.:Chapter Two:.
I saw them talking, but couldn't hear them, so I leapt into the tree closest to them and settled down to watch and listen. It was pretty easy not being seen by genin, being a jounin myself.
Sasuke twitched at this. 'A jounin... at thirteen? Dammit... what am I doing wrong...?' He thought, envying his sensei.
"C'mon, Iruka! You scared, or something?" One of the boys taunted. I noticed Iruka looked slightly intimidated, but was putting up a brave front. I watched with more intent.
"N-no... I... I just don't-"
"Don't what? Give it up already, Iruka!" Another boy yelled. I soon noticed Rin was bravely standing in front of the brown-haired boy. Mizuki was advancing on the duo.
"Fight me, Umino! Prove your worth!" The blue-haired genin taunted.
"He doesn't have to if he doesn't want to! Leave him alone!" Rin shouted defensively. That was one thing I liked about her: she stood up for what she believed in and always gave a good impression of bravery to the younger nin of the academy.
"Rin-nee-chan..." Iruka whined softly behind her. I could've sworn there was a look of determination from my young love. He stepped in front of her and stood up to Mizuki. I was so proud of him! "I'll fight you Mizuki! And I'll win!" He yelled determinedly. The other three laughed and I wanted to punch the living daylights out of them... but... I didn't have to, because if anything else happened, Rin would've handled it with her unworldly strength.
"Sounds like Tsunade..." Naruto mumbled under his breath after reading that line.
Mizuki had just shoved Rin out of the way and was about to grab Iruka, but my brown-haired genin jumped out of the way just in time. That gave me a sigh a relief. I had a feeling his fighting skills weren't exactly up to par, from what I had heard, but I knew he had a pure heart and noble actions. If he needed to fight, he would. I envied him for that...
"Oh, Iruka! You couldn't be actually serious, are you? Why don't you run on home, crying to your mommy! Oh, wait! I forgot! You don't HAVE one!" One of Mizuki's significant others yelled and the three broke into laughter. I could've sworn Iruka was going to break down and cry right there. I felt so bad for him.
"C'mon, Iruka! What's the matter? Aren't you going to 'fight' Mizuki?" They broke into fits of laughter once more and I was ready to jump down and stop them. But... I knew Iruka should do this on his own. I noticed Rin was thinking the same thing as me. But, I knew that if things got to bad, neither of us would be able to hold back any longer.
Iruka was staying silent, most likely holding in tears.
"Go ahead, Iruka! Hit me! I won't move!" Mizuki smirked and stood relaxedly. I noticed Iruka's fists tighten. Rin noticed, too.
"Iruka-chan..." Rin cooed. I noticed she was trying to help him. That made me feel guilty.
"I'll kill you..." Woah! Back up! That was Iruka? No way! The gentle lonely boy I was getting to know just snapped! He jumped atop of Mizuki and bit his arm, making it bleed. Rin was stunned, to say the least. Even being a jounin, I almost fell out of my tree from surprise.
"Ah! Get him off me! Waah!" Mizuki was crying. He didn't know what to do. Iruka let him go and punched him really hard in the stomach. Blood shot from his mouth, so I knew Iruka really hadhit him with allof his strength! Ouch...
"Mizuki!" One of his 'back-up' boys cried. "You little punk!" The two grabbed my Iruka and threw him backwards, knowing he was currently too weak to fight the both of them at once. I couldn't stand to see Iruka get hurt, so I did the only thing I could think of.
I leapt from my tree and caught Iruka right before he collided with the big sharp boulder sitting beside the grounds. I could feel that he would've been knocked unconscious if I hadn't caught him in time. His tiny body seemed like nothing next to mine.
"Kakashi?" I heard Rin exclaim in surprise. I also caught a glance of surprise from the other three. Apparently no had noticedthat I had been watching this entire time. I felt Iruka cough lightly and hug me closer, burying his head in my chest. He probably had no clue what just happened or what was going on, but I could feel his fear growing as his body shook. He was crying.
Naruto stopped for another moment. He was having a hard time imagining the brave Iruka he knew like that. It almost made him feel like Iruka was the one that currently needed to be protected, not him. It made him feel weak.
"Iruka! You little-" I could tell Mizuki wanted to hurt me and him terribly right now, but apparently he remembered I was a jounin and backed off. "Don't think we'll leave you alone just because that Hatake is protecting you!" 'That Hatake'. That hurt more than I let on.
"Just fuck off! You know we're better than you!" Rin defended. "Kakashi is the best! You're ALL just jealous!" I hated it when she did this... I really did. But, Mizuki and his gang didn't really, to my surprise, argue and walked off, growling something under their breath. Rin ran over to us the second they were out of sight."Iruka-kun! Are you okay?" She said in her sweetest, most-rushed voice I had ever heard. Her brow furrowed as she pried him from me. Iruka immediately hugged on to her, then. "Kakashi, were you here the whole time?" She asked, rubbing my Iruka tenderly in a hug. I shrugged.
"I guess..." What more could I say? I could tell she wanted to scold me, but not in front of Iruka.
"Iruka-chan... why don't you come stay with me tonight?" What? No! He can't do that! If he's staying with anyone, he 's staying with me! Period! "I know you don't wanna go home, and, after that, you probably don't want to sleep alone out here tonight, either."
The brown-haired dolphin looked up at her, his tears drying now. He gulped and nodded slowly.
"Okay... come on... Kakashi! I'll talk to you later!" I knew what she meant... and I didn't like it... so, not only for myself now, I did as follows:
"Wait... Rin-chan. I'll take him," I gave no further explanation. She turned slowly. I could see Iruka watching me with those big childish eyes of his. Rin looked me over from head to toe, probably looking for signs of genjutsu, I guessed wearily.
"Alright..." She finally concluded. "You could use some company in that vacant apartment of yours!" Iruka looked surprisedly at me when she mentioned me living alone. He was so cute!
"Hn." My usual response felt different this time. My voice sounded higher than normal.
"Iruka-chan. Do you mind staying with Kakashi-nii-san?" She asked as if she were talking to a four-year-old. Iruka shook his head and, to my astonishment, smiled and walked over to my side.
"Kakashi-kun, right?" He asked me in that small voice of his. I seriously wish I could've burst out with sparkles and everything and hugged him to death, but that was only something my rival/enemy, Gai, did.
Naruto and Sasuke sweatdropped at this.
So, I merely nodded and shoved my hands in my pockets, coolly walking towards my one-roomed apartment. Sure, Rin's house would've been more fit for Iruka, but my apartment did have one of the largest and most comfortable beds on the planet. Sure, we'd be sleeping together... but, hey. I didn't mind, that's for sure! It'd probably be a shock forlittle Iru-san, but he'd get used to it! Who knows. Maybe we can bond a bit during this!
Sasuke shut the book.
"Naruto... maybe this is too personal for us to be reading... I don't think Kakashi-sensei was in his right mind when he gave this to us..." Naruto nodded in understanding. Sasuke got up from the Ichiraku stool just as Ayame came and told them they had to go, anyways.
"Ja ne, Ayame-nee-chan!" Naruto waved goodbye and tried to catch up to Sasuke. "Ano sa, ano sa! Sasuke-teme! Matte!" Sasuke stopped and waited for Naruto.
"Nani, dobe?" He said in a cold hearted voice.
"Aren't you curious, though?" Naruto preyed on the book, but the Uchiha swiped it away before he could snatch it. "I want to know what happens! Please, Sasuke?"
"Yeah, I'm curious... but... I mean... Kakashi-sensei and Iruka-sensei? Don't you think it's a little strange?" Sasuke said, continuing to walk. Naruto blushed slightly and looked to the side.
"Do you?"
Sasuke stopped and turned to face Naruto. Ebony met cerulean as the four orbs stared deep within each others. "Naruto-kun..." The Uchiha said slowly, then turned and kept walking, being careful not to let Naruto see his expression. "Follow me..." He said and quickened his pace. Naruto jogged to keep up.
Later, Naruto and Sasuke were laying Sasuke's bed together, the book being the only thing separating their bodies.
"Open it..." Naruto pleaded.
"Fine... we'll read more... but don't get any ideas tonight, dobe!" Sasuke growled, blushing ever-so-slightly. The blonde smiled as the Uchiha opened up Kakashi's book to where theyhad left off. Before continuing to read, Naruto quietly slid over to Sasuke's side and put his head under the Uchiha's chin. Sasuke sighed. "Dobe..." He muttered and put his arms around the blonde, burying his face slightly into Naruto's sweetly fragranced hair. They read on.
"Kakashi-kun...?" Iruka came up closer to me. I could tell he wanted to hug my arm for support, but I think it was too much for him.
"Hn?"
"Well... I just wanted to say thanks for saving me back there..." He was so innocent. I just adored him with all my heart. But... being me, I couldn't express my feelings. It would throw off myperfect nin balance.
"No problem..." That's all I said. The rest of the way home, we walked on in an awkward silence. Maybe I should have let him stay with Rin...
"Well... we're here... do whatever you wish..." I said lazily after going up three flights of stairs and unlocking my apartment door. Iruka followed me in and I could feel a sorrowful expression in his eyes. Yes, my apartment was lonely and had that clean and unused smell to it, but it was home. For me, at least.
"Kakashi-kun... why do you live alone...?" Iruka asked me. He had only taken one step in and shut the door so far. I didn't really know how to respond to this. It was certainly a different question than I usually heard.
"I just do..." I think he got the picture. His eyes weakened and he walked inside fully now. There wasn't much in my apartment room. Basically, when you walked in (facing that way) to the right was my kitchen (one refrigerator, a microwave, and some counters with cabinets), in the far right-hand corner was my closet, which had barely anything in it. To the far left-hand corner was my enlarged bed with a small dresser that contained pictures and old memories and a window on the far wall. To the closest left-hand corner was a door to my bathroom and in the middle of the room sat a small, round, wooden table with three glass/cloth chairs around it. That's all that was in here. I barely had enough money to buy food for myself, so I couldn't buy any other things like items or furniture. Sensei and Rin are the only ones who help me out, not to mention the only ones, other than Obito and, now, Iruka, that know I live alone. I didn't want anyone to know, but sensei had accidentally found out a while back.
Iruka sat on the edge of my bed and looked sadly around my apartment.
"Kakashi-kun..." He said my name again.
"Hn?"
"...never mind..." His whisper was so silent and sorrowful I barely heard it. I decided to make this whole 'staying overnight' thing easier on the poor kid, so I made two cups of tea and sat down next to him on my bed, handing him a steaming cup. It was nice to have in the Fall seasons. He took it a little hesitantly, then took a long sip. I watched him intently, which I think he didn't like very much.
"Are you... okay, Kakashi-kun?" He asked me. I blinked, then realized I had been staring at him.
"Y-yeah... fine..." I regained my composure at once. Silence. Another long sip of tea from Iruka, a short and defined sip from me. More silence.
Nearing eleven pm, I decided we should be getting some rest. I had a mission tomorrow and he had training. We'd both need our sleep. I explained it to him and, eventually, turned off the lights and crawled over him. My bed was pushed up against the wall with my oversized windowon the wallthat I enjoyed looking out during the night. The moon was half-way full, I noticed, when I pulled up the blinds and left them there. I could feel Iruka's eyes on my back before I settled down.
It felt awkward, to say the least, sleeping in the same bed as another boy. Though... this wasn't the first time I had done it. Obito had stayed with me one night... and I won't say any more than that.
Naruto shifted slightly under Sasuke, who was now on top of him.
"Can you still read it?" Sasuke asked, adjusting the book slightly.
"Yeah... you're awfully heavy... how much do you weigh, Sasuke-kun?" Naruto asked. Sasuke smirked and forcefully flipped so now Naruto was on top of him.
"Better?" He asked seductively. Naruto smiled fondly.
"Yeah..."
"And... I only weighninety-three pounds for your information, nosy kitsune," Sasuke smirked again. Naruto smiled.
"Eighty-eight" He laughed, telling Sasuke his own weight.
"That's only because you're so short, dobe..." The Uchiha blushed. Naruto giggled lightly.
"Sure, Sasuke-kun... Can you read it out loud to me? I don't think I could readfrom this angle..."
"I guess..." Sasuke pushed Naruto slightly to the side and got the book. "Okay... comfortable?"
"Believe it..."
It was now nearing midnight and I could hear Iruka sleeping peacefully beside me. He looked even more innocent when he slept with his hair down. It was pretty long for a twelve-year-olds'. I sighed silently and adjusted myself so I could clearly see the moon through the window. Looking at it, a pain came to me like a dart... I couldn't help it. All my memories came rushing back to me in one fatal blow. Dad committing suicide, mom dying giving birth, the whole village hating me because of what my father had done... I couldn't handle it. Tears stung my eyes, daring to seep out, but I couldn't cry. I never cried. Ever. At least... not until tonight.
"Kakashi...kun...?" I immediately glanced over to Iruka, who was laying beside me, looking more sorrowful then he ever had before. His eyes were open and his body was limp. He was staring at me with a pain I had never witnessed. I wiped my eyes clean and sniffed, looking back to him.
"What...?" I tried my hardest to keep my voice level, but it cracked easily with my misery. He sat up and stared at me with those sad eyes. Then, he leaned over and hugged me. I was so stunned, I couldn't say anything.
"Are you hurting... Kakashi-kun...?" He asked in that light voice. My breathing slowed and my eyes were out of focus. He looked up at me. "Kakashi-kun... please tell me...what's wrong...?" How could I possibly resist that...? I looked deeper at him. His lips seemed to be pleading for a kiss, so I did. I passionately hung my arms around his neck and our mouths connected. That's when I knew I loved him for sure.
A/N: Well... that turned out slightly more romantic then I thought it would, but please don't flame me if you're not into the whole 'yaoi-romance-scenes'. Thanks fer all the reviews I have and (hopefully) will get! Ja ne! (Quick update, ne?)