"Tell me about what you do here." Kakashi asked as they slowly walked the steps back up to the castle, bellies full and minds at ease around each other.
"I teach." Iruka mused, studying the walls and stones he had come to memorize for the last part of his life. "I tutor mostly the children and sometimes a lady or two who were never taught the art of reading or writing."
"And you were?"
"Yes, before my parents died. And then they had nowhere else to put me but the library."
"Did you like it there?"
Looking back, Iruka didn't think he did. "It's all I ever knew. I started to feel like a cage recently, I think."
They found themselves at Iruka's bedroom door and he showed Kakashi inside, leaving the door open. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Iruka watched Kakashi lean against the wall by him.
"And what about you? You've seen the world and now what?" At Iruka's question, Kakashi shrugged and looked off at the rest of the room.
"The path my father took was one of marriage and peace. I guess I'm following that road but… Only time will tell." The last words were spoken towards Iruka and he couldn't help but smile softly. Kakashi wasn't a hard man to get along with. He learned during their dinner that he was an easy-going man under the facade of a calculative leader. It was easy to see how someone so calm could be mistaken for mysterious.
And he knew how to keep up a conversation if he wanted to. It was very refreshing after having lived with the Uchiha who were truly cold people.
"So, what time do we leave tomorrow?" Iruka asked as he looked around the room and wondered what he should or could bring.
"Dawn would be best. It's a long journey from here to Kasai."
"How far is it?"
There was a hum. "About four or five days, depending on how fast we ride."
Iruka had seen maps before of the lands surrounding them and their world but he didn't have any experience traveling and how far that meant. Instead of asking though, he decided he would find out how far that meant along the way. "Should I bring anything?"
"Of course," a warm chuckle tickled his ears as Kakashi pushed off the wall and studied the room. It appears he was tallying up how many things Iruka had.
"Good, I was hoping the Fangs would allow me to bring my many ballgowns and swords." He was smirking and watching Kakashi pace to the other side of the room.
"You can bring all the ballgowns you want." Smirking at each other, they bid their goodnights and Kakashi stepped out to head back down to the campsite. After a moment of contemplation, Iruka realized that the only thing he'd like to bring with him was the few clothes he owned and maybe a book or two. He already had a bag of his clothes waiting next to his closet from a few days before, when he and Obito had been preparing for pretty much anything. It dawned on him that Obito had never prepared him for meeting Kakashi.
From his small bed in the corner of the room, he could see the moon glimmering outside onto dark sands and tall grass and the walls that separated them from the castle grounds. The tents and horses of the Fangs were just inside the walls, spread out on the immense courtyard that was usually used for training and ceremonial events but had been cast aside for the winter.
Upon the steps that led up from the courtyard and to the castle, Iruka spotted the familiar figure with pale hair as he stepped down the way he'd come. Hands in his pockets and shoulders relaxed, Kakashi looked to Iruka like a normal man for the briefest of moments and it made him wonder what kind of man he really was. There was a whisper telling him that he'd eventually find out.
A maid had awoken him long before dawn and even though he felt tired from the little amount of sleep he got, Iruka still managed to pull himself out of bed and start packing. He ended up with the bag he'd packed the day before, a handful of tomes and his quill and ink.
The books were copies of his favourites from the Uchiha's library that he'd copied over the years. In the end, he could fit everything into one backpack. With a peek out his window, he saw that the tents were still up in the courtyard and that nothing had been moved yet, despite the oncoming sun so he slipped down to the kitchen for a warm drink and food. He wondered when the clan would start packing and if he should start saying his goodbyes as he chewed on bread.
There weren't many people he wanted to say goodbye to. He doubted the children would be awake at this time and he didn't think they would want to say their farewells anyway. Despite the many people who lived in the castle, he did wasn't close to many of them. He could strike up a conversation with anyone, but people rarely sought him out as anything more than a helper or an ear to listen.
He decided that he wouldn't seek others out at this hour.
As he rounded the corner back to his room, he found a man standing at his door with an awaiting smile. He looked familiar but Iruka couldn't place a finger on where he'd seen him before. There was a dark brown pelt around his shoulders and a green cloak under that hinted he was of the Fangs as well. When the man glanced up at him, he finally remembered that he'd seen him at the feast.
"Good morning, Hashira!" The man was smiling happily with a confidence that most people dreamed of. With a bow, he introduced himself, "I am Might Gai of the Fangs, sent to awaken you from your slumber so we may prepare for our leave."
"Oh," Iruka was feeling the full effects of the rays of enthusiasm this courteous and polite person was pointing at him. He shook himself more awake and stepped up to open his door. "Well, I'm awake and pretty much ready."
"Ah, your preparation is admirable," Gai complimented as Iruka went to grab his pack and stepped back out into the hall, giving what was his home for the last few years a final inspection for memory.
"Is everyone else ready?" He asked as they moved down the halls.
"They awoke not but a few minutes before, but they should be ready to ride soon," it was hard not to notice when Gai looked at his backpack and frowned. "Are you not forgetting something, Hashira?"
"No, I think I have everything." Iruka gestured with a shrug of his shoulder to the bag.
There was a warm smile from Gai that was inviting. "Only one bag, you are a worldly man!"
Iruka couldn't tell if it was a compliment or an unintended insult but Gai made every word seem like a praise or encouragement.
There weren't as many people from the Fangs who were in this caravan as Iruka initially thought. On the horse he had been instructed to ride by Gai, he watched as only two carts were packed full of their supplies while another wasn't even half full. Most of the clan members were on horses and Gai had introduced him to a few but Iruka hadn't yet seen others that he recognized.
Within minutes, they were beginning their ride and Iruka followed the group of strangers to his new home, looking back at the castle as they started down the dusty path that lead north.
As the sun rose higher, Iruka drooped more and more. He had never ridden a horse for more than an hour or so and this was starting to be painful. It was aching in his knees and back but there was one area that was stinging with every bump and he feared it was going to get worse.
The solace of the trip was the people. There were mostly men with the occasional women with the same dark pelts and cloaks. At first, they stayed away and kept a respectful distance until Gai eventually trotted up to the front of the heard.
There were then people inquisitively coming closer and introducing themselves. They were respectful with their questions and Iruka could sense that they had been told about his lineage. When asked as to the Otokami's whereabouts, one man smiled and said, "it is custom, Hashira. He will let you meet your people first since you were not born to us. When we get home, the linking rite will commence, and you will be brought to his home."
"So, this is a custom." Iruka thought to the pelts and was slowly coming to understand the difference in cultures.
When the sun was at its peak, they didn't stop like Iruka expected and kept on their long way home. Up ahead, he couldn't even see the beginning of their convoy and when he looked back, he realised he was towards the back. There were beginning to be spots of trees here and there amongst the tall grasses and the caravan of horses stopped not far from a lake for the night.
Tents were already beginning to be pitched for the night and a fire was started in moments. Their many horses were tied to the surrounding trees so Iruka found a spot to disembark. His feet touched the ground and his knees buckled suddenly. He wouldn't fit the ground if an onlooker hadn't caught his arm and led him to the edge of a cart with the help of another rider.
They took pity on him and bundled him up in their cloaks, sitting him down by a campfire when it was ready and bringing him food so that they were all sitting together around the fire. Even though he still felt like an outsider, they were a joyous group of men who all had their inside jokes and their stories. They seemed eager to boast around their new comrade and Iruka was glad to listen. He learned that men were supposed to offer their wives a wish on their anniversary and that it was customary to wish for flowers. It was also customary to check for bees in the flower as well.
Amongst loud laughter, Iruka didn't see the one face he'd been looking for and tried to stop himself from looking. Asuma and Gai popped in and out occasionally, sending smiles to their men and offering a laugh or two. Eventually, Asuma showed up behind him just as he was about to pass out and offered to show him to his tent.
"My tent?" Was Iruka's only question as Asuma led him away from the fire. Iruka gave back the other men's cloak before following Asuma as he passed a few tents until reaching one that was hidden among the rest, smaller but big enough to fit a person. Inside, they had padded it down with grass and Asuma handed him a bedroll that he gladly took. Even if it was winter, there was still the warm southern air surrounding them.
If Iruka had the sense of mind to be worried about the future, he would have worried about the cold but instead he rolled himself up and fell asleep without problem.
As the sun rose with the next morning, tents were packed up and Iruka was back on his horse with aches and pains already in his joints. The trees were beginning to get thicker and there were more and more trees that were covered in green. Iruka had only ever seen pines a few times in his life but these were rich and full of evergreen. Now though, he was reminded with every second that his body was in pain.
After a while, he decided that he would ride closer to the front so that he could get off his horse and stretch while the caravan went by. As the end came by, he would get back on and do it all over again. One time, he rode closer to the front than before only to realise that there was no Kakashi at the front. Instead, he saw Asuma making small talk to a woman he hadn't seen before. With that, Iruka realised that Kakashi was probably long ahead of the group to make sure they wouldn't accidentally see each other. It was a sad realisation but one he could live with.
The sky bled into orange and reds and their group finally stopped in a clearing. Unlike the day before, Iruka did not join the rest for his meal and instead helped pitch his own tent. Chewing on a hard piece of bread, he pulled out one of his books and read as his body calmed down for the night. He would later make sure to rub the soothing oils on more than just his rear but for now, he relaxed until the sounds of men talking died down into the quiet chirping of crickets.
Once the fire light had been put out, Iruka wrapped himself up in his bedroll and tried to sleep. As tired as his body was, his mind was bored and wide awake. Thinking to his books, he wondered if he should start a journal. It would be useful to write down the Fangs' customs for later reference. Maybe he could write copies and spread the knowledge of their culture to different places of the world. As mythical as they were, the Fangs did not seem like the barbarians they were portrayed as by word of mouth and mentions.
When thinking of the customs he'd seen so far, Iruka's hand went to the inside of his vest where a cold blade was hidden inside a pocket. He brought it up to his eyes and studied it with the little light that the moon was giving him through the top of the tent. To his untrained eye, Iruka could tell that it was made for more than just ornamental purposes.
The pommel was smoothed, round steel melding into the handle that was covered in an easy to grip black leather. Unsheathing it from the same leather that had a band of etched steel around the top, the double-edged blade glimmered in the dark as a sneaky reminder that it was deadly sharp.
It really was beautiful in its simplicity. Iruka didn't really know anything about blade care and if he should be routinely making checks or doing anything to keep it in its pristine condition. He would have to ask someone tomorrow about it. Maybe he could find out if there was anything he had to give in return. It dawned on him again that he would eventually have to bear Kakashi's children. He wondered if that was a good enough gift.
Iruka had somehow fallen asleep with the dagger sheathed and pressed against his chest but found himself awake again. It was still night by the little light he could see from the hole at the top of his bedroll. He couldn't tell what woke him up but something in his peripherals caught his eye.
There was a sound too that accompanied the movement and Iruka turned his head just enough to see that a shadow was moving along the edge of his tent.
At first, he thought it was someone going off to take a leak in the woods but as they passed out of view, Iruka heard the rustle of his tent flap move. Frozen in confusion, he gripped the dagger in his grasp tight around the handle. Steps were slowly drawing closer to him and he stayed as still as possible until he heard his bedroll being unfolded slowly.
Heart beating in his ears, he couldn't think. His blood had run cold. He was frozen in fear and feeling helpless until he remembered himself. As the fabric of his bedroll was pulled away, he quickly pulled out the dagger and sliced out. There was a choking sound and a mask. They pulled back and a rush of splatter hit Iruka and his bedroll like an uncontrolled fountain. The person's hand went up to their throat and Iruka watched in horror as the crouched person stumbled back, gripping their throat.
Scrambling to his knees with his blade ready, he found a person covered in dark green and black clothing with a knife by their side. They were slowly going limp and Iruka watched as they sighed with a shuddered and fell limp.
In his stunned silence, he couldn't move or say anything. After a few minutes, he finally turned his eyes from the body and pressed his hands to his bedroll.
"Yuri?" A soft voice asked from beyond Iruka's tent and he slowly started pushing himself to his feet as quietly as possible. There was the faint sound of steps moving to the front of his tent again. Moving to the side of the entrance, Iruka waited. A voice in his head was asking what he was going to do but there was nothing he could answer back.
Through the flops of his tent, a long blade slowly emerged. It was pushing the flap aside and just as the hand that held it came into view, Iruka numbly sliced out at the wrist.
There was a surprised cry and the hand retreated with the sword. Dagger in hand, Iruka waited for the blade to slice through his tent but instead heard heavy footsteps fading away. Pushing out of his tent, he saw the person running away from his tent until they almost ran headlong into someone who had stepped out. They scrambled and back tracked only to find that other Fangs were rushing out of their tents, weapons in hand. Some glanced up and saw their Hashira covered in blood splatter and clutching a glimmering wet dagger.
"Hashira! Are you alright?" One called out and Iruka numbly nodded.
Within seconds, the whole caravan was awake, and more people were beginning to crowd in between the tents, cornering the attacker even more. There was shouting and yelling and suddenly they were on him like a swarm. Iruka couldn't see what they were doing but he could hear the screams of pain from his bubble. Everything was starting to sound far away, and he felt himself fading out again until a hand touched his shoulder lightly.
Asuma was staring at him and asking slowly, "can you hear me, Hashira?"
He repeated it until Iruka nodded and came back to earth, suddenly everything feeling sharp and clear again. Nodding, Iruka mumbled, "Yeah. I'm fine."
"Good." Asuma moved around Iruka to the group that parted for him. He gestured and they all stopped, leaving quiet except for a wheezing sound between them. "Leave him alive."
"Asuma," Iruka hadn't noticed Gai step up behind him.
Iruka noticed them exchange a nod and suddenly Gai was off between the tents. Asuma was rounding everyone up. "We move now."
The tents and carts were loaded back up. It was hours before sunrise, but they still set off on the road. Iruka was back on his horse, letting it follow the other horses along. Even if the dagger was sheathed and back in his pocket, he still had blood splattered across him.
One of his hands and arms was streaked a curiously dark red that he couldn't look away from. He could still see his attacker's last breath in his mind and it kept being replayed repeatedly.
"Hashira?" A voice called beside him, and he didn't really register it until they repeated, "Hashira?"
Asuma was looking him over. "How are you?"
Letting his gaze drift off, Iruka said carefully, "I'm alive."
"Good." A piece of bread was held out to him and he took it slowly, biting into it as Asuma explained, "We should be home by supper. We've made good time."
When Asuma got no response, he continued, "Once we get back, we'll take care of the other one. We'll find out who sent them, and we'll deal with them."
Another moment passed of quiet riding until Asuma spoke up again, "Gai went ahead to let Kakashi know."
Iruka let his eyes scan ahead of them, knowing that he wouldn't see anything. "He's okay?"
Asuma looked him over again, to Iruka's tired confusion. "Yes, he is. You don't need to worry about him."
They rode on until the sun was high in the sky and the weather was getting no warmer. It was a bright blue day when Iruka first saw snow. He had only ever heard of it in books, but it was even more astounding in person.
The fresh sparkling of snow glimmered rainbows with the sun. Even if it wasn't snowing, he could see its beauty in the way it sat in waves on the ground and blanketed the trees. Soon, there were mountains rising high into the air and they were traveling through the valleys between them. It was only after the sun started falling that they finally saw the Fangs' home and Iruka's new home: Kasai.
On the peaks surrounding the mountain ahead of them, Iruka could see the faint outlines of homes and houses. As they followed the river up, they finally saw the large wooden doors that the caravan was herding into. The houses inside were made of carved stones and held together by wood planks. There were even some houses that had second stories with wooden tiled roofs that Iruka could see over the walls.
Asuma stopped them and got off his horse, moving around to Iruka's side to offer a helping hand. Instead, Iruka slid down his saddle with thanks and they watched as everyone else moved into the village that crept up the mountain side. Up ahead, he could see a bigger and more complex home that was on top of the tallest ledge and seemed to blend into the mountainside at some points.
"It's time." Asuma eventually said and led them forward with their horses in tow. As soon as they reached the gates, Asuma handed off their horses to someone who hurried away with them. At the threshold, Iruka could see the slope of the village and the people who were standing in the street, waiting with anticipation. Those closest looked both shocked and in awe for reasons Iruka couldn't understand. He felt suddenly ashamed that he was so unpresentable and wish he would have asked Asuma for a towel or something to wash his face with.
Before he could ask though, Asuma was holding out his hand in waiting. Hesitating, Iruka slowly put his hand out and Asuma let their fingers barely touch. Walking forward, Iruka kept moving as another person traded Asuma's hand for theirs and met Iruka's eyes before the next person did the same. Soon enough, members of the Fangs were on both sides of him, touching their fingers to his as he continued his way through the village.
Every face was someone knew and Iruka couldn't memorise them all, but he tried even in the state he was in. Despite his bloody appearance, everyone looked at him with respect and their hands were warm and inviting. Iruka shivered on occasion but kept moving through until the crowds thinned and Gai was standing at the end, smiling as he held out his hand. "Welcome home, Hashira."
Gai's fingers were pleasant and cordial but Iruka found himself looking beyond him to the last person up the road who was standing at the beginning of a set of steps that led up to the home embedded into the mountain. Gai had barely guided Iruka halfway to the Otokami when Kakashi started moving closer.
He was a sight for sore eyes and Iruka was more than sore. He realised just how tired and drained he was and he knew Kakashi's could see it in his face. In his pelt and coat, Kakashi met them and pulled his hand out from hid folds for Iruka to gladly take. Instead of it being just their fingers, Kakashi held his hand steadily with a tenderness that Iruka was thankful for. Without any more words, Kakashi led him up the steps and through the banks of snow to an entrance at the side of the building, leaving Gai behind.
At a dark wooden door, Kakashi pressed it open with his back and led Iruka inside, speaking softly, "welcome to your new home, Hashira."
Stepping inside, Iruka found himself in the most welcoming home he'd ever seen. To the left, a thin staircase led up to the second floor that looked down onto the cozy living area where rugs and couches semi circled together to create a nook around the fireplace on the right side of the room that seemed to be carved into the rocks around it. Windows of stained glass lined the back wall almost the entire length between two doors of the a deep, mahogany. The same wood was used for the balcony of the second floor that had the same wall of stained glass.
"This is your home?" Iruka unconsciously wondered as he marveled at all the small details that made it not a lavish mansion but an comfortable home.
"Well, yes this part is our home now." The use of 'ours' did not escape Iruka's ears. "Upstairs is the bedrooms and back there is the kitchen. The rest of the mansion is connected through there as well, but we usually keep that part for guests and big events."
Stepping over, Iruka marvelled at a chess set between the couch and a padded chair but stopped short when he saw his blood-stained shirt and the dried red on his hand.
"I don't suppose you happen to have a way to get clean, do you?" Iruka asked sheepishly.
"Of course," Kakashi started towards the stairs, sliding his pelt of his shoulders and the cloak underneath as well to drape them over the banister as he led the way upstairs.
Through the door to the left, they headed down a hall with high ceilings and the same stained glass. It was a short walk to the door at the end of the hall where Kakashi paused before hesitantly opening it.
"This is our room but if you prefer, we can always have another room made." Kakashi moved in and Iruka followed slowly, a recognition falling over him that this was Kakashi's own private room. He'd never been in another person's room before and this felt very intimate. Not only because it was Kakashi's personal space but because the room wasn't terribly big but was outfitted with warmth and comfort in mind.
Rugs and furs lined almost every surface except a small arc around the fireplace. Opposite the fire was a large bed that looked like it was made of clouds so much that Iruka wanted to throw himself into it and never come out. Along the wall at the back, Drapes were half pulled back to reveal a set of glass windows that were not stained except for a small circle in the middle near the top.
"Wow," Iruka gaped as he stepped further in to see that there was a wall of bookcases with a desk built into it and a door from which steam was pouring out from.
"The bath is over there." Kakashi nodded to the open door as he slowly pulled the backpack off Iruka's shoulders. "I'll have a fresh change of clothes waiting."
They started to move in their own directions when Iruka stopped. "Kakashi."
"Hmm?" There was a hint of surprise but a layer of genuine content in Kakashi's eyes from what Iruka could tell.
"Thank you," he tried to make it was sincere as he could, finding a tiny spark in him warm up as Kakashi's eyes curved into a smile.
"Welcome home."
The bath was the best thing Iruka had ever seen in his life. He now knew that his favourite thing in the world was large, hot baths that smelled of lavender. After he had pulled off his dirty clothes and scrubbed as much blood off him as he could find, the bath welcomed him with warm, loving arms that he never knew could feel this good.
Once he was out of the burning waters, he peeped into the bedroom to find the windows foggy but nothing else new than folded clothes on the bed. There was no Kakashi in sight and Iruka dressed quickly in clothes he found too long. The white tunic almost reached his knees over the dark pants and Iruka didn't have to wonder whose they belonged to. The undergarments were his own from his pack thankfully.
Sitting careful on the edge of the bed, he found it soft and inviting. The blankets were a soft quilt with what felt like feathers inside. He didn't hear any noises other than a soft chirping outside. It was so serene for the moment. His eyes slowly dragged over the books on the shelf, trying to recognize a name or two but was surprised he couldn't.
He looked about to find that his pack was on the desk chair. Feeling more at ease, he slowly pushed back the covers and slid under them. He told himself that it would only be for a few moments.
As he looked up that the rich, red canopy of draperies above, he slipped off into dreams.
Kakashi knocked on the door lightly about half an hour later to find someone else in his bed. Stepping up quietly, he checked to see if the tub was draining and blew out the candle in the bathroom. He moved back into the bedroom and tried to pull the curtains shut against the setting sun. At his desk, he lit the lamp there and let it burn low in case Iruka woke in the middle of the night. He looked back to his sleeping husband and took the simple luxury of studying Iruka without the man noticing.
His hair was as deep as chocolate. Kakashi hoped he wouldn't catch a cold from it still being wet. There was a part of him that wondered if he smelled of lavender now. He wanted nothing more than to climb into bed, find out and fall into the same sleep as Iruka. It wasn't even in a sensual manner of thought, but an echo ran through his mind and he laid the idea to rest for a long time.
He put a new log on the fireplace and stoked it life before silently closing the door behind him.
It was the next morning when Iruka woke up.
Light was streaming in through the crack in the curtains onto the floor and he slowly stretched himself out, feeling the most comfortable he'd ever been in his life. He just wanted to stay in bed and relax but his mind was urging him up.
He looked over next to him and realised that he'd spent the night alone, the covers neatly draped across the side of the bed and undisturbed. It was surprising but not an unwelcome surprise. He'd never had someone to sleep next to and he sure wasn't going to get used to the idea fast, but he felt guilty for taking Kakashi's bed for the night.
Sitting up, he let himself sit for a moment before getting up and looking passed the curtains. Outside, a light snow was falling in a languid and slow descent that was mesmerising. It covered the tall pine trees that were on the incline below and the mountain tops in the distance.
Iruka rubbed his chilled arms and curiously stepped out. Back down the hall and down the stairs, he found a blanket and pillow on the couch as a clue. He could hear voices beyond the door that led to the kitchen and followed them slowly. Down a hall that mirror the one upstairs, Iruka came to an open door that spilled out smells of chicken and bread. His tummy suddenly gurgled loudly, announcing him as he came to the open door.
At one of two thick tables, Kakashi looked up from his food and straightened himself more.
"Ah! Good morning, Hashira!" A thin voice exclaimed and Iruka stepped in further to find an older woman with a large wooden spoon in hand and a savvy smirk on her lips.
Iruka smiled back at her and bid her good morning as well.
"This is Tsunade. Head of the house. If you ever need something or any help, you can find her around somewhere." Kakashi explained and Iruka stretched out his hand to shake her free one but found that she simply brushed her fingers against his.
"Pleasure to meet you, madam." His words made her smirk even harder and she went back to one of the pots at the stove.
"My, my. What manners this boy has. You could learn a thing or two from him, brat." She called back to Kakashi who seemed to be frowning hard at her. "Sit down, I'll bring you some food."
Slipping onto the bench across from Kakashi, Iruka palmed his cheek and noticed that Kakashi was already dressed in his dark leathers.
"Sadly, I have to leave soon." Kakashi started after easily reading the look on Iruka's face. "There's a matter I have to attend to in the west. A certain someone tried to assassinate a very important figure of our clan."
There was a pointed look Iruka's way and Tsunade had snapped her head back to look at the both. "You two better be careful. I don't want any blood on the furniture."
"Don't worry," Kakashi soothed as he pulled on his cloak over his shoulders. He said quickly before leaving the room with a wave over his shoulder, "It's won't be on ours."
Hearing Kakashi's steps fading, Iruka impulsively stood and stalked after them. He didn't know anything about what was going on, but he knew it was dangerous and that it had to do with destroying relations between the Fangs and the Uchiha if they had tried to kill him. The way Kakashi insinuated violence made Iruka worried not only for the but also for him.
"Kakashi!" He stalked up to a paused Kakashi who was curiously watching him follow. Iruka stopped only paces away and flushed when he realised he'd been quite loud. With a softer tone, he advised, "Be careful. Please."
There was that famed smile and Kakashi stated calmly, "I will."
Breakfast was had with Tsunade who was just as easy to talk to. She was a rough as she was charming, and she had no qualms with Iruka speaking frankly with her.
"I don't even know what I should be doing," he mused to her apparent delight.
With a calm sip of her warm drink, she slowly set it down. Her words were slow to begin with as if she was reminiscing as she spoke. "The Hashira is a pillar. They advise us on right and wrong and lead us down our rightful path. It's a very revered position and sadly we haven't had one in a long time."
"What happened to them?"
Her eyes went cloudy for a moment. "I wasn't employed here when it happened, but she apparently suffered a hunting accident not far and died just inside our walls here in Kasai."
"And there was no other Hashira after her?"
Tsunade nodded. "Kakashi's father didn't fall in love with anyone else."
It finally occurred to Iruka that the positions of Hashira and Otokami were ones passed down from generation to generation and a thought popped into the back of his mind. If he couldn't give Kakashi children, what then?
After dressing in his own clothes, Tsunade showed him around the village and introduced him to people she thought he might like to know. There was the stable keeper Tsume and her daughter Hana and a few houses down, there was a blacksmith named Ibiki and his apprentice Ebisu. An older man they met was a teacher or weapons and martial arts to the children of the village too. He was named Hiruzen.
"I heard about your incident on the way here." His eyes crinkled at the edge. "You got lucky."
Somehow, he ended up agreeing to meet him the following day for training. According to him, "A strong leader is one who doesn't die easy."
There were others he met throughout the day but as he sat back in Kakashi's room, he remembered a pillar of smoke he'd seen just outside the wall. Tsunade said it was a pyre and Iruka wondered if that's what they'd done with the assailant who they had beaten.
Trying to ignore the thought, he pulled out the desk chair and started inspecting Kakashi's work space. There seemed to be papers strewn about in an organized chaos of stacks and folded bundles. Above it and pinned to the wood, a large map detail almost the entire country in such grand detail Iruka had never seen before. It even pointed to villages and towns within the central forests that had previously been blank territory; the Fangs' territory. For the first time, he found where Kasai was on the continent. It was far above the southern regions and centrally located in the northern forests as if it was looking down on the rest of the country.
To the East, he saw new cities he'd never known like Kawa and Ogawa and another in the west called Ishi. He assumed they were sub cities within the Fangs just as this one was called Kasai.
There were so many places he hadn't seen in this big world and he was starting to feel even smaller and even weaker. He didn't want to feel weak. With Kakashi in mind, he felt the burning need to be better and was inspired to try.
The next morning, he woke up early and found the door to Hiruzen's home unlocked. Stepping inside, he pressed into the training studio to find children already stretching.
"Keep going," Hiruzen encouraged before shuffling his way Passed Iruka and motioned him to follow with a finger. "Come. You're stiff and skinny."
Hours later, Iruka was flushed with both embarrassment and exhaustion from holding a bucket of water over his head while sitting against a wall. Eventually, he almost collapsed and Hiruzen had him stretching out his legs after.
Knees weak and arms like noodles, he shuffled home towards noon to find Tsunade had food ready for him. The rest of the night was spent unpacking his things and trying to figure out where to put everything. He'd had fun looking through Kakashi's things and finding very simple clothing that was made more for comfort.
There was still no sign of his husband the day after, but he continued his routine of meeting with Hiruzen, eating lunch at home and having the afternoon to himself for the next few days. He was nearing the fifth day when he was starting to find an ache in his chest.
Snuggled in his new winter cloak that had been ordered for him, Iruka started down at the village and the road that led to it. He'd found a quiet spot to perch on after taking long walks up the side of the mountain and through the village when he was bored. The sun was just beginning to go down on the horizon. The snow on the trees below were covered in orange and pink. He almost didn't notice the flicker of movement in the woods beyond the village's border.
Shooting to his feet, Iruka scurried down the mountain. Down a small path that led onto the opposite side of the walls with a small jump, he hurried around to the side on which he'd seen the shadow and branched out from there. It was nowhere near the path that led up to the village and was too small to be a person, so he kept his eyes peeled, making slow and light steps.
Through the evergreen pines and thick snow, he finally spotted movement and froze. Up ahead, a creature that he'd only heard in fairy tales was halted. Their ears stuck up and their eyes alert as they darted from tree to tree until it looked back and saw Iruka.
In a serene moment, Iruka and the wolf stared at each other until it suddenly turned tail and bottled into the forest. With a breathless chuckle, Iruka straightened himself and turned back for the main gate.
Kakashi was dead tired. He'd spent countless hours tracking, watching and scouting until he was ready to drop. He'd found the man that the last assassin had mentioned and spied on them in disguise for many long nights and days at the tavern they ran until he finally got them alone. After a few minutes of hard 'persuasion' without his disguise, he dragged the man into the streets and to the home of the lords of Ishi.
He couldn't tell if he'd been lucky or unlucky. They had been holding a meeting when Kakashi and Asuma had strode in to their surprise. Most of them had given off an aura of fear but only one of them was trying to hide it when he saw the man they had in tow.
"Otokami!" Another one had exclaimed. "What brings you-"
They threw the informant in front of them and unsheathed their swords, silencing them all. Kakashi stepped up and would've killed the informant but had a better idea as he watched the confused faces of the innocents in the room.
"Late one night not but a week's past, two men were sent to kill my consort before they were linked. Thankfully, your new Hashira is not helpless or there would have been no mercy on any of you." He had paced from one side of the table to the other and was standing behind his target. "The assassins were not so lucky but instead led me back here. This man in front of you was the associate who contracted them."
The man he stood behind was beginning to pale and shake from where Kakashi was standing and he knew he had his man: Moso of the Tori. He said pointedly, "And the order came from one of you."
The rest of them had faces of pure horror and surprise that Kakashi had been looking for. His people were meant to be loyal to the very end and for someone to attempt to go against the Otokami's will was going against the will of the Fangs.
"I trusted all of you and appointed you because I believed you were the best men to represent Ishi. I trust you will find the man responsible and bring him to justice." With that, he'd quickly swung his sword and it cut the informant's head clean off. He had left straight after.
His original intention was to drag Moso out into the street and killed him in front of the people of Ishi but that seemed too dramatic and unwise. This way, he could test Ishi's loyalty and he had made it quite clear who the traitor was, so it wouldn't be a hard decision.
After all that, he was tired.
Asuma was riding ahead, checking for ambush but even more eager than him to get home. He had heard through the gossip that Asuma was sweet on a girl, so he most likely wanted to check on her.
His mind wandered to all the weddings he'd been required to attend as Otokami and he had an odd feeling of longing in his chest. While he was happy with who he'd chosen, he wished his wedding would have been different. If it had been under his control, he would have had Iruka brought to him as a visitor first to learn of their people and them to accept him. He worried that Iruka wasn't fitting in and getting respect from the Fangs which would become an even bigger problem later. The Uchiha were people who needed things done fast and they certainly were arguably more barbaric than the Fangs.
While they were on common grounds with them, they were two different people. The Uchiha were cold in a way that was veiled as nobility. Where the Fangs were traditional, the Uchiha were systematic. Their priorities were their name and the continuation of their bloodline. They married for heirs and they took their women like dogs, rough and without consideration.
Maybe Kakashi was just a romantic with lofty ideals but he had a heart and he had hoped to find someone who had lit a fire in him. He didn't really believe in love at first sight or other nonsensicalities. He simply wanted to have someone near who he could trust intimately and grow old with. He had many underlings and many people who served him, but he simply wanted a companion who didn't see him as the great Otokami.
Up ahead on the road about a dozen yards or so away, a figure stepped out of the tree line towards the road with the head down. Gripping his pommel, Kakashi approached cautiously until the figure seemed to notice his approach and look up.
With a smile and pride in his chest, Kakashi quipped to the newcomer, "What a choice meeting. The Hashira himself."
He suddenly was unsure of his own beliefs when Iruka's face lit up with a bright smile, teasing, "Who me?"
At Iruka's side, Kakashi slid off his horse to meet the other man at eye level. The cloak suited him well. "What are you doing out here?"
Iruka looked back to the woods and Kakashi noticed the trail of footprints, human and animal. "There was a wolf, I think. Wanted to see where they were going."
"And they let you follow them?" Kakashi's interest peaked and he glanced over to the opposite side of the road, unable to remember when the last time a wolf was spotted in the area.
"A little. They ran off after a minute or two."
Kakashi huffed and took his horse's reins, asking, "Are you going to keep chasing wolves or would you like to walk back with me?"
There was a smirk from Iruka. "Sure, I'm up for chasing a Fang."
When they got back, Tsunade had a warm supper prepared and they all ate together in the kitchen before Tsunade retired to her quarters for the night, leaving Iruka and Kakashi to play cards and talk about the trip.
"And how do you suppose they'll take care of him?" Iruka was asking.
"I… Hope that they will execute him for treason, but my best guess is that they'll banish him from the clan." He looked up to find Iruka frowning in thought. "How's it been around here?"
"Well, it's been very quiet. I think people have started preparing for spring."
Kakashi nodded. "I'll speak with shaman Mebuki tomorrow and see when spring will begin so we can start planning the spring festival."
He put down a card that won the match and Iruka rolled his eyes with a smile. "Somehow, I was waiting for that."
With a chuckle, Kakashi brew out one of the candles and they stood, heading back to the living room. As Kakashi started to move to the couch, Iruka stopped him.
"It's your bed. We can at least try it for a night." Standing together in the dark living room by the light of the fire and the lantern, Kakashi felt like it was the beginning of a sort of comfort and familiarity between them that wasn't rough or cold.
It was sincere, and it was tender.
And so, the snow fell one last time on the village of Kasai before the snow melted away to spring. The people who had been in a languid slumber burst out with energy and enthusiasm for the warmth and rain. In the bright green forests, life was returning, and the smell of leaves and rain hung in the air. Farmers had begun tilling the soil and planting seeds in the fields to the east of town. The children had begun climbing the mountains and the outdoors seemed to draw people out. There was an abundant amount of trade between other cities now that the roads were clear enough for big wagons and carts.
Even in this bright and sparkling time of the season, Iruka found that Kakashi was going through a hibernation. While Iruka explored and aided the townsfolk, he always found Kakashi lounging about somewhere with a book like a lazy cat.
When asked about it, Kakashi would simply shrug and say something mysterious like "maybe it's because I sneak out of bed at night to run through the forest" that Iruka knew was entirely untrue.
Kakashi was a homebody but Iruka didn't really mind. Sometimes, the other man would get extremely busy and be away for days in other villages for business and dealings. Just a week ago, he had returned with a good portion of the clansmen from a conflict with the Kohaku who had suddenly invaded a town near the Uchiha castle.
While Kakashi was away one afternoon, Iruka was called upon to resolve a dispute between two patrons at a tavern which led to more and more people coming to him. It was often for advice, judgement or to be a witness but the requests came even when Kakashi was around.
And while Iruka woke up bright and early, Kakashi would sleep in and stay up so late that Iruka was often asleep when he came to bed. One morning quite out of the blue, Iruka found himself pressed up against bare skin instead of the clothed back he was used to. It had confused him into waking up and found another surprise that was not unwelcome. Without his usual mask, Kakashi was a sight for sore eyes. Smooth cheeks and a sharp jaw were what Iruka woke up to and he hoped he could always wake up like that from now on. The beauty mark was almost as endearing as the way Kakashi's face seemed clean shaven for a grown man. That morning, Iruka gave Kakashi a kiss on his forehead before slipping out of bed and Kakashi let himself smile in his fake sleep as Iruka left.
"Why do you read it if you already know the ending?" Iruka asked over his shoulder as he stretched an arm behind his back. Kakashi glanced up at his shirtless husband and tried to ignore the smooth skin.
"Every time I read it, I find new meaning." He replied vaguely. It was many nights later and they were for once in their room at the same hour. Iruka was grateful for the time together alone even if it was with a book that always had Kakashi's attention but there was a growing urge to hold Kakashi's attention more. It may have been selfish, but he wanted more than just the playful banter and the small talk. Occasionally, Kakashi would brush by him and flick his ear or play with his ponytail but it wasn't filling that hole.
Ultimately, he knew it was up to him to make the first move and to push things further. They had made a promise and Kakashi was being painfully gentlemanly about it. It was driving Iruka to fantasize and it didn't help that they lived in the same home together. At first, it had been in his dreams but was starting to become daydreams. Iruka would be doing something menial in his dream and suddenly Kakashi would throw him into their bed, rid him of his clothes and thrust inside Iruka with his slick cock.
It was one thing to dream about it, but reality was knocking on his door and reminding him that it had not been like that last time. There was the other question too about children: was he ready?
On the side, he had started asking around the village about children, traditions around childbirth and rearing children. There wasn't much about conceiving but there was a naming ceremony that had peaked his interest. From what he could remember about his own clan, they had a fertility rite and Iruka had considered it.
He didn't know the first thing about pregnancy or even how it worked in his clan. He couldn't remember seeing any men with full bellies like women did when they were bearing.
All the thoughts inside his mind were conflicting with each other but the side that craved intimacy was slightly stronger.
Looking back at Kakashi who had his nose buried in his book, Iruka decided he would try something. So, he moved towards the bed and slipped into it, catching Kakashi completely unaware when he plucked the book from his fingers.
"Ru-" Kakashi's mouth suddenly snapped shut when Iruka moved on his hands and knees over his lap, leaving the book on the side. The flush on Kakashi's unmasked cheeks was brilliant in the shadow of the firelight. His hands hovered over Iruka's thighs, unsure of what to do and looking like a cornered animal in the way he averted his gaze and glanced around in confusion.
Iruka wasn't sure either what to do. He wanted to lean in and kiss him, but he didn't know where to put his hand or how to even move closer. He could feel the same blush moving up his cheeks too, but he tried to fight it. All the pent-up feelings he had were clawing at him and he move in closer, unsure but confident in what he wanted.
He moved his head closer to Kakashi's and the other man looked up at him finally and met his eyes, but it was too late to stop.
It was just a press of lips; warm and hesitant but affectionate. When Iruka pulled back slightly, he let go of a breath he'd been holding and opened his eyes to Kakashi's staring back in shock.
Doubt suddenly shot through his mind and he started to move back when Kakashi's hands rested on his thighs and stopped him. With his pink cheeks, Kakashi leaned in with glassy eyes and pressed their foreheads together. Looking down, Kakashi muttered after a moment of hesitation, "can I?"
Breath catching, Iruka pleaded in a whisper, "Please."
Their second kiss was just as sweet but more confident and curious in the way their mouths shifted against each other, finding what felt best and repeating it over with more invitation. They only pulled back when they felt light headed and pressed their forehead together again as they breathed. With eyes closed, Iruka gave a breathy chuckle and said softly, "Goodnight."
He moved off the other man's lap to his side of the bed and snuggled up under the blanket, Kakashi watching with a serene smile. As he picked up his book, he tried to go back to reading but couldn't focus on the words long enough to even finish a sentence. His heart was burning and his lap was pulsing fiercely. Pressing down that excitement, laying his book on the side table and turning out the lantern, he followed Iruka's suit and got under the covers. This time though, he pressed a kiss to Iruka's shoulder and Iruka let him stay nestled against his back.
Eyyy somehow got this out a week later, pretty good for me!
Hopefully, I'll have the next chapter up within a week but I might have to split it into two since I have a lot I want to cover.
I was kind of a tease in this chapter but you guys can see where this is going ;)