The evening sunlight streamed into the windows of the empty apartment, giving a pale orange glow throughout the premise. A layer of dust had already started to form at the edge of the window sills, accumulated from the absence of its owner. Iruka stood outside of Kakashi's doorway along the corridor located in the Jōnin accommodation district. This could not be right, didn't his love sent his ninken to let him know he would not be coming back to their love nest, so why was his assumed 'wounded' lover not at his own house? The chūnin had come straight here without having a second thought.
"Iruka! I've never thought to see you here during this hour."
Iruka turned and was greeted by a honey-haired jōnin with a senbon in his mouth.
"Genma San," he greeted the special jōnin with a tone of respect, at the same time he was confused by Genma's words "Am I not supposed to be here at this hour? Didn't we see each other a couple of times before during this hour, when the lessons at the academy has ended, I will dropped by to Kakashi's apartment to clean up when he is away on a mission."
"Yes, so to speak, but since he is back, I would have thought that he will take up a fair amount of your time to do some 'catch-up' with you at your apartment." Genma teased.
"You saw him?" asked Iruka.
"Yes, in the mission room." Genma replied. "Have you not seen him yet?"
"No... Was he wounded?" Iruka asked further.
"Wounded...? I don't remember seeing any explicit injuries on him when he came in to hand over his mission report earlier. He had simply appeared, literally dropped his report on the table and left through the nearest window even before I have the chance to thank him for the good work done. Since he was in such a hurry, the only reason I can think of to explain his action was that he wanted to see you as soon as he can." Genma recalled, twirling his senbon.
Iruka was somehow relieved that his lover was not hurt, but he did not understand why the jōnin would sent Pakkun to tell him that he wanted to be alone for the time being, did something happened to him during the mission?
"Um... I know I shouldn't be asking this... but was the mission, you know..., might have any potential negative impact on him?" Iruka knew reports of mission were confidential. Those who vetted through the reports, whatever you have read, must not be spoken to another soul.
Genma paused for a moment. He would not have spoken a word if he did not know the Sensei well enough. He knew Iruka would not have asked him if there wasn't a good reason behind it. Knowing the deep affection Iruka has for his silver partner, he spoke, "No, there isn't any deviation from his mission. Though he had not said much, but I have figure he must be in a hurry to see you, to give you a surprise for his early return."
This was getting perplexed every second. From what Genma has told him, Kakashi wanted to see him, yet he did not turn up, instead he had sent Pakkun to relay his message, and now he was nowhere to be found.
Noting the concerned look in Iruka, Genma said, "Maybe he was held up by Guy for his declaration of youth and friendship or being summoned by the Hokage. I'm pretty sure you will see Kakashi soon." Hoping to cheer the sensei up.
"Maybe you are right." Iruka smiled. He was grateful for Genma's effort to assure him, however he did not want to hold the older man up so he politely thanked and bid him goodbye.
Iruka headed down to the Hokage's Residence, with a hope to find his love there but to his dismay, Kakashi was not there too.
'Maybe I should go to the Memorial Stone to look for him. Perhaps he will be there.' The chūnin knew the sentiments Kakashi held towards his fallen comrades. He knew how important it meant for the scarecrow to spend time with them. Iruka sometimes did that with his parents too.
To his disappointment, the silver-haired jōnin was not there either. 'What is going on? Is Kakashi avoiding me?' He wouldn't let his mind go in the direction that his lover would try to avoid him. 'I should try his apartment again. Maybe we did past each other without realising.' Not wanting to get disheartened by the search for his missing love, once again, he back tracked his way back to Kakashi's apartment.
Empty.
Iruka couldn't put the pieces together, if the mission went well without a hitch, why did his lover not return to him? The brown-haired chūnin, at this point, was both physically and mentally exhausted; physically due to earlier event with Izumo and, mentally drained from the long day of teaching in the academy and now this.
For now, he could only hope that whatever Kakashi is going through will be over soon and he will find his way back to him. Sorely, he made his way down the corridor from Kakashi's apartment; an unshakable ominous feeling crept into him.
'Come back to me, Kakashi.'
