The Stray

Chapter 3

He watched the ghostly man sleep at his side. Kakashi had tried staying awake with him as he graded, but the lull of soft moonlight through the window and Iruka's warmth had ultimately defeated him. Iruka chewed a little on his bottom lip before gently running his fingers through Kakashi's unique hair. All day he'd been thinking of how he could best protect Kakashi, wondering if protecting him was really what he wanted to do, asking himself if he could make such a huge commitment based on nothing more than a bizarre statement Kakashi had made about being a lost dog, in need of an owner.

The truth he'd been ignoring was that Kakashi was not literally a stray dog. He was a man with a past, even if he wanted nothing more to do with his old life, this created problems for both of them.

Iruka had been nearly boneless with relief when he searched for Kakashi in the Bingo Book and discovered he was not there. That meant he was just an average ninja, from a country that Fire was currently on good terms with. Considering the circumstances Iruka found him under, if he reported the situation soon, there was a chance he wouldn't be punished too much. The Third was one of the few people Iruka counted as a friend, and it was wonderfully convenient that he just so happened to be the Hokage.

Iruka would need a story, and it needed to be believable. Despite any hesitation, Iruka knew he had set himself on a course that he would not abandon. No matter how strange, how dream-like, Kakashi had found his way into Iruka's care and heart, and as long as he wanted a home, Iruka would give him one.

Because he was happy, and for once, that mattered.

~*~

"I'm speaking to the Hokage today," Iruka announced. Kakashi sat in the rumple of sheets and blankets of the bed, nude and sleepy-eyed. He arched a slender silver brow at Iruka's statement, but this was the only reaction he gave. Iruka sighed.

"You need to be safe here. I can't worry about a hunter nin dragging you away from me," Iruka explained, as he pulled on his uniform pants. Kakashi rubbed his eyes, yawned hugely, and apathetically flopped back down against the pillows. Iruka smiled, unable to continue dressing with such a temptation in front of him.

"So I've worked out a story, to explain why you're here. It's a very romantic story—I think you'll like it," Iruka joked, crawling on top of Kakashi and kissing him sweetly. When they parted, Iruka stared down at Kakashi's trusting face and knew he was making the right decision.

"You see, we met on a mission, in Rain. I'm sent there sometimes on diplomacy meetings, and so I usually stay in the village inn. We met and fell in love, but we never thought we'd see each other again," Iruka said. Kakashi pouted, earning a soft smile from Iruka. "But then I found you in the woods, so hurt, and I brought you home because I thought you were dying, but you recovered, and I hesitated to report it because I was afraid they might interrogate you. You've decided to go rogue, because you want to stay here, with me."

Iruka saw a spark of who Kakashi must have once been; his eyes lit with intelligence and he was clearly racing through scenarios in his mind, imagining how it would all play out. Then the hesitation and fear simply faded, like morning fog dissolving on a window pane.

"I trust you," Kakashi said, his voice gruff with disuse. Iruka kissed him again, more passionately, feeling their excitement grow between them. Iruka's hand slipped from Kakashi's cheek to rest over his throat, where he felt the leather of Kakashi's collar under his hand. A need welled up inside him, a fantasy so vivid that it made him gasp against Kakashi's lips. His fingers slipped into the slack of the collar, and he gently tugged. Kakashi sat up, his owner still straddling him, kissing him hungrily.

Iruka's free hand trailed lightly down Kakashi's chest, where his fingers paused to rub a tender nipple. A tan thumb caressed the little bud until it pebbled, and Kakashi's muscular abdomen tightened in expectation. Iruka's hand gave the other nipple the same treatment, and then he dropped both hands down to Kakashi's chest, where he pushed gently.

Kakashi fell back against the bed and in a flash Iruka formed chakra fortified rope with the help of some seals. Kakashi's blue eyes widened as Iruka firmly guided his hands to the headboard and then secured them there.

~*~

The ninja in Kakashi raged in protest. His guard had been down completely, his mind distracted by the nimble fingers teasing and pinching, caressing and tickling. Suddenly, he found himself bound, and every instinct yelled at him to fight. The violent urge rolled over him mixed with panic. His mind unhelpfully supplied hazy memories of another time he'd been tied up at a stranger's mercy, and how painful and degrading it had been.

To protect a stupid scrap of paper, the things he'd endured were too horrible to remember. What he'd dismissed at the time as a ninja's duty, no more and no less, now he remembered in a new light. Now he remembered it as the time he'd been bound and raped, a mere boy of thirteen, by big, sweaty hands. He screwed his eyes shut tightly, and his whole body tensed.

Most tellingly, he clenched his legs tightly, trying to protect with sheer will alone what simply couldn't be protected in such a vulnerable position. He heard his breathing hit the air with all the force of punches, ripped from his throat one after another too quickly. His mind reeled.

A hand wrapped around his throat, and Kakashi feared what would come next. He remembered the painful crush of meaty fingers around a delicate windpipe, remembered the suffocation, remembered the hand parting his thighs...

"Puppy, come back to me," a kind, soft voice insisted. The command was firm yet gentle, and Kakashi's desire to obey was a gut reaction. He opened his eyes and saw his owner, and he remembered where he was. Safe.

"Kakashi, do you want me to stop?" Iruka asked him, his hands already forming the seals to release the bond. Kakashi blinked a few times, disoriented, and felt the chakra rope around his wrists dissolve as if it had never been there. His arms fell limply to the bed, and he realized he was panting, harshly, full of fear.

~*~

Iruka knew Kakashi's life as a ninja could not have been a happy one, nor could it have been a life that he took much pride in. Now Iruka thought he understood why Kakashi had been so willing to desert his former status. Perhaps he could no longer let himself be used like a tool, at the cost of his health and wellbeing.

His pet had survived through too much, Iruka thought. He'd been treated cruelly.

Iruka kissed his forehead, sweetly, in the way a mother would kiss a frightened child.

"I'm sorry," Kakashi said shakily, in a very small voice. Iruka shook his head.

"There's nothing to be sorry for," Iruka soothed.

"You wanted...but I...I just want to make you happy," Kakashi whispered. "Tie me up again. I won't complain," Kakashi insisted, with growing strength. He even pushed his wrists back towards the headboard, though Iruka saw how badly his hands shook.

"No, puppy, we'll do something else for now. You can fuck me, like you did before. That was good, too," Iruka offered, trying to comfort. A small part of Iruka's brain reminded him that he had a meeting with the Hokage soon—he wouldn't have time to clean up. Besides, Iruka realized, Kakashi's erection was gone. He lay under Iruka tense and clearly upset, his hands still shaking.

Kakashi pressed them against the mattress, as if to still them by force of will.

"It's okay. I need to be going anyway. My meeting with the Hokage—"

"You can't leave it like that. Please, Iruka, let me..." Kakashi begged. He looked genuinely upset at the prospect of Iruka just leaving, unsatisfied, because of his inability to carry-through with Iruka's game.

Iruka saw the need in Kakashi's eyes to please him, to redeem himself, to be given another chance. He responded to that need on an instinctual level.

"Suck me off, then," Iruka ordered smoothly, undoing his pants with a flick of his thumb. The order seemed to reach Kakashi through his panic attack, as he swallowed thickly and his hands finally stilled. There was relief in his eyes, and in the way his muscles relaxed. Iruka shifted off him, letting his back hit the headboard. Almost instantly Kakashi's silver hair was tickling Iruka's bare stomach, as needy hands freed Iruka from the material constricting him.

Iruka felt a beautiful rush seeing all that silver hair between his legs, and feeling Kakashi's mouth work around his shaft shamelessly. Iruka buried a hand in Kakashi's hair, amazed by the contradiction of the stiff roots and the silky soft tips. He rubbed Kakashi's scalp encouragingly, and his other hand slid to the back of Kakashi's neck, where it gripped his pet's collar.

"Deeper, 'Kashi," Iruka said, barely refraining from arching his hips. There was no need. Kakashi instantly bobbed his head down further, almost swallowing him to the hilt. Iruka felt the moist warmth around his hard dick when Kakashi sucked, and felt the rush of cool air against the wet, stimulated skin when Kakashi's head bobbed up. Iruka closed his eyes in pleasure, his toes curling into the sheets as all the muscles in his legs began to clench in anticipation.

On an upwards suck, Kakashi let his teeth delicately scrape along Iruka's shaft, and the sensation was just painful enough to push Iruka into ecstasy. His fingers tightened in Kakashi's hair, and they both knew Iruka wouldn't be letting him go. His arousal ripped through him and Kakashi struggled to swallow it with his mouth so full, but somehow managed just fine.

Iruka's fingers slid under the collar and he tugged gently, letting Kakashi's know he wanted to see his face. His silver-haired pet released Iruka's dick with a wet little 'pop' sound and turned questioning eyes up at his master. Iruka flashed him a very satisfied smile and wiped away the last little bit of his "gift" off the corner of Kakashi's thin, pink lips.

"That was good, puppy. You were very good," Iruka praised, tugging Kakashi's collar once more, this time towards himself. Happily, Kakashi leaned forward and kissed Iruka, before burying his face in his owner's shoulder. Iruka held him a moment, gently stroking his back.

"Kakashi, have you ever heard of a safe word?" Iruka asked, turning his head slightly. Kakashi peeked up at him with a wary blue eye. He seemed to be asking, 'Can't I just suck you off from now on?'

Iruka gave Kakashi's reluctant look a small frown. "I mean it, puppy. Think of a safe word today—something easy to remember but not something I might think is a pleasure noise. Now I have to get ready to meet the Hokage. I'm running late now. He might want to talk to you—I'm sure he will—but I promise you I'll be there. I won't let anyone hurt you."

Kakashi reluctantly let him go, and sat back in the position he'd been in when Iruka had been so tempted to join him earlier. There was no more time for play though. Now he had to have a talk that could very well determine his and Kakashi's future together. He needed to focus.

~*~

Kakashi watched Iruka dress with mixed emotions. The idea that he'd stopped Iruka from doing something that obviously had excited him was upsetting. He'd given himself to Iruka, hadn't he? He'd been a weapon all his life, a tool to be used and treated however his owner saw fit, and Kakashi knew he needed that in his life.

Kakashi wasn't happy alone, with no purpose. The Lightning village had been a poor master, neglecting him when he was not needed, treating him like the no-name grunt that he was, but he'd done anything to protect that master. He'd never protested a mission he'd been given, no matter how unpleasant, degrading, or painful.

Yet, Iruka had claimed him when his village had left him to die. He'd cared for him, bathed and fed him, asked nothing of him except that he give his trust and obedience—a true owner, one that finally cared about him, maybe even loved him. How had Kakashi repaid him? He'd acted like a coward. He'd denied him. He'd been weak.

Suddenly, a hasty blow job felt like a poor consolation prize. Surely, Iruka couldn't really be satisfied with him. Yet, there his owner was, getting dressed to go face his Hokage and potential punishment for breaking the laws, ready to do whatever he needed to protect him.

Kakashi was both infinitely grateful to Iruka, and disappointed with himself at the same time.

"Puppy," Iruka said, his nickname turned into a reproach. "You were good. I'd stay and show you just how happy you make me, but I really have to go now. I'll be back soon, and we'll probably have a long day ahead of us, but when this is all sorted out I'll give you something nice, okay? Maybe a treat, or another present—you like presents, don't you?" Iruka asked, a fond grin on his handsome face.

Kakashi just felt guiltier. He didn't deserve Iruka. He knew the sadness showed in his eyes. Perhaps not understanding his feelings, Iruka came back to the bed, now fully dressed.

"That's enough pouting, 'Kashi. I have to go now. Put some clothes on, alright? If someone comes to collect you, don't fight and be polite. They won't hurt you if you don't give them a reason. You promise you'll be good?" Iruka asked. Kakashi could only nod, his mind trapped in the moment his body had betrayed him and he'd denied his owner what was his to take.

~*~

Iruka made his way to the Hokage tower in record time. He passed Genma and ignored his teasing question about Kakashi, and took to the stairs two at a time. The guards outside Sarutobi's office nodded at him and one gestured him inside with a nod of his masked face.

Iruka entered, butterflies bubbling up and filling his stomach. He gave a nervous bow.

The Hokage took his pipe out of his mouth and gave Iruka a hard look—the one a father gives to a son he knows has disobeyed.

"Iruka-sensei, you have some explaining to do," he commented mildly. Iruka straightened, trying to look as determined as he possibly could. "The border patrol alerts me that someone went over the wall carrying a heavily wounded man—an enemy ninja they believe to be the missing Kakashi Hatake. Lightning has declared him missing in action. I would not have known it was you who brought him inside Konoha—would not have even thought such a dangerous action possible from you—but then I noticed you requested a day off...and Genma has a big mouth."

Iruka winced, but gave a short nod.

"I knew he was no danger to the village, sir. He was...is...a very special person to me. I was upset to find him in such bad shape, and I acted without thinking. I thought he was dying."

The Hokage looked relieved, and he relaxed somewhat.

"I knew there had to be some sort of explanation. So you know this man?"

"We met in Rain, while I was on a diplomatic mission. There was...err...something between us, but we parted ways thinking we'd never see each other again," Iruka lied, taking advantage of the fact that Sarutobi trusted him so implicitly. Had he looked for any signs of a lie, he wouldn't have found them anyway, but he did no such thing. What should have been a harsh interrogation was now more like a conversation between friends.

"You were...romantically involved?" the Hokage asked, clearly a little surprised. Iruka felt a blush darken his cheeks, but he nodded, trying to behave as if the subject was not embarrassing.

"Kakashi was sent on a mission, but it ended badly. He has not reported back to his village because at first he was unable, and now because...well...I asked him not to. I want him to stay. He is willing to give up active duty as a Lightning shinobi, and I humbly request he be allowed to stay."

The Hokage smiled slightly around his pipe, noticing Iruka's stiff posture and tightly clenched fists. He was ready to fight through anyone that denied him what he wanted. Sarutobi would not be that person.

"There is a precedent for this. You are not the first to fall in love with a foreign ninja, Iruka-sensei," the Hokage said, wanting to put his friend at ease. The young man relaxed slightly at his gentle words, as he'd hoped he would.

"What must I do?" Iruka asked.

"Firstly, he must submit to having his chakra sealed. He will no longer be a ninja. This is the sacrifice he must make. Secondly, you must agree to a claim of responsibility, and a legalized union. Any trouble he brings to this village is on your head. You will be punished for his crimes as if you committed them yourself. Since he will not be able to work as a ninja, nor as a citizen until his probationary period ends, the legalized union ensures you support him. In every meaning of the word, he is your responsibility, both in action and in financial matters. That is the sacrifice you must make. After six months, he may file a petition to become a legal civilian of Konoha, and the union may be dissolved, but the claim of responsibility still stands."

Iruka knew he should have hesitated, knew it was a huge decision, but the word slipped out before he even realized he'd said it.

"Agreed," Iruka said, with full confidence. If Sarutobi was surprised, he didn't show it.

"There is one other matter, then, that we need to discuss. No village wishes to see the loss of a good ninja, but it is not as uncommon as you might think. What with ninjas retiring early, changing their careers, or simply wishing to settle in some other place, the procedure for termination is fairly straightforward, and easier if the ninja is not highly ranked. You're lucky we're on good terms with Lightning at the moment, because no ninja is allowed to relocate to enemy territory during times of war, for obvious reasons. I will send a letter alerting Lightning to the location of their missing ninja and we'll tell them he was unable to report back due to heavy injury. It would probably be best if he returned and reported in as normal, and then requested termination."

Iruka looked troubled by this suggestion. "Can I travel with him?" he asked. Sarutobi shrugged, indifferent.

"You never request to take your personal time. If that's how you'd like to use it, I have no objection. Of course, I wish to speak to this man before the two of you depart. I still will have the final say on this, you realize. If I deem him a threat..."

"He can meet with you whenever is convenient," Iruka said. The Hokage smiled.

"Good. He can come now, and I can take my lunch early afterwards. I'm getting take-out from that new curry place."

Iruka smiled at the informal way the Hokage spoke to him, beyond relieved that his actions had not destroyed the bond of trust between the two of them. That the Hokage had taken his atypical choice in partner without batting an eye was equally comforting.

"You'll have to let me know if it's good. I'll go now to get Kakashi," Iruka said. Sarutobi nodded, and dismissed him.

"Oh, and Iruka?" the Hokage called, pulling his pipe out of his mouth.

"Yes?" Iruka asked, pausing with his hand on the door.

"Congratulations. I'm glad to see that you've finally found someone that makes you happy," Sarutobi said. Iruka swallowed thickly and nodded.

"Thank-you. That means a great deal to me, sir." The Hokage just smiled and rolled his chair to face his window, returning his pipe to his lips.

~*~

Kakashi had waited anxiously all morning for someone's arrival. He half-expected an interrogator, and half-expected Iruka. He was, for obvious reasons, relieved to see the latter unlock the front door and let himself in. Kakashi usually would have greeted him with kisses, but on this morning, he stood still, waiting for the words that would decide his fate.

Iruka smiled, and Kakashi relaxed. He knew Iruka would handle everything.

"Come here—you look scared half to death," Iruka teased, beckoning him into the circle of his arms. Kakashi happily came, wrapping his owner up in a big hug.

"Can you keep me?" he asked. He felt Iruka grin against his cheek, and his hold on him strengthen.

"If we comply with certain conditions, yes. The first is that you meet with the Hokage. Don't be nervous. I work with him frequently, and I'd even say he's been like a father to me since I lost mine some years ago. He's happy for us, and he wants it to all work out smoothly."

Kakashi nodded, unsurprised that the Hokage of Leaf saw Iruka's worth as a friend. His trust would come in handy.

"Come on then, he wants to meet with you now," Iruka said, ending his sentence with a kiss to Kakashi's cheek. He took Kakashi's hand and the two of them left the house again. They used ninja speed to arrive at the tower, and Kakashi felt nervous having so many foreign ninja immediately stare at him upon entering. Iruka didn't drop his hand though, and so Kakashi merely ducked his head to avoid their stares, and followed just a step behind Iruka. He wondered how many of them noticed the collar, and he wondered what conclusions they reached because of it, if any.

Suddenly, Iruka stopped. In front of them, a ninja stood with some folders tucked under one arm, a senbon balanced precariously on his lip.

"So this is the foreign ninja/new boyfriend, huh? We all know you're a nice guy, Iruka-sensei, but didn't you take the whole 'Konoha hospitality' bit a little too far?" the man teased. Kakashi tensed, but his owner merely smiled confidently.

"Can you blame me?" Iruka asked, tossing Kakashi a sexy little grin. He smiled back, a little shyly. The man shook his head at the two of them and then continued on his way with a casual wave.

"Good luck, Iruka-sensei."

"Thanks, Genma-san," Iruka replied. Kakashi watched the man go until his owner tugged him along, towards the stairs.

They passed some guards, who nodded them inside, and Kakashi found himself standing in the office of the Hokage. He remembered to bow respectfully, and then nervously straightened, grateful for Iruka's hand still solidly holding his own.

"Kakashi Hatake, I take it?"

"Yes, sir," Kakashi replied.

"Your father was the White Fang, wasn't he?"

Kakashi flinched at the name, but nodded.

"Surprising, then, that Lightning ranks you as a Chuunin," Sarutobi commented. Kakashi didn't immediately say anything, disliking the topic, but then he remembered quite a bit rested on earning the man's trust.

"I am not as...impressive as my father. It's commonly said that my potential far surpasses my abilities," Kakashi admitted, wishing he didn't have to say such words in front of Iruka.

The Hokage glanced at him and nodded.

"Has Iruka told you the requirement for accepting a foreign ninja as a citizen of Konoha?" the Hokage asked. Kakashi glanced at Iruka, and then shook his head 'no'. The Hokage looked a little surprised, perhaps remembering that Iruka had already answered for Kakashi, claiming he would submit to having his chakra permanently sealed.

"We will strip you of your chakra, and you will be assigned to Iruka's care. Iruka will suffer the consequences of any crimes you commit as if he'd committed them himself. This is not something to take lightly. It might be easier to remain living in separate villages and—"

"No! You can...you can perform the seal," Kakashi said. "Whatever it takes," he added in a near-whisper. The Hokage gave them both a long look and then nodded, obviously satisfied with the conclusion they'd reached.

"Then the next step is to return to Lightning and officially quit and apply to move out of the country. Normally, you'd have a considerable wait time to receive approval on a civilian residency application for Konoha, but your union with Iruka will bypass that application process. After six months, the union may be dissolved and you will be a full and legal citizen of Konoha. The responsibility clause will still stand, though."

Kakashi was troubled. "Can the union be dissolved by just one of us, or does it have to be a mutual decision?" The Hokage took a long puff of his pipe, obviously remembering something in the ancient past.

"As I found out the hard way with my first wife, it only takes one."

Kakashi took a moment to think about what that would mean for him. For a moment, he felt like a crazy person. Falling into enemy territory, playing at being a dog with an overly-friendly Leaf ninja, having some great sex and deciding to sign away his livelihood and strength to be completely dependent on someone else, when for so long he'd been alone...it was crazy. That's all there was to it.

Stepping up beside him, Iruka put his hand on the small of his back, his big, soft brown eyes meeting Kakashi's with steady, calm reassurance.

"Whatever you decide is fine with me. I just want you to be happy. If you want to go back home...I can't stop you, no matter how much I'd like to," Iruka said quietly.

Kakashi thought of the blissful existence he'd had for the past few days, and he lightly touched the collar around his neck. No, Iruka was mistaken. He had no home to go back to in Lightning, because Iruka had given him the first home he'd ever had in Konoha.

"I want to be yours, Iruka. I don't ever want to leave you," Kakashi said, his voice slow and certain. Iruka stretched onto his toes and kissed his lips gently.

"Ahem, well, I suppose that settles things. Iruka, I'll have the paperwork drawn up and ready to sign upon your return to the village. Travel safely, you two," Sarutobi said, smiling around his pipe. Still lost in the world of their kiss, neither Kakashi nor Iruka paid the Hokage any mind.

A/N: This story becomes too graphic for in the next chapter, and due to a request from a reviewer, it will be moved to its new home on my livejournal: .com/