A/N: Hi~ I don't know if this is a late or early update because my days are passing sooo slowly =w= First, I was having an Art Block and cursed over it so much, then something happened and I was writing 6 hours non-stop, inspiration overflow...I was planning to make this only 2k words but it didn't seem interesting like that so here's the full work, enjoy o3o

-(Kakashi's P.O.V.)-

Don't you sometimes wonder, what's the purpose of life? Some people say it's love and family, others say it's all about the memories. Well, I never had either of those. All of my real friends are now dead and so is my whole family. I live alone in this grey world and that will never change, no matter how hard I try. But then again, what's the point of life? Days, weeks, months and years pass but everything is still the same. It's hot in the summer, cold in the winter. Light when day, dark in the night. Old people die, new are born. Rich people have everything and give nothing, poor people have nothing but are ready to give everything. We grow up, go to school, work and die, leaving barely anything for the others to remember us. But why? Everything is always the same. Behind every sea of happiness, there's an ocean of sadness. And yet, why do people always try to give their best, knowing that someday their little perfect world will crash down? I'm walking down a pitch black road but unlike for most people, no light comes to save me from the darkness...

I gasped and jumped up, finding myself under the covers of the bed, now sitting in the middle of it. I hate mornings. Again with that dream. I shot a quick glance at the alarm on the nightstand. It was almost 8 a.m. I slowly stood up, moving the blanket away. I opened the curtains, frowning at the sudden light meeting my face. Pakkun was still sleeping quietly in the corner of my bed. I went to the kitchen, after putting some clothes on, boiling some water to make tea. I never liked coffeé, even though I needed it sometimes. Time like these. After waking up from my usual dreams about the boring side of life.
'What happened yesterday..? Oh yeah, I promised Gai to join him at the party...When was that? 9p.m.? Probably.I better not be late this time. Nevermind, I always say that but still am late.'

Then, I heard a loud 'thump' coming from the bedroom.
"Oi, Pakkun, come over here, I know that you are awake! Breakfast is ready for you. I'll take you to the park after that." I said with a still sleepy, hoarse voice.
He soon came out of the other room and growled lowly. He wasn't a morning-pup either.

"Come on, buddy. It's not like I love waking up early and on top of that, on Saturday. So don't put that grumpy face. I could barely sleep so you're not the one to complain." I said while putting some dog food in his bowl. Then I went to the fridge to get something for myself.

"Hmm, fried eggs will do. I'm not hungry anyway.

I looked at the pug, which was now eating in silence. Pakkun is actually the only alive part of my friends(except Gai). He is my family. My best friend. Yes, my life is partly the same as other people's. But most of them find happiness. Together. That's the different part. I may be famous but no one really got my interest.

Well, this is, until he came. We are quite the opposites, true. He works hard, he really does, but no one is there for him. He would be happy if he had more friends. He is always calm and composed. But yet, no one likes him. And here I am, not even trying but being 'the most famous guy of the university'. I don't have much friends even though everyone likes me.

We still have similarities though. He lives alone, just like me. He doesn't have a family, neither many friends, just like me. He seems to have a rough past, just like me. And that scar of his just confirms it. Just like mine. My thoughts were interrupted by a low bark. I quickly fried the eggs and after eating, still lost in thoughts, I grabbed the dog collar and put it on the pug. When I found the keys, we went out and I locked the door of my big apartment.

We headed to the park. It was sunny and the sun was shining happily but my morning mood was still not gone and I was as grumpy as Pakkun is right now. I just wanted this day to end because I'd have to see too much people at the party and I'm sure that no one will take my interest. Like always. We arrived and I set the dog free to run around with the others while I sat on a wooden bench under a tree and took my Icha Icha out of my pocket. Time was passing really fast, just like I wanted it to, and I realized that I've been staring at a single page for a good half an hour. I glanced at my watch, 3.37 p.m. But then, when I looked around, I couldn't spot Pakkun. I checked again but I couldn't find him between the other dogs. I jumped quickly in panic. 'Where did he wander off to?' I knew he was a clever dog and that he would be able to escape but why would he do that? Maybe I did something wrong? I really didn't pay him as much attention lately...I started looking around and saw some people exiting the park. I approached them and asked.

"Excuse me, have you seen a little, brown pug with a blue collar? He answers to the name 'Pakkun'." They looked at each other, expecting the others to answer but...nothing. Then suddenly, one of them remembered.

"Oh! I saw it going to the South part of the park. I thought that it was a bit weird for it to be alone but I didn't think of it much. Sorry, I wish you good luck with finding him though."
I just nodded and dashed towards the South part. I can't lose him, not him exactly. I hate living alone and he is my only reason to go straight home after the day at the university.

Three hours passed and still no trace of the pug. I was losing my last drop of hope now. I was tired and spent so I sat down to rest for a bit. I had asked every single person I came across but still nothing. This was too much. I buried my face in my palms, resting my elbows on my knees, sighing in frustration. I've lost so much in the past and now if I lose Pakkun, and in such a stupid way, I don't know what I woul do. Sometimes, I wish he could talk. Even if he couldn't though, he seemed to understand me and my feelings most of the time. Now what? Where am I supposed to look for him...? I was becoming desperate. I started thinking of the worst possible scenes that could have happened to him. But then...

"Hatake-san?" I heard a soft and caring voice calling for me. But I didn't react, neither I raised my gaze to see whose familiar voice this was. That is, until I heard a light bark. I quickly looked up and widened my eyes. It was him. Iruka, smiling, and a little pug resting in his arms. I gasped and jumped up.

"I found him on my way to 'The Play-Z'. He was following me everywhere I went so I finally stopped and picked him up. I assume that he is yours, judging by the way you re-" I hugged them both tightly, recieving a surprised gasp from the brunette and a quiet growl from the dog in return.

"Thank you, you have no idea how worried I was about him, really." I smiled at the light blush on the tan man's cheeks as he handed me Pakkun. Why would he follow Iruka!? Did he smell Iruka's scent on me and understood my feelings? This dog... Wait, Iruka was going to the party!?

"N-no problem, it was pure luck that I saw you while I was passing by, you just looked sad and I was a bit concerned so I decided to ask you about it. But I see why, now. He must be important to you." The brunette reached out to pet the grumpy animal which, to my surprise, leaned into the touch.

"Yeah, we are inseparable since I was 12."

"Woah, that's a lot! Well, I'll be going then, see you at the university, I guess." he said, and waved goodbye with a smile. 'Hmm, we'll see each other earlier than you think. I better get going now, I have a little pug to take care of and some hours left.' I thought and headed to my apartment.

-(Normal P.O.V.)-

Iruka was walking through the park on his way to "The Play-Z". He decided to go to the party earlier because he had nothing better to do and now he had some things, or more like someone and his past actions, to think about.

'He's acting so differently than how he does at school. At the park, for a second I thought I saw unshed tears in his eyes. And when he saw the pug, he was so happy, he subconsciously hugged me. I think? Ugh, I better clear my mind off.' he thought and when he arrived to the said building, he sat on a bench nearby.

Time passed unexpectedly fast while he was still on his train of thoughts. He looked at his watch, it was still 9.20 p.m. But then, he saw the target of his thoughts running towards the building.

"Hatake-san? What are you doing here?"

"Oh, didn't I tell you? I'm here for the party!"

"Ah, I see. But why so early?"

"What do you mean early? I'm late with about...20 minutes or so..."

"Huh? But the party starts at 10."

"What!? Are you sure?" the silverhead asked and continued after he got a nod in a reply. "That Gai! He must've told me 9 so I would be just in time. Ugh, I guess that I ran for nothing then..." he said, still a little breathless. 'Not exactly nothing though.' he thought and sat next to the brunette to catch his breath. "So, what are you doing here when you know it's early?"

"I just wanted to stay out on fresh air and think about some...things." Iruka smiled nervously.

"I didn't know you liked going on parties." Kakashi said, grinning. 'Maybe this is my chance to get to know him better'

"No, umm, actually this is my first time."

"Really? Well, this was both expected and unexpected. What changed your mind then?"

"Raidō and Genma insisted so...they thought that it would be good for me and I'll be able to make new friends but...I don't think so, I won't be staying long anyway. And what about you?"

"Hmm, let's say that I came here, hoping to see a certain person. However, I'm not much into that kind of stuff, it's too noisy and I can't concentrate on my book." Kakashi tried not to sound suspicious.

"So someone could actually get your interest?"

"Maa, that was mean! I'll only tell you that he is a really nice and kind person and he's got brown eyes and hair." Kakashi smirked inwardly.

'"He?" And wait, brown eyes and hair...? No, I'm probably imagining things, why would he come to see, of all people, me?' Iruka thought. "Oh, I see..." he chuckled fakely.

"Kakashi, my eternal rival! You actually came here early!" Someone shouted from far away, even though it was obvious who it was.

"Gai! I came here, like, 30 minutes ago! And only because of you!"

"Hello, Gai-san." Iruka greeted.

"Hoo! Iruka! I didn't expect you to come! And Kakashi, how was I supposed to know that you would actually NOT be late this time, for youth's sake!"

"Ehehe, actually I was late with 20 minutes for the time I thought I should be here...But hey, it wasn't an hour like the other times, at least there IS some progress!" Kakashi tried to argue but Gai gave him an 'as expected' look.

'I haven't seen him so lively with anyone else, I guess they are close friends.' Iruka thought.

"Say Kakashi, there still are about 10 minutes left so how does a before-party race sound to you?"

"Gai, please, not in front of everyone." [This is supposed to be a pun about Iruka but he doesn't know that. Practically, there's no one else but those three around, meaning: 'Kashi's everyone and everything=Iruka]

"Hey, Iruka, is he always like that?" Gai pouted. "He's so honest with me!"

"It's got nothing to do with honesty! But running before a party!"

"You two..." Iruka trailed off as he fell into laugher.

"What's so funny?" It was now Kakashi's turn to pout.

"It's just that..." Iruka tried to calm down, now lightly chuckling. "You, Hatake-san, are always so serious with the others and now, seeing this side of yours..." he tried not to start laughing again.

"First, please call me just Kakashi, it feels like I'm on a political meeting when you call me by my last name. And second, wasn't it ME who was teasing YOU and not the other way around, when did we switch!?" He asked, his pout never leaving his face.

When Iruka was about to say something, he just froze.

"Iruka? Did I say something wrong?" Kakashi asked before turning to the direction the other was staring at with an obviously paler face than usual. And then he got it. It was Mizuki and him pals.

"Oh...don't worry, just stay around us and everything will be fine."

"I-i can't stay with you the whole time."

"Hm? Why not?"

"I just...don't want to be a burden...and I don't want to involve you in my mess."

"Everything connected with my friends should concern me!"

"F-friend?" Iruka stuttered. 'Did he really mean that?'

"Well, yeah. Even if I'm 'the popular guy' I don't have any friends exept this guy over there," he pointed at Gai, "Pakkun and one more. You're one of those rare people I have no problems to talk with. It's just that...I'm always talked about but never with..."

"Sorry, I never thought-"

"Oi, Iruka!" Genma yelled somewhere from the distance. "What's up? Are you having problems with those guys here?"

"No, no, don't get it wrong, Genma!"

"Talk about first impressions." Raidō chuckled as he caught up with his lover.

"Are those the friends you mentioned, Iruka?" Kakashi asked.

"Haa, so you actually made new friends?"

"Yeah." The brunette said with a smile.

"Nice to meet ya then, I'm Genma. I take that you're Kakashi Hatake, right?" he said and shook his hand with the silverhead's, who nodded.

"And I'm Raidō." the brown, spiky-haired man said, smiling and when his and the silver-haired's hands touched, he shook it but also squeezed it really hard, which went unnoticed by everyone else and warned Kakashi to be careful with his childhood friend.

"Hmm, I think we should go." Kakashi said and everyone agreed so they finally entered the disco.

"Asuma and Kurenai are waiting for me so I'll get going, see you later, my rival and friends!" Gai said, "I'm leaving him to you!" he told Kakashi so the others couldn't hear, which got the silverhead confused, and quickly disappeared in the crowd which was growing bigger and bigger. Raidō and Genma seemed to get the hint Gai gave them(a wink no one else probably saw) and left with a "We've got something to do too. And we'll have to find a lovely corner too." Kakashi and Iruka were now the only left part of their little group. They looked at each other and raised an eyebrow in confusion.

The music was suddenly turned on, the brunette almost jumped, and the DJ started introducing himself. Iruka now knew why the neighbourhood was complaining about the noise. It was so loud, he could feel the beat in his guts.

"Wanna go to a less noisy place?" Kakashi asked when he noticed.

"If that's possible, then yes please." Iruka had to yell back so the other could actually understand something, he barely could hear himself after all.

"Do you drink?" Kakashi asked even if he was sure what the answer would be. The shorter man shook his head. "Then let's go to the balcony on the 2nd floor." Kakashi took Iruka's wrist gently to lead him in order not to lose him between all the people packed in the place. Iruka blushed at the contact and was just glad that it wasn't visible in the dim light. Or so he thought. On their way they pretended that they didn't see Asuma, Kurenai and Gai who was standing on the bar, singing about something like 'beautiful youth'. Neither did they see Raidō who was already pinning Genma in their 'lovely corner', brushing his lips against the other's neck. Now that was a completely different story. They finally reached their destination and closed the door behind them to deafen the noise at least a little. Iruka took a deep breath of the surprisingly fresh air and sighed.

"I'm going to have nightmares, if I manage to sleep anyway, and headache for the next days." he said, rubbing his temple.

"Haa, so this really is your first party."

"First and last."

Kakashi chuckled and leaned against the stone railing, letting the cool breeze run through his hair, closing his eyes for a moment, much like a dog would. Then, he opened them, letting one of his arms down and resting his head on the other.

"So?"

"What?"

"Don't you know? People usually go to parties to get to know each other better. Tell me about you?"

A/N: Nevermind the 'here's the full work' thing, I thought that I should split it into two chapters because it becomes like...6k words and I don't wanna post chapters longer than ~4k words qwq Forgive me...But the next chapter is already done and written on paper, I'll just have to find time to write it on my laptop. So I'll be starting my work on chapter 4 now, expect an update not later than a week~!

R&R and cya in the next chapter~ ^^

-Blur