Iruka Umino
AN: So, tomorrow is my twenty first birthday, woot! Please do wish me a happy birthday, I could sure use it.
Kakashi had never had a reason to acknowledge Gai's one-sided rivalry, until today that is. He glared at the man as his hands twitched around the ramen bowl. He was not going to lose, no way in hell. He would beat Gai and finally shut the man up once and for all.
Gai smirked at him, "Are you ready to face the cold sting of defeat?" Kakashi merely glared at him, doing a very good impersonation of Sasuke.
Now, no doubt you are wondering how it came down to this…ramen eating show down. Well its quite simple, Kagome Higurashi. That one name said it all, she was the new 'girl' having moved to the village a month ago to help take care of her younger cousin Lee. She was in a word perfect, she was a true Japanese beauty, save for her beautiful blue eyes. She was smart, caring, loving, and strong even though she didn't look it, and most of all she was humble. A trait not often found in the ninja women of their small village.
"Ah, trying to stall are you? It won't work for I have the power of youth on my side!" Gai laughed as he posed, mysterious sparkles appearing in the background. Kakashi merely glared at him, murderous intent leaking from his very being.
Iruka sighed, from his spot next to Naruto, and grumbled under his breath. Never in his life did he think Kakashi would lower himself to such a level, honestly they were acting like children. Though he didn't know why they were competing, it was still amusing to watch. Just because he thought it was childish of them to act like this didn't mean he, and the whole village, couldn't enjoy the show.
Just last week they had a 'who can walk the fastest' competition. At the time they, as well as himself, Naurto, Lee, and Kagome were taking a leisurely walk when they started a silly competition. Of course Gai started it, talking with Kagome and Lee about youth and some other nonsense. Then before anyone knew what was going on Kakasih and Gai were running around the village.
He blinked as the mood near the two got deadly, Kakashi lowered his mask ignoring the sighs of the nearby women. Oh, this was it…the air was so tense you could cut it with a knife. Everyone held their breath as the two stared each other down, the only thing moving was the hot steam rising from their piping hot ramen. Then it happened, they both picked up their bowls and started slurping away.
Cheers erupted around them, Naruto being one of them, calling out the name of the one they wanted to in. Of course there were more Kakashi supports then Gai, but he still had a few here and there. Iruka winced as he watched the two grown men chug boiling hot ramen, ouch that had to hurt! Even so he watched on in amusement as they both titled their bowls up, they were almost done. It was anyone's game right now…..and bam! They both slammed their bowls down glaring at each other.
Everyone blinked, it was a tie…what a bummer. Everyone sighed and went back to what they were doing, like a switch was hit. Iruka rolled his eyes as Gai teared up and grabbed a nearby glass of water. Kakashi to grabbed a glass, though in a more manly manner, even so both of them chugged it down before glaring at each other yet again.
"It seems we have a tie!" Gai dramatically pointed his finger in Kakashi's face.
Kakashi glared at him, no duh was clearly written on his face yet once again he chose to say nothing.
Iruka sighed as a glaring contest ensued; honestly they were grown men acting like babies. He rolled his eyes and shifted his gaze to look out at the hustle and bustle of the city streets. He smiled when he caught sight of someone. He stood up and leaned half way out of the little shop to call them over.
"Kagome-Chan over here!" He smiled as she jumped and turned to look at him smiling brightly as she made her way over to his and Naruto's table.
Kakashi and Gai snapped their head in the direction of Kagome's name and smiled pleasantly at her, Gai having sparkles in the background, and Kakashi had…roses.
Kagome smiled at Iruka and Naruto as she neared them, once she was in the shop she turned to Iruka and hugged him tightly. "Hello love." She smiled as he wrapped his arms around her and kissed her cheek in greeting.
She giggled as she turned to Naruto and smiled at him in greeting. "Hello Naruto-Kun."
Naruto paused in his ramen eating long enough to grin up at her. "Hi Kagome-chan!" With that he went back to shoveling ramen in his mouth.
Kagome giggled as she leaned on Iruka. "What are you two doing here?"
Iruka rolled his eyes and lifted a hand to point at Kakashi and Gai. "Those two wanted a witness to their little ramen eating contest."
Kagome blinked and looked towards where he was pointing and smiled at the shocked forms of Kakashi and Gai. "Oh, hello Gai-san. Kakashi-san." She blinked as they gapped at her, and slowly nodded as if stuck on stupid. She shrugged. Okaaay. She turned to whisper into Iruka's ear. "Who won?"
He smiled as he leaned down to whisper back, his breath tickling her ear causing her to shiver. "It was a tie." He chuckled lightly as she blinked. "Oh, okay…what are they fighting over?" He shrugged as he let her go and mentioned for her to take seat, taking one next to her. "I have no idea."
She frowned. "Well, whatever it is I hope they settle it soon, friends shouldn't fight like that." He laughed and grabbed her hand, stroking it lightly. "Oh, they will. In the meantime it's funny to watch." She rolled her eyes at him and lightly kissed him.
Kakashi and Gai watched with hollow eyes as the woman they had been competing over for the past two weeks got all lovely dovey with Iruka. They had been so caught up with competing over her that they failed to realize she had already been won. They both sighed as they turned away from the couple and picked up the glasses of sake, which had mysteriously appeared in front of them, and downed them.
They drank in silence, both feeling the sting of rejection.
Gai glanced over at Kakashi and smirked lightly, "She said my name first." Kakashi glared at him, promising death before taking another sip of his sake.
