Not boring you guys yet? Good!
On to Chapter Four!

I lay no claim to Naruto

Chapter Four

Iruka is an extremely skilled medic and, consequently, he is in high demand for his talents. At a battlefield campground, where wounded soldiers are in abundance and medical know-how seems in short supply, Iruka would certainly prove a very busy man. Yeah, I know that. I know that he's gifted. His nimble, steady fingers work strenuously to patch up injuries with flawless method. He's incredibly dedicated to his task and leaves not one of his patients without treatment. So, why is it that I haven't seen a lick of Iruka since our magical and questionably unfortunate incident? I mean, he kind of struck me as the sort of guy to talk things through, not run away and go into hiding. I admit it was my fault. I pretty much forced the kiss on Iruka. But, he did kiss me back. That wasn't some sort of strange delusion induced by the pain in my right eye. That had been real. At the very least, I think I deserve some sort of explanation as to why he returned the kiss so sweetly, before running out of the tent like a bat out of Hell. It's kind of insulting, don't you think? As though he started kissing me back out of pure habit before realizing just who he was kissing and just how disgusting he thought it was.

Ouch.

I have had plenty of time to think about this. After all, I'm stuck in a tiny, bland little tent with nothing to occupy myself except for my thoughts; that and the act of counting raindrops almost religiously as they splat down against my stomach. I'm up to three-hundred and twenty, and it's only been about three days since 'The Kiss'. Does it ever stop raining? I glance up at the small slit in the very top of the tent, where loose and feeble seams hold the two sides of the tent together. A small wooden pole runs just parallel to this seam, and of course, it never did anything to stop the rain. It just barely holds the tent up from falling on top of me. I don't think I would be caught complaining if it did though. Maybe then Iruka would finally show his face around here.

I sigh and close the one properly working eye I have left. It's almost exhausting to look at things with this shit-poor, hell shot sense of sight. I almost find myself mourning for the loss of my right eye, as I so frequently attempt to do, but I quickly shove my remorse aside. I'll rarely dwell on the past if I can do nothing to alter my present state, and I can't. My right eye will forever be useless.

In the case of Iruka, I'll allow myself to dwell. After all, there are plenty of things that I could do to change my present circumstances with him, if he would only take the time to show up at my tent and talk to me. So, I'll think about what I did wrong, which is pretty much everything I've assumed by now. I'll think about his reaction and how I should interpret it, hopefully without having my self-esteem plummet to the ground. I'll think about it, mulling over the same thoughts I've had for the past three days over and over again, until the repetition simply bores me and puts me to sleep…

I'm subtly roused out of my uncomfortable and dreamless nap. At first, my dazed mind recognizes nothing but a few wispy sounds; cloth lightly rubbing against cloth. It's nothing alarming, considering that the slightest of breezes will whip the flap of my tent back and forth, creating the most irritating cloth-rubbing sound I've ever had the displeasure of hearing. During the night, when the sky is as moonless and dark as it is now, the wind seems particularly persistent in pissing me off. I try my best to ignore it though and fall back into my light doze, when I recognize a particularly uncommon sound; footsteps inside of my tent. The recognition of this sound instantly kick starts my adrenaline and defense trigger. I haven't been laying here in boredom and heartbreak for weeks, only to be knifed down by enemy infiltration.

I open my left eye and see nothing but pure, undisturbed darkness. The footsteps have stopped, but I remain motionless on the cot and keep my breathing slow and natural. If an enemy is standing in my tent, the last thing I want him to know is that I'm awake. That'll only draw more attention to me and bring about my death more swiftly, leaving me with little to no chance of escape. Slowly, the darkness seems to fade a bit, outlining the tent and the few things inside it by way of black silhouettes. A man-shaped silhouette catches my eye immediately and the tension in my body strains. He's standing in front of the entrance to my tent, just enough to barely constitute being 'inside'. His figure seems strangely relaxed to me for someone who's sneaking into an enemy camp to cause chaos. In fact, I glance down the length of the man's body and can't make out the shadow of any sort of weapon in his hands, which are hanging loosely down his sides.

"Well, has anyone told you? There'll be a helicopter tomorrow and you're among the few who will be headed home. "

I utter a long sigh of relief at the sound of Iruka's voice. I relax against the cot and feel like I'm practically melting at the tremendous amount of tension that leaves my body.

"Jesus, Iruka…"

"You'll be leaving tomorrow, Kakashi. You know, going home." Iruka says, probably unaware of how close he'd gotten to me jumping from the cot and wringing his neck.

"…So, you finally come to see me and that's all you have to say? Well gee, don't I just feel special." I reply with a frown. I sigh and glance up at the ceiling, which I can't really see through the dark, but it's better than looking at Iruka right that second. Why'd he have to go and tell me something like that?

I hear Iruka match my sigh and shift a little, perhaps uncomfortably. "Well, alright…Let's talk about this. It was a kiss-"

"A very good kiss." I interrupt, a bit smugly. Honestly though, I'm entitled to it after the way Iruka stepped on my self-esteem and spat at it.

"Yes. It was good, okay?" Iruka says in exasperation, at which I can't help but smile a little. "But, it was also kind of reckless, don't you think? I mean, like I said, you're going home tomorrow..and I'll, well I'll be here still…"

"Hey, I'll send you a letter every week. I'll even drown it in some flowery perfume and leave a bright red kiss mark by my signature." I mused, because honestly, can I ever carry a serious conversation?

Iruka sighs and smacks a hand against the front of his face. "You're impossible." He says. There's a moment of silence, and then he's suddenly there beside me, leaning over the cot. "You're an idiot, but for some odd reason, that bit of information neglects to affect my rationale…or lack there of." He says. I should be offended, but I hear tenderness in his tone that I've never heard before. Is he showing me affection? My heart flutters.

"..And what's your lack of rationale telling you?" I ask slowly, unsurely, because I'm not yet certain that this conversation is headed toward my benefit.

There was a short moment of silence and then I could feel Iruka's breath ghost against my lips as he spoke. "It says that you'll be good for me." He whispers, and I can tell it's with a hint of disbelief. I don't very much care though.

His lips press against mine just seconds after he says this, and my mind becomes nothing more than a blank slate. I raise my hand to cup the back of his head; to hold him there firmly and assert myself further into the kiss, but he pulls away before I can manage this.

He hovers above me for a moment, his breath still whispering against my now moist lips. He's so damn enchanting right now with his face a mask of shadows. I can't see him clearly, but I'm drowning in his scent and the general presence of him. It's like being caught in a gentle summer rain. Honestly, if I didn't know any better, I'd peg this man for someone with magical ability.

He stands upright and I feel his soft, gentle hands caress my cheek with something akin to affection.

"Bye, Kakashi. Take care of yourself." He says in a quiet voice.

"Ah, shit…" Is all I have time to mutter, before he up and leaves, the tent flapping noisily as if to mock me. He stare after him for what seems like a long time, frowning deeply at the tent flap, which slowly sways to a stop. You have got to be kidding me.

Well that's it for Chapter Four

Do I sense a little lovin' from Iruka?
Probably.

Anywho, thank you for all of the lovely reviews. I appreciate them as always.

Hope to have Chapter Five up sooner than later!