Imaginary Love

Chapter 4: Marvelous Things

Music: Imaginary Love—Rufus Wainwright and Marvelous Things—Eisley

Author's Notes: Please review::gets on hands and knees:: Also, Yukio is an OC and if you hate him…that's the point.

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto but am concocting a plan to take over Konoha. Bwahahaha!

Kakashi's POV:

I watched him from afar. The gentle, brown-haired ninja. I watched him bandage a child's ankle before picking her up and carrying her home. The look on his face was so understanding and nurturing. It was the end of another school day (I could tell). He had that look anyone who deals with kids has: the can't-wait-to-get-home look. I saw him glance in my direction and I shoved my nose back into my book.

"Kakashi-sensei!" He called and waved. I lifted up a hand tentatively in response. Oh please don't come this way. It was as if he heard my thoughts and walked over. "I heard you got back yesterday. By any chance, do you have your mission report?"

"Tomorrow?" I squeaked behind Icha Icha.

He nodded. "Okay. Not wet this time. I want to be able to read it." I felt as if I was being scolded even if his voice was gentle. I groaned in response and watched him as he turned to walk away.

"Wait!" I called out and instantly regretted it. I didn't like being seen as vulnerable or needy. The gears of my mind worked quickly, coming up with a plan.

He turned around, his brow furrowed. "….Yeah?"

I mustered some confidence, "Like to go for a walk?"

"Well…"

"I need to talk about Naruto." It was a desperate attempt and I knew it would work. Iruka would do anything for Naruto; the concern in his eyes was proof enough.

"Alright." He said and together we started out for the woods. A quiet, secluded place full of memory. The sky had turned orange and was soon hidden by the tops of the trees.

"He's doing well." I began, my fingers fumbling together behind my back.

"Oh good." Iruka nodded and smiled. I smiled back. "But is that all Kakashi-sensei?" He seemed to suspect something, like a good ninja would. "We've never really talked. We don't really know each other. Is it—" His eyes widened. "A prank?!" I stepped back, surprised and waved my hands. "If this is a prank Kakashi-sensei, I'll….get you back!"

"No, no, no. It isn't….like that." I said.

"Then what?" He said, annoyed. "I don't see how it could be anything other than a prank. I used to pull pranks all the time. I know what I'm talking about."

"What if we got to know each other? You know, friends." I said cautiously. I hadn't had any real friends since Obito. Sure, I had comrades, colleagues, acquaintances and bedfellows but no real relationship that I truly valued. It wasn't that I didn't care; I just wanted to open up to the right person. What can I say? I'm picky.

"Friends?" Iruka raised an eyebrow and then grinned. "Ok. You know, most people don't ask to be friends…they usually become friends."

I shrugged. "I know." But I couldn't risk having Iruka become another acquaintance; I needed him to know that we are friends"I have a mission in a few days."

"I know." Iruka mumbled. "So we had to be friends…so you could say goodbye?" He sounded hurt.

"This isn't goodbye." I tried to clarify.

"It sounds like goodbye." The sun was gone and the night swallowed us. I wanted to somehow reach out to him and tell him that I wasn't going far. And that I would be back. But that is too intimate. That kind of reassurance is for lovers.

"Well it's not." I said. "I'm taking the team so you know it won't be too hard." I gave him my best smile and nodded weakly in response.

(A week later)

"Mission report!" I held it in front of his face and winked.

"It's early!" Iruka said, surprised.

"Noooo….it's on time!" I chirped happily.

"Wow." Iruka whistled.

"Care for a walk?" I said. I almost wanted to hold out my hand like the dashing hero always did in Icha Icha.

"I have so much wor—sure, let's go." He said and got up. Once we were alone he asked, "Why walks, Kakashi-sensei?"

I wanted to avoid that question. The answer may have been obvious but if he didn't know, then I wanted to keep it that way. "You don't have to call me sensei."

"How was your mission?" He asked.

"Fine. Sasuke and Naruto got into some kind of squabble. Like always." I shrugged.

"And I'm sure Sakura was pining after Sasuke?" Iruka chuckled. "They were hysterical when they were younger. Naruto was so clumsy—with everything! Sometimes he would bump into Sasuke and they'd either yell at each other or fight. Then one of them would come to me crying…."

"Wait. Sasuke cries?" I joked. I knew he did but it was funny to imagine him as a whiny child instead of a stoic.

"And the look Sakura has on her face when she gets and answer wrong. He eyes get wide, he cheeks get red and this little vein pops out in her forehead." Iruka giggled.

"You really do care for them." I said.

"Don't you?"

"Well, sure. But differently."

"Please explain." Iruka waited for my answer.

I wasn't used to telling my feelings to other people. Not even facial expressions. They were secrets that were held close to my heart. "Um, well, you see, uh….I'm their teacher." And then I realized how stupid that was. Please don't get offended.

"So am I." He said slowly. "But you're a different kind of teacher so I guess I see your point."

I sighed in relief. I could tell he wasn't satisfied with the answer but he wasn't going to push. "Well at least there's no school tomorrow. I think I might take Naruto to the creek. I promised."

"Taking your work home with you?" I asked.

"No, no. I enjoy seeing my students. Sometimes I need the time alone. But there's no feeling like knowing you can make a difference in their lives. Especially with Naruto." He got this faraway look in his eyes.

"Why with him?"

"We're the same." He shrugged.

We walked in silence for a while. The sun was finally setting overhead. Instead of an orange sky it was a brilliant pink and yellow. Suddenly I heard slow footsteps behind us. I turned around.

"What's up?" I said. It was Sasuke. His hand were buried deep into his pockets and he looked frustrated.

"Tsunade-sama wants you. Both of you." He said.

Iruka nodded. "Let's not keep her waiting."

We hurried—but not too quickly—to her office. She was sitting at her desk looking prim and stern. "Glad you're here. You have a mission."

"Wait…both of us?" Iruka stammered. I could tell he hadn't been on one in a while.

"Yes, Iruka-sensei." Tsunade snapped. "If you haven't noticed…there's a limited amount of ninjas left. Many of the others are out on missions and so I've had to use genins and even…teachers."

"But what about my class?" He said.

"Shikamaru can take over for a couple of days." Tsunade said. "Kakashi-sensei, you're the team leader. This is a three-man team."

"Who's the third?" I asked.

"Me." A chunin with a self-important voice said. "I am Yukio."

I rolled my eyes. I had seen this guy around Konoha. He was a jerk. Too flirty and arrogant. Hooray. I glanced at Iruka who had the same look on his face.

"Your mission is to discover the whereabouts of Sayu." Tsunade said. "She's an ex-ninja of the Snow Village. She's gaining followers too. She has perfected a ninjutsu technique where she can reanimate dead tissue for a few minutes. The Snow Village wants you to report her location so only fight if you need to. We think she might be connected to Orochimaru in some way so try and get as much information as you can about her." Tsunade carried on. In my gut, I knew this would not be the easiest mission. Hopefully, Pakkun could just find the place and then it'll all be over and done with.

"We'll go tomorrow." I said solemnly.