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Chapter 2: Anything Easy Has its Costs

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"Kakashi!"

"Oi!"

A blue eyed opened slowly adjusting to the light in the room. It was waaay to early in the morning for this. Seriously.

"Kakashi!"

Kakashi sighed sitting up in his bed glaring at the clock. It was only 11 in the morning. What the heck was Gai thinking waking him up this early on his day off…?

"Kakashi, Asuma's back!"

"Really?" Kakashi smirked as he got out of the bed and began to put some cloths on before Gai came walking into the room.

"I knew that would get you up." The Green Beast smirked watching his friend cover his face with a Hitai-ate Leaf headband and his shirt.

"How long was he gone this time?" Kakashi stretched and began to leave his apartment.

"Three months."

It had been a while since the three of them were able to hang out. It seemed that the second the man became a jounin he was needed for an important mission. And Kakashi really wanted to know what he was doing.

"Oh, does Kurenai know?" Kakashi turned to glance at his friend beside him as they were walking.

"Yeah, she said she would join us after she went shopping with a 'cute new love'" Gai laughed a little as he quoted the girl.

"Ah, I bet she's still trying to get his attention right?" Kakashi sighed, it was given that she had liked Asuma for a while but he thought that her thoughts had been transferred to one of the jounin senseis in charge of a squad.

That was one thing he would never do, if he had a choice.

That was for sure.

XXXX

"Oh nice Gai, I didn't actually think you could do it." A tall teen with a small 'wannabe' beard grinned as he watched Kakashi and Gai walk up.

"You've started smoking." Kakashi noted the cigarette in the other teen's mouth.

"Ah, it's not that bad, plus it relieves stress." The older teen smiled nervously scratching the back of his head. "Plus it makes me look cool."

"I think it takes away from your wonders of youth!" Gai pretended sobs on Kakashi's shoulder causing the other teens to sigh.

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"Oh! Iruka, over here!" Kurenai smiled as the smaller teen finally noticed her in the crowd and ran over.

He was just wearing a black t-shirt with some jeans…but he was still cute. She smiled to herself, if she wasn't trying to get with his sensei…

"Why did I say I would help you again?" Iruka moaned as she grabbed his hand and began to walk.

"For all those years of hell you gave me as a sub for your teacher at the academy." Kurenai laughed as he blushed and sighed.

"Fine, but this is the last time! I don't care if you used to be my babysitter…" The tan boy sighed, shopping with Kurenai was like…was like…just imagine a horrible place with horrible things….yeah that's it…this is worse.

"Okaaay, so, you want to do cloths first or groceries?" She smiled at the younger teen.

"Wouldn't the food go bad after a while?" He sighed again looking at her as if she was wasting his time.

"Hey, where are your teammates, I haven't seen Suzume in the office in a while." Kurenai looked thoughtful while thinking of the office volunteer.

"I don't know I haven't seen Nigo either…" Iruka hadn't seen his teammates in a few days…or his sensei for that matter…

They were probably still sick and he probably just got sent on a quick mission…probably.

"Oi! Kurenai!" Both teens stopped to see three guys in front on them.

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Kakashi stared surprised at the boy beside Kurenai…it was…was it…

Wasn't his angel a girl?

Kakashi looked at the boy in front of him on more time…tan skin…dark hair, it was up in a pony tail but it couldn't have been longer than shoulder length, big brown eyes…and a scar across his nose.

It was him.

He was in front of the person he had thought was an angel.

He suddenly felt heat rush to his face.

"Ano…I'm Umino Iruka." He watched as the boy did a small bow towards him and the guys.

"So this is 'your cute new love'?" Gai pointed down at the kid in front of him causing Iruka to blush and glare over at Kurenai.

"I'm not cute."

"Hey kid careful, she's a handful to go out with." Iruka blushed even more as the guy with the cigarette leaned over and whispered to him.

"W-we're not d-d-dating…"

"See Asuma! No one appreciates me thanks to you! Iruka you've wounded my heart so early in our relationship." Iruka knew his face was definitely red…really really red.

"Oh sorry." Everyone watched the older teen pause for a second, "I'm Sarutobi Asuma, and this ugly thing is Maito Gai and that guy…"

Everyone ignored Gai pretending to sob while shaking his fist in the air as they looked at the blank spot beside the Green Beast.

"Hey, where did Kakashi go?"

"Hn, He was probably kidnapped." Gai shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the kid in front of him. "Hey Kurenai?"

"Hn?" The girl turned to look at Gai then down at Iruka who had a shocked expression on his face. "You okay 'Ruka?"

These guys are Sarutobi Asuma, Maito Gai and that guy was Hatake Kakashi! Why didn't Kurenai tell me they were her friends…?

The teen looked over at Kurenai still in shock.

The fact that these guys are her friends means she's scarier than I realize.

"Umino Iruka huh?" Asuma tried to think about were he heard that name before, "Wait aren't you the kid that dyed the elders' robes pink?"

XXXX

"You think that kid will be okay?" Asuma laughed as Kurenai sighed at him.

"I didn't realize you guys actually had a reputation or anything." The girl smirked as the teen beside her pretended to be hurt.

"So harsh…" Asuma sighed grabbing the girls hand beside him, "How's the old man doing?"

Kurenai let a small frown slip on her lips before sighing, "You saw him, he's still the same, I think he's been a bit stressed recently though." She looked over at the older teen, "Why don't you ever visit him, you know outside of the job?"

"Naw, he doesn't need me right now. Besides he still has to look over all his other children ya' know?"

Kurenai sighed, "Konoha may his 'children' but you know you and your brother are the most important to him."

She smiled rubbing her hand on his chin, "I like the fuzz; you should grow it out."

XXXX

"WHAT!" Gai put his hand over his mouth to emphasize the shock.

"Shut up would ya'?" Kakashi blushed scratching his head, "But it's true."

"Kurenai's little boy-toy is your angel?" Gai let out a small laugh before trying to hold it in causing the younger teen to sigh.

"You can let it out."

"BWAHAHAHA! Your little ANGEL was a GUY! Your SUPREME BEING that you were so in-LOVE with is a GENIN little BOY you PEDAPHILE!" Gai began to laugh again ignoring the tears coming to his eyes. "And I thought I knew you man."

"I'm never telling you anything again." Kakashi huffed falling with his back on the floor.

"You want me to help?"

"Huh?" The opened his eye to stare at his rival.

"You want me to get some info on him for you?" Gai smiled standing up to throw away his trash from lunch.

"No." Kakashi glared at the standing teen, what was he up to?

"Okay, I'll tell you what I find tonight. Your rival can tell when something is on your youthful mind. Ah to be young again…"

"Gai. Your two months older than me…"

XXXX

Iruka smiled as he sat in front of his parent's grave. He decided this was too urgent to put the kimono on for.

"You would never believe who I got to meet today!" He smiled scratching his nose, "I met Sarutobi-sama! You know that guy that's known to get sent on a lot of special missions…he's really powerful. I've heard he's never failed a mission! Oh then there was Maito-sama! He's got really weird eyebrows! But that's not the point! He's that guy that saved a group of genins from a burning tree house last month! He's also Hatake Kakashi's rival! Hatake-sama…" Iruka smiled looking at the ground, "I really didn't get to meet him but he seemed really powerful! And he has silver hair! Its true all those rumors I've heard about him…"

"Rumors? Really? About little ole' me?" Iruka stopped before quickly turning around to see Kakashi standing a few feet behind him.

"Ah…" The brunette opened his mouth to say something but quickly shut it and stared at the famous jounin in front of him.

"Iruka-kun, right?" Kakashi smiled nervously before approaching the kid, what the heck did he think he was doing? He was just going to visit Obito and tell him about the things that happened today to find someone had beat him here.

It had nothing to do with the fact he was worried about Gai would say to the kid if he found him. That had nothing to do with the fact that he decided to visit Obito when he saw that Iruka was here…not at all.

"Yes sir." Iruka quickly stood and did a small bow at the man approaching him. He was standing and talking to Hatake Kakashi…Hatake freaking Kakashi!

"Oh please, just relax." Kakashi waved his hand at the bowing kid.

Never knew he was such a nervous kid.

"So who are you visiting?" Kakashi curved his visible eye as he bent to his knees in front of the memorial.

"Oh…um…my parents…" Iruka looked down at the ground before copying the older teen and getting to his knees beside the silver-haired jounin.

"I'm sorry," Kakashi mentally flinched, that was insensitive…okay let's try this again…The silver haired teen glanced down at the younger teen beside him…

"You kno…"

"I like to talk to them…" Iruka smiled tracing their names with his hands before he quickly blushed and sat back down. "I-is that weird?"

Kakashi smiled under his mask before returning his attention to the memorial stone and sliding his fingers across a certain name.

"You know, I used to think so…" He sighed with a smile gracing his hidden lips, "But I don't think it is anymore. I even think that they like it when people come to visit…"

"Guh…"

Kakashi quickly turned to see the boy beside him wiping his eyes even though tears kept coming.

"Ah! Uh!" Kakashi looked around, what was he supposed to do? He didn't think that it would cause the younger teen to cry!

"It's…okay!" Iruka smiled grabbing the silver haired jounin's attention as he wiped his eyes off again. "I'm just…really happy…"

Iruka blushed realizing he was probably making a fool of himself in front of a genius ninja. But for some reason he felt really comfortable around the older teen for some reason.

"I-I'm sorry…" Iruka frowned when he realized the tears didn't want to stop. "I-I just can't seem to sto…"

A hand gently touched his head causing the brunette to fallow its arm to the owner, a certain jounin.

"You know…" Kakashi made sure he wasn't looking directly at the smaller boy. "I'm pretty sure they appreciate that too…"

Iruka smiled looking down at the ground.

"You're welcome." Gai sighed shaking his head before leaving to two teens to themselves.

XXXX

"Were you able to figure out anything?" Hokage sighed looking over to Asuma with tired eyes.

"He's after it." Asuma watched the man's expression change. "We haven't figured out why they want that scroll yet."

"I think I may know why." Hokage sighed causing the teen to raise an eyebrow. "I don't like using children to help him with his disguise, we are going to have to put an end to it soon even if we don't know the real intentions of his spying."

"Yes sir." Asuma felt his hand twitch a little, he really wanted a cigarette.

"I don't like putting Konoha's youth in danger like this." The old man frowned before looking over at his son. "I need you to call Kakashi…"

XXXX

"Hatake-sama, can I ask you something?" Iruka blushed as they walked down the street. He was actually spending time with Hatake Kakashi, after crying like a baby in front of him. He frowned; I really hope this isn't pity hanging out time. I am just a kid compared to him.

"What'd you wanna ask?" Kakashi interrupted the younger teen's thoughts as he stopped in the street.

"Ano…" Iruka blushed why was he even asking the man this?

Kakashi smiled watching the brunette's inner-mind struggle. He was cute when he blushed…Kakashi stopped. It wasn't like that meant anything!

"Do you believe in angels?" It was Iruka's turn to interrupt the thought process of the older teen.

"Angels? Hmmm…" Kakashi wondered idly if he should just spill the whole thing…but then the kid would know he was an ANBU and worse…he would know that Kakashi kissed him…even though at the time he did think that the younger teen was a girl.

But if he said that, it might damage some pride.

So no telling the truth because it ends up with hurt feelings and an angry Iruka.

"Hmmm, I would have to say yes." Kakashi curved his one eye noticing how the shorter teens face beamed up at hearing those words. "But I also believe that if you start seeing them soon…you need to run away from the light, okay?"

"Sure…" Iruka laughed to himself looking up to notice they were actually in front of his apartment. "Um…ano…"

Kakashi watched at the teen fidgeted around a bit before looking him in the eye again.

"Thanks for today Hatake-sama." Iruka did a small bow before walking toward his apartment.

So that's were he lives…Kakashi smiled before realizing something.

"Hey Iruka-kun!" The brunette turned around before opening the door to his apartment. "It's Kakashi, not Hatake-sama, okay?"

Iruka grinned widely.

"Hai Kakashi-senpai!" He waved before running into his house.

"Honestly…what's with the honorifics…its not like I'm some kind of prodigy…oh wait yes I am…"

"Now that you're done with your little date…" Kakashi turned quickly to see Asuma walking up to him with a smirk on his face while looking at the door Iruka had just walked into. "I didn't know you were into taking Kurenai's boys…Gai has got to be jealous."

"What is it?" Kakashi sighed giving Asuma his lazy eye. If the older had actually gone out to find him, there had to be something up.

"Hokage-sama wants to meet with you."

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"I see." Kakashi stared at the ground trying to figure everything out. He was in his ANBU uniform for the third time this week. "If he was a spy in the first place, why have we been allowing him to stay here in the village?"

"We needed to know what he was after." Asuma answered for the Hokage who sat in his chair huffing at his pipe.

"Which would be?" Kakashi looked over at Asuma who looked over at the older man.

"He's after that scroll." Hokage said with a frown. "We don't know why but I can't live with him near the students anymore."

"He's a jounin-sensei right?" Kakashi asked earning a nod from both men. "And you want us to watch him for the next few days and if he does anything suspicious…"

"I want you to try and figure out what he's after," The older man sighed scratching his hatless head. "If you can't in three days, I want him disposed of anyway."

"Three days?" Kakashi asked raising an eyebrow. That was rather quick for a stalking mission. Something had to be up…

Knock. Knock.

"Come in," The older man puffed on his pipe once more as two ANBU came into the room. "Kakashi, these two ANBU are going to be with you on your mission. You are going to take turns watching the man but you'll be on call for immediate action."

"Hai." Kakashi nodded at the other two ANBU noting that the old man wasn't even bothering with code names.

Kakashi lifted his dog mask followed by the other two ANBU…dog…in the end that was what he was.

Kakashi found himself think about Iruka earlier at the memorial stone and thinking if the younger teen would cry for him if he ever died.

"Now here is the list of the students this man has been put over. I want you to guard them if their 'sensei' starts to act strange." Hokage got up and handed Kakashi a piece of paper with three pictures.

One of the pictures seemed to be screaming at his head.

"Iruka…" Kakashi whispered making the old man turn around with a raised eyebrow.

"You know him?" The older man smiled, "He's a strong boy, I'm very proud of how he's maturing."

"Itachi-san, you take the first night of guard." The old man nodded as the phoenix-masked shinobi left. "Toboe-san you can take the second night of duty." The old man smiled as if left him with Kakashi and Asuma again.

"Asuma-san you're dismissed." Hokage nodded at the teen that bowed and left.

Kakashi sighed, if he was the last one left that meant that the man wanted to talk.

"Kakashi," The Hokage began as he sat back down at his desk. "I want you to make sure that none of these students are harmed during this."

"Yes sir." Kakashi frowned under his dog mask. Something was bothering him. "Sir…if I may be frank…"

"Go ahead…"

"Why did you put these kids in this situation?" Kakashi asked genuinely, this seemed so…rash.

"Well you see Kakashi," The old man put the pipe back in his mouth, "This man, Izume-san…he's no rookie. He's actually pretty good and he made it pretty far before anyone noticed."

Kakashi tensed, if this could make it that far…

"Be careful Kakashi." The man nodded before taking the pipe out of his mouth, "How do you know Iruka-kun anyway?"

"Oh…" Kakashi blushed, thankful for the mask, he wasn't expecting that question. "I met him today…from Kurenai-chan at the market place, he was with her and then I saw him again at the memorial stone…"

Kakashi watched as the older man's expression changed to a solemn one.

"Yes, his parents died when the Kyuubi attacked." The older man watched as the teen before him fidgeted. "I thought you might want to know the cause…you're dismissed." The Hokage sighed blowing smoke out his mouth.

Kakashi and Iruka…friends? This could turn out interesting.

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Kakashi couldn't sleep.

He laid on his bed frustrated as he glared at the moon. He should have been sleeping…but something was bothering him.

"His parents were killed by the Kyuubi?" He asked silently to himself.

If so…

Then he would understand right? Kakashi sighed; he had no right in comparing what had happened to him to what had happened to the younger teen.

But he lost his role-model in that fight as well.

More than a role-model…a father figure perhaps?

His father…Kakashi glared at the moon even harder.

"Man I thought I was over that…" He quickly sighed with a small sad smile covering his eyes with his arm.

XXXX

Iruka smiled as he stared at the moon.

Today was an awesome day.

He had gotten out of shopping with Kurenai…of course it was due to shock on who her friends were.

He would never want to get on her bad side again…and then there was the other thing…

He actually met and talked to Hatake Kakashi…

The teen found himself blushing for an unknown reason.

"What am I thinking…?" Iruka sighed to himself turning away from the window. "I can't get ahead of myself, there's no way a guy like that would want to hang out with a kid like me…"

He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest at the thought…what…what was this feeling?

Why…why did it hurt so much?

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"Iruka-kun!" The brunette turned around to see Suzume running up to him.

"Hey! Where the heck have you and Nigo been?" Iruka sighed shaking his head at his teammate.

"Unlike you, we got that bug that's been going around. No worries though I'm good and Nigo said he was going to go visit sensei today." She smiled at her younger teammate who looked at her confused. "You want to join them later?"

Iruka sighed with a smile, "Naw, you can go ahead and go visit sensei. We are meeting for sparring tomorrow right?"

"That's right, I guess I'll see ya' then." The teen smiled before running back in the direction she came.

"That's strange…" Iruka watched the girl leaving before turning around and bumping into someone.

"What's strange?"

The brunette looked up from his position now on the ground to see a certain silver-haired jounin.

"Ah! Kakashi-senpai! I'm sorry!" Iruka quickly stood up and dusted himself off letting the blood rise to his cheeks. "I-I wasn't w-watching where I-I was g-going!"

"That's okay; I wasn't really paying attention either." Kakashi lied as he curved his visible eye at the stammering teen.

"I'm sorry." Iruka said one more time before staring at the ground. He had just made a fool of himself again!

"I said it was okay," Kakashi sighed as he started to walk slowly waiting for the other teen to follow him. "So what was strange?"

"Oh nothing…" Iruka grinned as he walked beside the taller teen. "So what are you doing over here Kakashi-senpai?"

"Oh I'm just avoiding…"

"Kakashi, my rival, I have found you at last!" Both teens stopped as Gai came running up to them. "Did you forget that we were going to spar this morning?"

"No." Kakashi said lazily sighing; he really wanted to talk to Iruka more…maybe find out some things for his mission.

Or just find out things about the teen himself. Either way Kakashi would be happy.

"Oh you are so quick with your harsh responses!" Gai began to shake his fist in the air mumbling something along the lines of cool…that's my rival…and the wonders of youth.

"Ohayo Gai-senpai." Iruka did a small bow toward the still muttering jounin causing the green teen to stop and look at him.

"Iruka-kun?" Gai looked down at the small smiling boy then back a Kakashi.

Smirk.

"So Kakashi ever find that angeUGH!" Gai quickly found himself sliding across the ground after Kakashi kicked him.

"Huh?" Iruka watched as the silver-haired teen and the green teen both started to fight. He knew they were rivals…but…and what was Gai saying? Were they talking while sparring? Iruka sighed and walked over to a tree and sat down. He couldn't hear them but maybe he could learn from watching them fight.

"Gai I swear I'm going to kill you." Kakashi glared his eye at his rival who laughed.

"So you still haven't told him about it," The older teen sighed dramatically while dodging another kick. "You're going to have to tell him sometime…"

"No." Kick. Punch. Dodge. "I won't have to tell him anything…" Kakashi gritted his teeth.

"You two won't be able to have a proper relationship if you keep secrets…" Gai finally landed a punch on the younger teen knocking him to the ground.

"Who said anything about a…a relationship?" Kakashi watched as his friend pointed at him.

"You're blushing."

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Iruka couldn't help but laugh…really he couldn't help it.

But it was pretty funny.

"You can let it out if you want to." Kakashi sighed as he held the ice to his ankle.

"I can't believe YOU sprained your ankle…" Iruka tried his best to keep the laughter back…besides it was rude to laugh at an injured nin…even if he was a prodigy that had just…sprained his ankle…

Really it was rude…

"Thanks for the ice Gai…" Kakashi sighed as he used one of his wraps to wrap the ice pack against his leg. The silver-haired teen quickly stood causing a small jolt of pain in his leg, which he ignored.

"Hey I don't think you should be standing up like that." Gai sighed shaking his head knowing his rival wouldn't let him help walk him home with the kid there…he had an image to keep…the kid…

He got an idea…Gai smirked.

Kakashi hated it when that happened…

"Hey Iruka-kun," Gai walked over to the younger teen ignoring the glare he was earning from the silver-haired jounin. "I have to go do some business across town, would you mind making sure this idiot gets home?"

"Sure." Iruka smiled looking over to Kakashi who was giving him the lazy eye as the green beast disappeared.

"You really don't need to…" Kakashi began to walk before his injured leg gave in under him. "Umph!"

"Ah! Kakashi-senpai are you okay?" The brunette quickly ran over to the fallen jounin. "Are you sure you should be walking on that leg? I could help you if you want…"

"No…no, I'm good." Kakashi quickly tried to stand up again flinching as another sharp pain ran through his leg.

"Hmph, I see that." Iruka looked at Kakashi incredulously walking over beside the jounin as pulling his arm over his shoulders.

"I said I was…"

"I know your perfectly fine walking by yourself." Iruka sighed; really jounin's were so stubborn. "Just lean on me alright?"

Kakashi would have normally just pushed the kid away and went to his house…really he would have…

But for some reason he couldn't…

"Fine." Kakashi sighed standing up and leaning on the shorter teen…a lot shorter…it was kind of uncomfortable… "You're short you know that?"

"Hey I'm trying to help you out!" Iruka huffed feeling the blood rush to his cheeks, sure his head only came to this guy's chest…but still that was no reason to make fun of him.

"Hn, cute." Kakashi stopped realizing he had just said it out loud. He looked down at the younger teen that was looking at the ground blushing furiously…maybe he didn't catch it…Kakashi could only hope.

He called me cute! Iruka felt dizzy, really dizzy. He knew his face was probably going to be red for a week if the blood would ever subside and leave his cheeks alone.

They both walked awkwardly in the silence until they reached Kakashi's house.

"I'm on the top floor." Kakashi stopped leaning on the younger teen even thought his body was yelling to go back to the warmth…that's when he noticed it was getting pretty cold for the fall…

"Are you sure you don't need any help up there?" Iruka asked a little sad that the older teen was going to be leaving. "Well I guess I should go visit Kurenai-chan."

Kakashi looked down at the upset face of the younger teen beside him.

He smirked when a thought crossed his mind.

"Thanks for the help, 'Ruka-kun." Iruka looked up just in time to receive a cloth covered kiss on the cheek before watching Kakashi teleport up to his door.

The brunette just stared at the now closed door.

…

…

…

"Huh?" He said intelligently as the blood rushed back to his face. He quickly put his hand over his cheek before looking back at the door.

What the heck was that!

"YOU JOUNINS ARE WEIRD!" The brunette shouted still blushing as he ran away from the apartment housing, a small smile gracing his lips.

XXXX

"Kakashi, we need you over here." Kakashi stopped as he looked down at the radio that had been in his pocket…he almost forgot about it.

He picked it up as he walked into his room to put his ANBU uniform on.

"Alright."

XXXX

Kakashi stared in shock at the mangled bodies of two genin right outside the walls of Konoha. One of them looked familiar.

The girl that had talked with Iruka this morning…

"He's moving, we need to hurry." Kakashi nodded as the phoenix masked ANBU spoke.

This wasn't good in any way.

"Asuma…" Kakashi pulled his radio waiting for a reply.

"Yes?"

"I need you to find Umino Iruka." Kakashi tried to think about what the genin said before he had left him…

"…I guess I should visit Kurenai-chan…"

"I think he is with Kurenai." Kakashi prayed he was…

"Yes sir."

Iruka…

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