Iruka yawned. Kakashi gave him a concerned look.

"Leave me alone." Iruka growled. "I'm still mad at you."

Kakashi grinned.

Iruka growled.

Asuma laughed.

"I'm still mad at you too." Iruka snapped.

"He sure does look mad, doesn't he?"

"SHUT UP!" Iruka snapped his pencil in half.

"Leave him alone, you two." Genma said wearily. "You're really aiming to get your asses kicked."

Iruka growled and pushed away from the desk, stomping into the other room.

Genma sighed deeply. "You guys are starting to piss me off."

"Really?" Asuma purred.

Genma groaned.

…

Iruka tasted the sauce carefully; it was really hot. And delicious.

He grinned. Kakashi was coming over for dinner tonight. The last couple of times they'd done this, Iruka had served take-out. He hated cooking. But this time…well, he'd had the day off, and he was off again tomorrow. So he was going to cook a real meal for Kakashi.

He doesn't eat right, Iruka thought fondly.

He glanced sideways at the table. Plus, Iruka had found out a secret.

There was a small, wrapped package on the table.

Grinning, he stirred the sauce again and tipped his head when he heard Kakashi enter the house through the window.

Exasperating man. He never used the front door.

"Hey. Brought the sake, just like you…damn, that smells good." Kakashi came in and breathed appreciatively. "Man, if you were either a woman or a not straight guy, I'd kiss you just because that smells so good."

Iruka flushed. He found himself biting back the bizarre response that leapt into his brain. Do it anyway.

Stop that. He rolled his eyes and took the sauce off the heat. "Pervert."

Kakashi grinned and sat down. Pulling down his mask, he rubbed his face and then caught sight of the book.

"What's this?"

"Hey!" Iruka spun around and grabbed the package out of his grasp. "That's not for you!"

"What is it?" Kakashi snatched it back out of Iruka's grasp and examined it curiously. "It feels like a book."

"Give it back!" Iruka yelled. They engaged in a wrestling match, but Kakashi was faster.

"Hah!" Kakashi unwrapped the package and gasped. "What is this?"

"A present." Iruka huffed.

"A…present?"

"A birthday present." Iruka grinned. "Happy birthday, Kakashi."

Kakashi looked from the book to Iruka and back to the book. "You found out it was my birthday?"

Iruka nodded. "Yeah. I looked through the records until I found it."

Kakashi carefully opened the book and let his fingers trail over the inside illustration. "You actually went and bought this for me?"

"Yeah." Iruka blushed. "It was…horrible."

Kakashi closed the book and put it on the table. "Thank you."

"Yeah, well, it was what I thought you'd like best." Iruka grinned, still bushing."

"Not really." Kakashi said softly. Iruka raised his eyebrow.

"Iruka…" Kakashi sighed. "Never mind."

"Kakashi…" Iruka walked over and crossed his arms. "What is it? You don't like the book?"

"No. The book's great." Kakashi smiled. "It's fine. I love it, actually. I didn't have this one yet."

"Kakashi. What's wrong?"

Kakashi sighed. "Don't, Iruka. Please, don't."

"Kakashi, just…tell me what's wrong."

"There's something that I want more than any book. It's my birthday. Can I ask you for something…"

"Uhm. Ok." Iruka found himself blushing.

Kakashi rose and closed the distance between them. Leaning over, he gently brushed his nose against Iruka's. "Can I have…a kiss?" He breathed.

Iruka blushed and froze. They stood there silently for a long moment.

Finally, just when Kakashi was about to pull away, Iruka's lips twitched. "Yes. One kiss."

Kakashi leaned in and gently pressed his lips against Iruka's. After a second, Iruka responded, parting his lips. Kakashi clamped his hands into fists to fight the urge to touch him and deepened the kiss, flicking his tongue across Iruka's, nibbling on Iruka's lips.

When they parted, Iruka's eyes were closed and he was panting slightly. Kakashi took a deep breath, trying to ease the pounding of his heart.

Iruka's eyes fluttered open. He blinked slowly and then a slow, quiet smile slid across his lips. "Happy birthday, Kakashi."

Kakashi thought it was probably the best present he'd ever gotten.

Kakashi deliberately broke the spell between them. Iruka wasn't ready, maybe would never be ready, for more than that kiss. Iruka blinked a few more times and then unsteadily turned back to the stove.

Iruka served dinner and they made light, easy conversation. Then they spent the rest of the night playing cards, laughing and joking back and forth like nothing had changed.

But when he left, he looked back to find Iruka touching his own lips gently with his fingers.