Chapter 2
Tsunade continued to glare at the jounin standing in front of her desk. Kakashi stared back at her looking as if he would fall asleep at any moment.
"Well, do you know why you are here?" she asked again breaking the silence. Kakashi shrugged.
"Either you missed me or you owe money to Ibiki," Kakashi said.
"Owe money..? Kakashi this isn't the time for jokes. Ten uh Yamato was here last night. And he had some rather interesting things to say abo-"
"Did he fall down and get a scrapped knee and want you to kiss it better?" Kakashi said sarcastically cutting her off.
"Don't interrupt me! It's not in your best interest right now. And what he had to say was about you. He said you threatened him," Tsunade said, then waited for Kakashi to explain. But Kakashi just looked back at her and pointedly yawned.
"Don't know what you're talking about," he finally drawled. Tsunade slammed a fist down onto her desk.
"Brat!" she yelled at him. "You stay away from Tenzou and Iruka, you hear me?"
"Fine," Kakashi snapped, "I will stay away from Tenzou and Iruka."
"You better or you will end up with more than a court martial. I don't know what's going on between you and Iruka but threatening your comrades is not the best idea," Tsunade lectured, "And what was so important about yesterday?" Kakashi shifted his stance glancing over at Tsunade's ANBU guard.
"Hn." Kakashi said nothing more as he teleported away.
"Want me to go after him?" the ANBU behind Tsunade asked stepping forward.
"No. It would just be a waste of time. Kid won't listen," she narrowed her eyes at the spot where Kakashi stood. "This is going to be a pain," she muttered before pulling out one of her hidden sake bottles.
Kakashi growled and slammed the door behind him.
"Stay away from Tenzou and Iruka," he mimicked his tone to a high pitched sound. "What does she know? Hah I bet Tenzou went crying like a baby to Tsunade."
Kakashi moved noisily though his apartment to the kitchen. He yanked open the fridge and stared blankly at the empty interior. Hastily he slammed it shut again.
"Oh Tsunade-sama save me from the big bad Kakashi," Kakashi mocked Tenzou. Frustrated he ran a hand through his hair. Restlessly he paced through his apartment. He sat on his bed, staring at the wall until he noticed the time.
"The academy should be breaking for lunch soon," Kakashi mused aloud. Without much further thought Kakashi had jumped out his window and was making his way to Ichiraku's.
"Hokage's warnings be damned," he muttered as he ran along the rooftops.
Kakashi made it to the academy uncontested, with two bowls of ramen still hot in a carry bag. He dropped down to the window of Iruka's classroom and peered in to see the students were just now leaving. Once the last student had left Iruka wearily sat at one of the student's desks and rested his head on his arms. Quietly Kakashi opened the window and slipped inside. Just as quietly he set one of the bowls in front of Iruka's hands.
"You should eat, Iruka," Kakashi drawled resting a hand on Iruka's head. Iruka jumped up in surprise and, noticing Kakashi, frowned at the jounin.
"Ah, what are you doing here, Kakashi-san?" he asked. Kakashi pointed to the ramen.
"I brought you lunch."
"Oh." Iruka visibly relaxed and once more sat at the desk.
"You already have plans." Kakashi said the question as a statement.
"No, I uh, why don't you join me?" Iruka asked picking up the ramen and sniffed it. "Mmm my favorite." Kakashi pulled out the second bowl and set it down on the desk before sitting next to Iruka.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Of course. Besides it's boring eating alone. Can't have you bored now can I?" Iruka said laughing.
As Iruka ate Kakashi watched him. Although Iruka was smiling he seemed to be tired. Kakashi frowned in irritation. This was Tenzou's fault. If he hadn't forced the chuunin to stay up so late then-
"Ah Kakashi-san, you are not eating?" Iruka asked breaking into the jounin's thoughts. Kakashi shrugged.
"I was just waiting for it to cool off," he said.
"I see. Anyway thank you so much for lunch, Kakashi-san. I sort of overslept this morning and didn't have time to bring anything to eat," Iruka said, "So, is there any reason why the great Copy Ninja wants to eat lunch at the academy?"
"It's quiet here. And the company is good looking," Kakashi said simply. Iruka snorted and ended up nearly choking on the noodles.
"As if," he said when he managed to stop coughing, "I heard some crazy things from Naruto about the excuses you would tell him. But at least you're not here because the cat you helped down from a tree told you to. Or, my personal favorite, you got lost on the road of life."
"Or something like that," Kakashi replied, "Listen have you seen Yamato?"
"Not since last night. Why?"
"Eh, I just had to talk to him about our next mission," Kakashi replied standing. "I should probably go find him."
"Wait!" Iruka called reaching out to grasp Kakashi's arm. They both looked down to Iruka's hand and Iruka blushed when he realized what he had done and quickly let go. "I'm sorry. It's just you never got a chance to…never mind. It's probably an important mission if Tsunade-sama is sending you after Yamato now."
Kakashi stared at Iruka, smiling before turning to leave. He was halfway out the window when Iruka called him again.
"Kakashi-san, what was it you were going to say yesterday?" Iruka asked him.
"It's nothing. Just forget I said anything," Kakashi said as he looked back at the chuunin.
"But you said it was important. Or yesterday was important," Iruka argued. Just then the door opened and a crowd of children streamed in.
"Oh sensei is that a jounin?" one yelled, pointing at Kakashi.
"What are you doing with a jounin?" another asked before Iruka had a chance to answer. Kakashi really left then and settled in a nearby tree to watch Iruka calm down his class. It didn't take Iruka long to herd the class back into their seats. For Kakashi the afternoon was passing by too fast when one of the Hokage's messenger falcons circled above him calling. Kakashi sighed and followed the falcon to Tsunade's office. She was handing a scroll to Shikamaru when he arrived.
"Hokage," Kakashi said by way of greeting.
"Kakashi, since you have enough free time to review basics at the academy, I want you to go with Shikamaru to inspect these occurrences at our borders."
"How long will it take?" Kakashi asked not bothering to deny his presence at the academy.
"As long as it takes," Tsunade said dismissing them.
"I have to water my plant."
Tsunade glared at Kakashi, "Alright you have one hour to-"
"And I have to visit Sensei," Kakashi continued.
"Fine," Tsunade snapped, "You have until six to be at the gates ready to go."
Kakashi nodded at her and Shikamaru then turned to leave.
"And you better not be late!" she called after him.
Upon entering his apartment, Kakashi quickly stuffed his pack with supplies and watered Mr. Ukki. He then made his way to the Memorial Stone.
"Sensei," he whispered tracing Minato's name. "What would you do?"
"Protect the ones you love."
He could almost see them. Sensei and Obito standing there, telling him what he needed to do. Kakashi sighed lifting his pack; he needed to see Iruka again. Just to make sure the chuunin was safe. It was almost six when Kakashi made it to Iruka's apartment. He was about to enter when he realized Iruka was not alone. Masking his chakra Kakashi crept around the side to the window of Iruka's bedroom. Kakashi peered in and growled at what he saw. Tenzou and Iruka tangled up together in Iruka's bed kissing long hard. Suddenly Iruka slumped forward against Tenzou. Tenzou gently settled him down on the sheets, trailing his thumb across Iruka's lips before standing up and leaving the room. Hearing the shower start, Kakashi quickly entered the room. Standing next to the bed Kakashi leaned over Iruka and placed a hand on his cheek.
"Iruka? Iruka can you hear me?" Kakashi whispered frantically. No response. Kakashi climbed on the bed, straddling Iruka and put a hand on each of his shoulders.
"Wake up Iruka," he demanded shaking the chuunin slightly. Iruka didn't respond nor give any indication that he was waking up anytime soon.
'What has that bastard done to you?' Kakashi thought angrily.
"I'll save you Iruka," he whispered and kissed the sleeping chuunin. Kakashi started to stand when his muscles gave out on him and he collapsed on top of Iruka. Panic ran though him as he tried and failed to move.
'What is happening?' he thought. Kakashi tried to speak but found he couldn't even move his mouth.
"Nice huh, sempai," Tenzou's voice drawled from behind him. "It's tasteless and fast acting." Tenzou walked around so that Kakashi could see him. "Crude, but works in a pinch."
"I know you were at the academy today. Just because you weren't stopped doesn't mean you weren't seen. Also you were told to stay away from Iruka." With those words Tenzou stopped and frowned at Kakashi. Stepping forward he pushed the jounin off Iruka. Wordlessly Tenzou wrapped Iruka in a blanket and picked him up.
"I was going to do more with you but since you are Sharingan Kakashi, I will just leave you as you are." Tenzou turned and started to walk away before remembering one more thing he wanted to let Kakashi know.
"Kakashi. Stay away from Iruka. Touch him again and I won't hold back," Tenzou said echoing Kakashi's words as he left.
Kakashi could do nothing as he watched Tenzou carry Iruka away from him. He lay trapped on the bed by nothing more than a drug, forced to watched the ceiling as minutes turned into hours.
"Damn, now I am really gonna be late,' Kakashi thought as the light in the room darkened with the approach of night. There was nothing he could do now except wait for the drug to wear off or someone to find him.
