurenai would unbearable. She could be insufferable smug when she wanted to be.

"He'd make a good father." Anko's arms flailed as she just about managed to grabbed hold of the desk and steadied herself.

"What?" She barked. Kurenai just giggled, just like she did when she was student.

"Just kidding." She said. Anko was not convinced, but the less on that subject the better.

"Anyway." Continued Kurenai. "Thank you. You sure Iruka won't mind?"

"Yeah, I'm sure. He loves kids. I'm sure given half the chance he would have adopted Naruto when the kid was younger. Although saying that I don't think that kid will ever grow up."

"Now who does that remind me of?" said Kurenai mimicking a look of thoughtfulness.

"Bitch." Said Anko.

"Skank." Came the instinctive reply. "I don't see why you make out that you don't link Naruto. I can see that you do."

Whenever Kurenai saw Anko and Naruto together, which was quite frequently due to their connections to Iruka, they were often trading insults and trying their best to irritate the other. Anko treated Naruto like a child while he called Anko 'Nee-san'. Kurenai could never tell who was being the most childish out of the pair.

"I've never said I don't like him." Said Anko. "he's a good kid and his hearts in the right place. He's just so much fun to wind up and terrify."

"So a lot like someone else I know." Muttered Kurenai

"Sorry I didn't catch that."

"Oh nothing, just think out loud." Said Kurenai with a dismissive wave. She really needs that break. Thought Anko. She's beginning to lose it.

"Anyway, that's enough about students getting on my nerves, how are you're three not so ex-students getting along?"

Kurenai gave the same smile that she wore when she thought of her young child whenever she thought about her team and how much they have grown; even with out her personally leading them in the field in a while and also how well each one of them did on solo missions. But they still liked to come to her for advice from time to time.

"They're doing great. Kiba has begun to work on more advanced beast jutsus and tracking. But he's got fleas at the moment, so he a little grumpy about having to wear a flea collar and he says that the special soap he has to use smells like cat piss."

"Poor mutt." Chuckled Anko.

"Yes I think Shino has something to do with it." muttered Kurenai. Anko arched a questioning eyebrow. "He isn't as with drawn as everyone assumes he is. He seems to enjoy playing pranks on people, sneaky pranks, and his favorite victim is Kiba, normally because Kiba says he's too up tight. Also I think he's got his eye on a girl."

"With Kiba I'm not surprised."

"No, Shino it's very cute. Every times she walks past he pulls down his hood and takes off his sun glasses."

Anko chuckled again. For such a mysterious and cool person like Shino, showing his faces was like him getting down on his knees and proclaiming his undying love for this girl.

"And Hinata's doing really well." Said Kurenai. Anko could hear the pride in her voice and saw the sparkle in her eyes. Although Kurenai loved each member of her team she held a special place for the hyuga girl. "She started to use Genjutsu in her fighting and is using it to develop some special hybrid techniques that use the gentle fist."

"Cool. I would love to see them someday. Naruto told Iruka, while I was there, about the technique Hinata used when they were looking for that tracking bug. He sounded very impressed by it." She remembered that the blonde was actually more than impressed, it was all that he talked about for two weeks. Anko thought it was bloody annoying while Iruka had a secretive smile across his face as Naruto continued to talk about how awesome Hinata was, although when the slip of the tongue was pointed out he quickly said the technique was awesome. Anko had some fun ragging him about that for awhile.

"Yes, I've seen it myself. She still practiced that one but the ones she developing at the moment are aimed towards defeating an enemy that use jutsu to become aware of their surroundings or allows them to see through in coming attacks, the prime example is a Byakugan user or something like that."

"In other words it makes people who can see everything blind." Anko thought about such a situation for a second. "Yep that would really fuck up people who are used to seeing everything all the time. I wonder if Hinata will teach it to me?"

"You just want to use it to fuck with Hiashi some more." Said Kurenai, once again pointing an accusing finger at her friend.

Anko could just no grow up and let petty things go. Kurenai had no idea how the rivalry between the illustrious head of the Hyuga house and the rebellious wild girl had started in the academy but she had seen it carry on for year. Sometimes there were just some things that a person should just let go but Anko refused to stop getting on the patriarchs' nerves whenever she could. It was quite ridicules to watch sometimes but it was also very funny.

"You know what I'd really like to see?" Mused Anko. "A rematch between Hinata and Neji. I would definitely put my money on her by the way."

"Me too." Added Kurenai.

"She's really grown strong hasn't she? I remember when she was just a timid girl in her first chunin exam but when she stood up to Neji I could tell she had balls.

"Interesting way of putting it. I'm pretty sure Hinata's female." Said Kurenai giving Anko a weary look. Anko just shrugged.

"What would you prefer I'd say? That's she going to have one hell of a rack? Which she does by the way. If she grows that way anymore she's going to be as big as…"

"STOP! I don't want to hear this either. You can be so crude sometimes." Kurenai then looked her friend up and down, like she was studying some form of new, smirking life. "What am I saying?" She said. "You're crude most of the time."

Anko Chuckled again. She was have such a laugh with her friend she wouldn't be surprised if her sides started to hurt soon.

"Good thing Hinata can't hear this or the poor girl would have passed out from heat stroke." Said Anko. Hinata knew she was a beautiful but she never liked to flaunt it, hence the baggy clothes that had become her trademark form of dress, and in turn could become highly embarrassed when somebody, usually Anko, said anything about how much she had developed. All Anko had to do was compliment the girl on her body, being as sincere as she was with her close friends, and the young lady would flush such a deep red that anyone would think that Naruto had just whispered a naughty suggestion in her ear in a husky voice.

"Bad enough that she almost died of blood loss yesterday."

"What?" exclaimed Anko. "What happened?" she asked with a voice laced heavily with concern. While she did tease the pale eyed girl she genuinely liked her. To have come form such a ridged and stern clan and be able to show the warmth of human kindness was a big plus in Anko's books.

"She saw Naruto with out his top on and passed out in the street." Said Kurenai in an almost deadpan voice. This story had repeated it's self many time so no one was surprise when the Hyuga heirs hit the deck beat red in the face.

"She split her head when she fell then?" Wondered Anko. She would agree with her friend that it all sounded very normal for the she girl.

"No. Naruto saw her fall and tried to revive her by giving her a bit of a shake. She came round in the end."

"Good."

"In Naruto's bare arms." Said Kurenai with a hint of mischievous mirth in her voice. Every so often the normal could become usually again.

"Oh. Nose bleed then." Said Anko as the story became clear to her.

"Oh yes, a big one. I was at the hospital for my little one's jabs when Naruto comes barreling through the doors, cradling Hinata in his arms blood all down her front, bellowing at the medics to help. I came over to see what was going on while the staff took Hinata and tried to calm Naruto down, he was making on hell of a scene. I saw that the blood was coming from her nose and I saw a small smile as she mumbled quietly. I saw that Naruto was topless and I put two and two together and..," Kurenai trailed off and gave a shrug to say that the reason was so obvious she did not have to say it. Anko burst out laughing, like a harlequin on laughing gas. Her sides started to hurt now. She clutched at them as Kurenai continued.

"I managed to calm Naruto down and got him to tell me what happened. After I worked out the situation I told him it was just a nose bleed and that Hinata would be fine. He looked very relieved afterwards. I told him to get a shirt on before he went to see her. He was quite embarrassed that he had been topless the whole time. He would have stayed till Hinata woke up but Hiashi soon arrived after one of the medics contacted him about Hinata being admitted to the hospital. I thought it best for Naruto to leave as was being given death glares by Hiashi.

"He's always glaring." Said Anko in a dismissive tone. "every time I see him he always looking like he thinks he can stare me to death. I bet he practices that look in the mirror in the morning."

"The reason he glares every time he sees you is because you dyed his hair green just before his Chunin exam." Kurenai pointed out. She did not know why the rivalry had begun but she knew that was when it had started.

"I was trying to help. I thought it would be good camouflage for hiding in the forest." Said Anko in mock defensiveness. Kurenai rolled her eyes. She did not believe her friend for a second. "Seriously." Continued Anko. "Why don't you tell Naruto that Hinata likes, hell loves him? He should jump at the chance to be with her."

"NO!" shouted the genjutsu specialist. The force of her voice surprised her more that it did her friend. She took a few seconds to calm herself before she gave her answer.

"He has to work it out himself or for Hinata to tell him. If someone told him that Hinata has feelings for him he could only go out with her out of a misplaced sense of obligation or guilt. That could be disastrous for them later on. We can't let that happen."

"We?" inquired Anko.

"Me, you and Iruka." Said Kurenai her face set in a hard repose. When she made that face Anko always thought that she should model for a condemning statue to stand outside of courthouses, just too really scare those on trial. Her face remained solid as marble as she proceeded to remind Anko of a subject that snake-nin seemed to forget at her convenience. "You promised that you would never tell Naruto anything about how Hinata fells with out Hinata telling first."

"I know, I know. And I have no intention of telling him. It's just that he has a stunning girl just passing out to be with him and he doesn't have a fucking clue about it. It's frustrating to watch."

"It's not his fault." Said Kurenai calming down and her face settling in to its normal soft countenance. "He's never had a family and no one really sat down with him and explained love. All he had to go on was whatever he saw and read about it, his perception of love and romance is cobbled together from bad romances and what ever he picked up from other people. By the time he came to the academy and Iruka started to take a larger role in his life he already had in his mind on what he wanted for a girlfriend and how to get one. I think he's learning more about romance and love but it's going to take a long time for him to readjust his way of thinking."

"Don't be so sure about that." Muttered Anko.

"What do you mean by that?" Asked Kurenai. Whenever Anko knew something she didn't the buxom woman liked to dangle it front of her and tease her with it.

"Look, anything you tell me isn't passed on to Iruka and the same applies to what ever you tell me." Stated Anko.

Kurenai suddenly wished her friend was more of a gossip monger. She admired the fact that Anko could be trusted to keep secrets, no matter how much she would taunt the illusionist with the fact she knew something she did not, but she really had to know this information. Not because Anko knew and she did not, not because it was some gossip she could sink her teeth into but because if it had any impact on Hinata she had to know to decided whether it would harm the shy girl or help her.

But trying to get information out of Anko was hard. Bribes worked sometimes, pleading and begging just got obnoxious teasing and mocking smirks and physical intimidation resulted in an ugly brawl. There was only the most nefarious method of extracting information left to Kurenai and it always gave the red eyed woman a slight power trip when she used it.

Blackmail.

"Tell me or I'll tell Iruka about the time that involved you, sixteen shots, loaf of French bread, two fish, a personal reprimanded from the Hokage and six weeks punishment work." The smile on Kurenai's face was positively wolfish.

Anko's widened as sudden terror was etched across her face. She could not believe that Kurenai would hold that above her head, she had to be bluffing. But one look into those curiously crimson eyes told her that she was not bluffing. The evil witch had been hanging around her too long, Anko thought with some grudging respect for her friend's deviousness. She gave a resentful growl before she caved.

"Lets just say that Naruto is widening certain options in his life." Said Anko, hopefully appeasing her friend while being cryptic enough not to have broken her trust to Iruka.

"He's given up on Sakura?" Asked Kurenai, quickly coming to an answer to Anko's thinly veiled clue.

"Shit." Anko winced. She always sucked at making up riddles and puzzles. Kurenai gave her a triumphant smile.

"Looks like he's finally growing up." Said Kurenai.

"That might not be a good thing." Said Anko. She continued before Kurenai could ask anymore probing questions. "A few girls have started to take an interest in him, kinda like a smaller version that Uchiha kids fan club from way back. But fortunately the kid's so dense he doesn't notice them anymore that Hinata. In fact I'd say it makes him a bit uncomfortable when a mob of girls appear, he doesn't have a clue what to do." Anko gave a weak chuckle and looked out of the window. This conversation had taken a down turn.

Kurenai chewed her lip in thought for a moment before letting her head slumped into her arms which were resting on the table.

"Well if even that is the case it still doesn't mean we should tell him. It's wrong to manipulate people into a relationship." She said.

"Hypocrite." Said Anko, still looking out of the window.

"Hmm?" came Kurenai's reply. She was also looking of the window into the glorious scene before her but it did little to lift her mood.

"I said hypocrite." Answered Anko now looking back at brooding friend.

"Why am I a hypocrite?" Asked Kurenai, her voice muffled by her arms.

"You manipulated me into going for Iruka." Said Anko in a tone that make the answer seem so glaringly obvious.

Kurenai sat back up straight with a slightly worried look in her eyes. "How did I manipulate you exactly?"

"Remember the time you first mentioned Iruka to me?" Kurenai nodded, she did remember that conversation. "You basically made him to be wonderful, which he is, and then listed all the things you thought he would want in a woman. A list that I did not fit in any way shape or form. In short you basically said he the man that I have always wanted and that I could not have him. You knew id take that as a challenge and that I can't resist a challenge like that, even if I acted that I didn't care. Also you knew that I would unconsciously being looking out for him and you knew that I would make a move on him and that we would be together. Am I right?" Anko's eyes were calmly penetrating as her friend relaxed from her impression of a board.

"Good luck trying to prove It." said Kurenai with a triumphant smirk.

"Thank you anyway."

"You're welcome"

"Gotcha!" said Anko in victory.

"Damn it" cursed Kurenai. She should have seen that one coming.

"I mean it though. Thank you for what you did. If you didn't Iruka might have slipped me by." Said Anko with a genuine smile on her face. They came so easily as of late.

"No problem. But you were a special case. It would be very wrong to do that to Naruto."

"Special case?" Asked Anko with and amused look. "How was I a special case?"

"Well there's the fact that you a complete deviant. You the only person I know who takes notes on prisoner restrain to use in the bed room when you get home." The wicked smile she gave made it clear that she thought she had scored a point against the snake-nin.

"Hypocrite." Said Anko with a grin that leveled the playing field. The conversation just got fun again.

"What? You already caught me."

"Oh not that. I was referring to the deviant comments."

"What do you mean?" asked Kurenai. She had idea where this was going and she did not like it. Her spine did another impression of a Bo staff as small rivulets of sweat trickled down her back.

"I distinctly remember seeing rope makes on your wrists and ankles one time when we both visited the bathes together. You did a very good job of hiding them from everyone but I saw them and I know the day before you spent the night at Asuma's place. Care to explain?" The sweet smile Anko sported let Kurenai know she was trapped.

"I, err… I was helping him with his interrogation techniques." Said Kurenai lamely, clutching at the first answer that sounded reasonable.

Anko's smile grew; this was too good to pass up. "Really? What did he do? Did he gag you? Give you a tongue lashing?" Anko cocked an eyebrow. "Did he restrain you and, Pump. You. For. Information?" Each word was drawn out and loaded with as much innuendo as Anko could muster.

Kurenai's face flushed bright crimson, surpassing the abilities of her student, as her eyes widened, resembling two suns about to go super nova.

"I, I … we… erm?" Kurenai stuttered her explanation. "Gotta go!" She quickly stood up and bolted from the room.

Next chapter, next part of the story.