There is some creepy phone stuff that goes on so if you're not down for that, just skip ahead a bit once you read about a phone call! ;w;
Adulting was easy so far. Other than the stupid sense of impending doom.
He'd stayed up late most nights passed his bedtime. It was only about three in the afternoon when he woke up again and he just laid there in bed for the first time in a long time with nothing but peace and quiet. There was no baby screaming and crying. No parents downstairs making noise. Just him and his bed and plenty of chill. Plenty of time to sit with his thoughts. Kakashi was smugly sitting at the front of them. He needed something to do, someone to talk to.
He did kind of miss his parents though. What were they up to? And why hadn't they called? Didn't they miss him or care that he was in the hospital?
As if hearing his thoughts, he got a text from the one and only brother who asked what he was up to.
When he answered truthfully, Naruto immediately called him.
"Hey, hey, you want to go do something after school?" Naruto rushed out as lockers closed in the background.
"Sure. What do you have in mind?" Iruka wondered but Naruto chuckled playfully.
"You'll see when we get there."
A few hours later, Naruto hopped off a bus outside the apartment and flew inside from the rain that had started minutes before. Instead of going back outside though, Naruto led them to the elevator and pressed a button for the basement.
"Had a fight with the razor?" Naruto joked but Iruka shook it off, pretending that the scabs on his face weren't even there no matter how itchy they were.
"Whatever. Where are we even going?"
The elevator doors opened and Naruto motioned mysteriously, "Follow me."
Through the halls of the basement, they headed deeper into the building until they stopped at a set of double doors. Grabbing Iruka's keys, Naruto unlocked and led them through another set of doors into a bright and sparkling clean garage. There were cars from left to right of all the people in the building and they headed through until the second level of parking.
"Okay, so, you can't drive yet anyway since you forgot how but I forgot to give these to you the other night." Naruto explained as he motioned to another set of keys he'd pulled from his pocket. Biting his lip, Naruto handed them to Iruka without a shred of hesitation but he seemed concerned. "You have to promise you won't drive yet before you take a driving test."
The warmth and trust that flowed off Naruto in waves was so touching and beautiful. No wonder they seemed close. It was hard not to care about the guy even though Iruka kept picturing a chubby toddler with rosy cheeks.
Now, Iruka didn't know much about cars. He really didn't know much but he could tell when a car was cool or not and the cars that Naruto brought them too were both equally cool and amazing.
The first was a slick, futuristic car with a glossy, silver finish. The edges were sharp and clean in a way that Iruka had never seen before. It was a beautiful car he couldn't lie but his eyes were drawn to the other one right next to it.
"This one you got last year," Naruto was saying about the first one but he noticed how Iruka was drawn to the car next door and grinned. "And that is your baby."
"My baby?" Iruka repeated as he stood in front of a white sedan with a high spoiler and big, round fog lights in the front.
"The first car you ever bought." Naruto explained as Iruka drew his fingers along the side and looked in. "It's an Evo. This one is the sixth generation and you've had it ever since you were eighteen. It's the one that started all the racing, really."
It really was a beautiful car. It looked powerful and slick, like it could turn on a dime and shred rubber easily. Iruka had never really cared about cars but this one was speaking to him. It felt like there was a connection there that even Iruka couldn't understand.
There was a jingle and Iruka saw Naruto holding a pair of keys that Iruka grinned at.
In the front seat of the car, Iruka reverently touched and admired everything within reach.
But it kind of made him sad to see such greatness but not be able to do anything about it. He didn't know the first thing about cars or how to drive them.
"We'll have to put you through driving lessons soon." Naruto grinned in the seat next to him with a warmth that poured into Iruka's heart and soothed his worries, supportive. Kind of like a brother.
"Thanks, Naruto."
They spent the night wandering the streets and as much as the city was beautiful and sparkling, it was so busy all the time. Iruka was almost too distracted by everything to really pay attention to Naruto's words but things started to get serious.
"I was hoping that we'd get the Kickstarter going this month but a few things got in the way and now we have to rethink our whole social media plan. At least we've got a few more volunteers." He was talking about the non-profit and Iruka wanted so bad to understand all the jargon he was saying but it all felt so out of his reach. Naruto talked so highly about it though and was completely invested in it.
"So, why kids with learning disabilities?" Iruka asked and Naruto slowly got serious.
"Well, I'm one of them. I always had trouble in school and mom and dad would get frustrated a lot because I couldn't do homework like the other kids or I forgot a lot. Then we found out it was attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and we got so much help but…" Naruto said shyly to the ground, "I want to help kids like me who aren't diagnosed. Help them with tools I didn't have when I was a kid."
"You went through a lot." Iruka could see it in his eyes. "I wish I could remember that."
Naruto scoffed, "Don't worry, you wouldn't have anything to remember."
"Why not?"
"Well, you were always really busy and never had time to come home and chat so we weren't really this close before." Naruto smiled sadly at Iruka but it turned into a big, lovable grin as he patted Iruka's shoulder. "But this accident really brought us together!"
As Naruto laughed it off, Iruka could only chuckle as he wondered why he wouldn't want to be close to his little brother. They were very different ages though, and he apparently traveled a lot for work.
"Don't worry," Naruto was smiling at him with his big, blue eyes shining with an appreciation Iruka wasn't really used to. He seemed to have such a high regard of Iruka and genuinely cared about him, his words speaking straight to Iruka's self-esteem. "I'll tell you about everything you've forgotten."
It was an unconditional affection and respect that Iruka didn't know how to return. It made him care about Naruto all the more though.
"Good." Iruka threw his arm around the apparently younger man and joked, "Because if I find out that you owe me money!"
"Hah! I'll never ask you for money in a million years!" His little brother hugged him back and they goofed off that night until they ended up at Naruto's bus stop home.
Naruto had said that their parents were gone off on a hike with a group in the mountains without service or cellphones but that didn't stop Iruka from staring at their number that night and feeling very tempted to call them. Thankfully, they were still married and hadn't divorced. Not that they showed signs when he was younger but tons of kids in school said there wouldn't be any warning signs. They had also said that fedoras would always be popular but Iruka hadn't seen any in the future so far.
Instead of his parents, he called Kakashi. It had been purely out of habit. There had been so many times that he'd dialed that number, flopped in bed that this time felt no different. And then he remembered that Kakashi was getting married and almost hung up. A voice answered before he could, "Hello?"
"Ahn, hi," Iruka said awkwardly and automatically asked, "Is Kakashi there?"
"Uh, yeah, give me a sec."
After a long pause, Kakashi answered, "Hello?"
"Ahn, Kakashi! I was thinking. What wedding gift would you want? Also, are you throwing a bachelor party and do you need snacks?" Iruka had totally not been convincing himself to be a supportive friend all day. "Also, who was that?"
There was a pause for Kakashi to take all that in before he half sighed and laughed, "Well, that was Yamato."
"Ah." Iruka pouted but didn't ask why Yamato was over at Kakashi's house. Probably mooching off his food or something. Whatever. He could be friends with Kakashi too if he wanted but he wasn't going to get in the way of Iruka and Kakashi being friends again.
"You don't have to get us anything," Kakashi continue but Iruka had made up my mind.
"Too late. I'm surprising you." Iruka knew just what to get but he was going to have to get an official gift so that he didn't leave out the bride. He'd figure that part out later.
Kakashi chuckled to Iruka's delight.
"I'm not planning a bachelor party."
"What? Why not?"
"Well, things have been kind of busy lately so I'm just gonna stay at home and read. And before you go complaining, that's what I want."
He had a point, that did seem like a very Kakashi-esque party.
"At least let me take you somewhere."
There was grumbling.
"It's an evening thing. It's not gonna take long." Iruka had thought of it when talking to Naruto and it was a brilliant idea that he'd always wanted to do but never could. Until now.
After a long groan, Kakashi gave in, "Fine."
"Perfect. Tomorrow night at sundown. Be ready." And then he hung up.
With a happy grin and a plan, Iruka was bouncing with anticipation and couldn't contain himself even though it was time for bed.
Then reality set in and he remembered they were celebrating a wedding. And that felt like something horrible. It felt like it was the end of something. The closing of a book. He didn't like thinking about that and he immediately went to his phone when it rang again.
"Hello?" Iruka answered breathlessly, hoping it was Kakashi but getting a whole other person.
"Hey, babe." That voice. Why did he know that voice?
"Sorry, who is this?" Iruka asked as he pulled the phone away from his ear to look at the caller. 'Z'! Again, the same person from a few days ago!
"It's me," They said bluntly.
"Who?"
A frustrated sigh made Iruka just as frustrated. Did this guy not know what was going on? And 'babe'? He must have the wrong number.
"I think you have the wrong number."
"You ignore me for days and now you pretend like you don't even know me," They snapped and Iruka couldn't help but get angry back.
"Listen, buddy," He snapped. "I don't know where the hell you've been but I've been going through some shit."
It felt so exhilarating to swear and he kept going. "Maybe if I knew who you were than I'd be more inclined to talk to you. But right now, you're being a dick. And I don't like talking to dicks. So, if you're not going to answer me question, why don't you fuck right off?"
By the end of his rant, Iruka was panting but thrilled, liberated with words. Waiting for a reply, his breath evened out but the person didn't respond. Were they mad?
Listening intently, he could hear faint breathing over the static and worried he'd hurt them or made them mad.
"Um," Iruka started but then he heard something very unexpected and not something he had ever heard before from another person.
"Ahn," The person moaned.
"H-hello?" Iruka stammered, not knowing what was going on at all.
"Fuck," They groaned louder in a way that Iruka registered as highly sexual and a completely flip from the frustration.
Well, it was a different kind of frustration.
And that person seemed very frustrated because they kept going and Iruka was so confused by their words and how his body was reacting.
Through the moaning and pants, the other man groaned out, "I love it when you get mad at me. Yell at me more, baby."
Heart beating in his chest, Iruka didn't know how to tell the guy to stop or what to do.
"Who is this?" Iruka's voice cracked.
"You know who I am." The person was making louder and faster noises now and Iruka didn't want to be there for the end of it. "This body, this cock-"
Iruka hung up.
What the fuck was going on?
And why was his whole body tingling?
That night, to say the least, he went to bed satisfied but ashamed and grossed out with himself.
The next day, he pretended nothing happened. That call was probably supposed to be for someone else, he decided with a lot of doubt. He instead focused on what mattered the most. He had a plan to execute for his best friend. His thirty-year old and kinda handsome best friend.
By the time Kakashi showed up at his front door, he had a backpack full of his tools, his map and his spirits higher than a few hours ago. When Kakashi asked, Iruka said nothing but Kakashi trusted him to just tell him directions without any idea where they were going. Music blaring and singing to old and new songs, they goofed off and joked the whole way there and it felt like everything was back to normal.
The burgers at the stop they made were pretty good. The waitress smiled at them in a way that was a bit weird but otherwise the trek was pretty good.
Eventually, as they got closer, Kakashi started to ask questions about why they were going towards the beach when it was getting dark. The parking lot was almost empty since it was still spring and it was starting to get chilly from the night incoming but they were both in sweaters and sneakers as they headed through the brush to the sand. Sneakily out of his bag, Iruka draped out a towel and made a grand gesture to it.
"The best seat in the house."
With a chuckle, Kakashi suspiciously dropped onto the designated spot with sand all around him and a curious smile.
Out of the bag, Iruka pulled out a thermos of something he'd worked all day on and when Kakashi opened it, steam fogged his glasses but his smile stretched into a grin. "You didn't."
"I did, how could I not. It's the only thing I can actually make." Iruka flopped down onto the towel too with his own container of warm, miso soup Kushina had taught him how to make. It turns out that Kakashi loved the stuff and Iruka had memorised the recipe so that he could remake it by memory. He could make grilled cheese too but just barely.
"I don't think I'll ever figure out the eggplant bit though," Iruka mused as they sipped in silence and watched the waves, the sun setting ever deeper below the sea level.
"It's still great," Kakashi said through mouthfuls. "I haven't had this in years."
"Yeah? How long's it been?" Iruka would have thought that he'd make it more often since he knew how to actually do it.
"About ten years."
Iruka almost choked, spluttering, "What?"
With a shrug, Kakashi stared down at his soup. "Yeah. You didn't really have much time to hang with your best friend when your career got rolling. I got busy too so… Just never had time."
The was a long pause as Kakashi sipped where Iruka was just sitting there, upset with himself and frustrated that he couldn't do anything about that. He wished so bad he could go back in time and change that, be a better friend. But he was an adult now. At least losing his memories brought them together. He couldn't imagine a life without Kakashi, the very thought was heartbreaking. What would happen when Kakashi got married? Would they still stay close?
Iruka almost didn't hear through his own thoughts when Kakashi muttered, "Not like I wanted to be around you when Mizuki was there."
That reminded Iruka he hadn't heard at all from Mizuki. As much as he wondered what an older Mizuki looked like, he was kind of annoyed that Mizuki hadn't even bothered to check in on him. Seemed like he didn't even care.
"Some friend," Iruka muttered and when Kakashi stared at him for a minute, Iruka confusedly stared back. "What? You'd think a friend would at least call, right?"
"He hasn't even called?"
"No."
"Maybe you blocked him," Kakashi mused and waved a hand. "Here let me have a look at your phone."
"Block? What's blocking?" Iruka handed over the device but not without scooting closer and watching with an arm on Kakashi's shoulder that didn't go unnoticed.
"Well, you can stop someone from calling or texting by blocking them." Kakashi muttered as he tapped his way to Iruka's contacts and scrolled. "Sometimes you go weeks without talking and block each other."
"Do we fight a lot?"
"Yeah, sometimes you just… Need time apart." Kakashi avoided eye contact but noticed when Iruka said nothing, taking that information in. "Well, looks like he's not blocked."
When Iruka stared at the phone, it took him a minute to see which contact Kakashi had clicked on and thought he was dreaming or had died and gone to hell.
"'Z'" Iruka repeated out loud and felt like he was going to shrivel up and die. Oh god. Mizuki had thought he had called his girlfriend. He must have hit the wrong speed dial or something.
"How do I block people?" Iruka asked faintly and took notes when Kakashi showed him, quickly snatching the phone and hiding his shame with the next step in his bachelor-ish party plan.
"Close your eyes," Iruka commanded and he grabbed his backpack.
Complying, Kakashi smirked, "You know, it'll be dark in a few minutes and I won't see anything anyway."
"I know!"
"Better hurry," The taunting just made Iruka's plan all the greater and he was able to distract himself from the thoughts creeping into his mind, whispering that Iruka really knew what the whole thing with Mizuki's calls were about.
After a minute or two of setup, Iruka flicked open the lighter he'd bought and excitement made his fingers tremble.
And for the first time, Iruka lit up the first of the fireworks he'd bought.
They hissed for a bit and the first one went off into the sky and even though Iruka should be looking up at the beauty in the sky, he couldn't tear his eyes from the man opening his eyes on the beach a few yards away. Against his pale skin and dark eyes, Iruka could see the brilliant colours going off and sparkling in the sky above. It reminded him that he had many more fireworks to light and he went down the line he'd made in the sand, lighting each one.
At the end, he stepped back and watched as they fizzed and burned up into the sky in hot, amazing streaks. All the while, Iruka couldn't help but stare at the man in awe of the fireworks as he slowly came to a realisation.
The lights eventually died down and Iruka stepped carefully towards the man lying on his back, staring up at the lingering smoke against the dark skies and the stars beyond. As Iruka sat down with his newfound understanding and Kakashi said softly next to him, "Thank you."
"Anything for you," Iruka said automatically. The quiet waves lulled them into silence again. Next to him, Kakashi was quiet and somber again, something that Iruka had noticed throughout the week even now that they were apparently closer. Something was bothering him and Iruka could feel it like an itch. "Excited?"
His question went unanswered for a while until Kakashi took a deep breath, "To be honest, not really."
"Why not?" Iruka listened with concern.
"Mmm," Kakashi hummed, closing his eyes and effectively closing Iruka off with the short words, "Didn't expect to ever get married."
The waves rolled in again softly and Kakashi sounded like he had resigned himself to whatever was happening. He had made a decision and Iruka felt his heart sink even more against the will trying to keep it happy and light for his friend.
"Hey, Kakashi?" Iruka softly asked, almost hoping he didn't hear.
"Yeah?"
Against everything he had been dreading and ashamed of, there was a part of Iruka that wanted to know more than anything. If everything the bullies in school had said were true. If what he'd been suspicious of was true. If what he was feeling in his heart was real.
"Am I gay?"
Iruka didn't have to look away from the waves to see that Kakashi sat up on a hand, fully awake and watching him.
"Yeah," Kakashi finally whispered back but before Iruka could feel anything, he slid closer and even sitting he was still taller than Iruka. "Want to know something crazy though?"
Iruka nodded and Kakashi leaned in and sneakily whispered into his ear, "So are Mizuki and his friends."
Barking a laugh, Iruka flopped back and tried to keep tears down as he choked, "I'm dating him, aren't I?"
There was a nod.
"I think I'm gonna break up with him."
"What?"
"He's such an asshole! He didn't even come see me in the hospital!" Iruka huffed as Kakashi laughed and laid down beside him, their shoulders touching.
There was still a smile on his face. Iruka frowned, rolling onto his side and staring the other man down. "Why are you so happy?"
Looking over with a soft smile, Kakashi said simply, "I missed you."
Even though Kakashi had said it nonchalantly and with such confidence, Iruka still couldn't help but feel flustered on the inside.
"I'm different now," He mumbled and immediately grabbed at his short locks. "Feels weird to have short hair."
"Yeah," Kakashi murmured and his hand followed Iruka's, curiously running his fingers through his hair and sending shivers down Iruka's back that he hid. For a split second, their eyes met and Iruka could have sworn he saw something but he quickly looked away, knowing he was wrong.
"We should probably leave before a cop comes."
The air was chilled again and they slowly made their way back to Iruka's apartment with in comfortable ease. It was only after they said goodbye and the elevator doors had closed that it felt like the night and much more was over and done with. It felt like something was gone now and he couldn't do anything to get it back.
When the doors opened, Iruka hurried through tearful eyes to his door and struggled with the lock for far too long before it gave. Slamming his back against the closed wood, Iruka felt everything just falling apart.
"Fuck," He swore through tears, sliding to the ground and hiccupping against his emotions and everything that had happened.
The floor was wet and slippery by the time Iruka peeled himself off of it. After soaking in the tub for a long time, he slowly was coming back to reality and it felt a little better to lay in bed a bit.
Sleep never came though and he was left with the swirling thoughts and his heart beating out of his chest. He felt so alone and cold. He just wanted to feel okay again without the memories of being shoved into lockers and called names at the front of his mind. His apartment was far too quiet to be there alone.
So, he left. Without thinking, stretched his arm out when a cab drove up.
"Where to, sir?" The driver asked when Iruka got in.
"Home." That's where he wanted to be more than anything. Warm and safe.
"And where would that be?"
"Oh, right, sorry."
A few minutes later, they were on the highway towards the suburbs Iruka knew well. They passed a familiar home that made Iruka's chest burn. When the driver told him a price, Iruka threw money at him and bolted for the door. He was about to ring the doorbell a million times but then he remembered that it was super late at night. Instead, he knocked softly and left a drop of rain hit his head.
"Great," He mumbled and waited on the front step as it started to rain harder and harder. Still, there was no answer so he knocked again. And again. And again, until finally a light flickered on inside.
"Iruka?" Red hair graying and eyes crinkled at the edges, his mother looked like the vision of everything that was loving and warm, what he'd been missing this whole time.
"Mom," His throat was tight from the tears filling his eyes. With a pained expression, she opened her arms.
"Oh, my poor baby. Come here."
Her arms were so comforting and enveloping even though he kind of had to stoop to hold her back, making his sobbing even harder.
"I know, I know," She hummed and held him close until his tears slowed down.
"I love you, mom."
"I heard the accident was bad," She later said at the table with a warm cup of tea. "But you were already out of the hospital and Naruto said you were doing okay except for the memories."
"Yeah," He sniffed across from her, hunched up in blankets. "I was. But I can't remember anything passed my thirteenth birthday and… It's been so confusing."
"I bet," She squeezed his hand. "You were going through so much, trying to figure out who you are."
"I don't think I like the person I was before the accident," He mumbled, thinking of how he'd pushed Kakashi away and never really got to spend time with the people he cared about.
"That's okay," Kushina reassured with a hand on his. "Change is what makes us human."
With a sniff and a hug, she tucked him into his bed up in his old room. He dropped like a rock into the deepest sleep he'd had in a long time.
And woke up to a sad realisation.
Today was Saturday, the day Kakashi was getting married.
And Iruka just wanted to throw himself back into bed.
This sucked.
Instead of moping, he made his way downstairs and found everyone at the table.
"Iruka!" Naruto lit up and immediately threw himself into another chair. "Here, come sit."
"Hey, bud," Minato patted his shoulder and they sat down as Kushina brought them breakfast.
"So, was he like this as a thirteen-year-old or what?" Naruto grinned and the parentals chuckled.
"Yeah, yeah. Awkward as always and super weird," Iruka huffed but Minato disagreed and he went into a story about how he used to be a weird kid too.
It felt like home. And Iruka wished it could be like this all the time, like nothing had changed. But the outside world wasn't so nice.
"We're going out to volunteer at a family shelter, wanna come?" Naruto offered but Iruka opted to stay home and waved them goodbye when they were ready to go later. That left him alone at home and with his mind set on what he was going to do. He still had to give Kakashi and his wife their wedding present. There was something else he could do though that was easier.
He didn't call Mizuki. No, he was too much of a coward for that but he wasn't a coward when it came to texting.
A deep breath in and a tap later, he'd sent his break up message and anxiously waited for a reply.
It took less than a minute. And it started with a call that Iruka didn't pick up. Heck no, why would he?
But after the call had ended, his phone blew up again and again until he saw that his voicemail was full. And then the messages started. It started with pleading and then the messages devolved into threats but eventually it just devolved into name calling. It wasn't as bad as actually talking to someone though. And he was okay with that because after half an hour, everything went quiet.
Opening his phone, the messages were in the triple digits and when he scrolled through them, they were all mostly the same except for one that caught Iruka's attention because it mentioned a word he hadn't heard or read in days: school.
'You're just an ugly slut who who's been licking my boots since primary school. Why don't you go be someone else's target practice and maybe they'll pity you like I did.'
Pity? Target? Wait, did Mizuki know his friends had bullied Iruka at school? And he hadn't done anything? No, it sounded like… It sounded like he'd been the one using Iruka as target practise.
Oh, heck no.
Then he blocked Mizuki's number like Kakashi had taught him to and he felt so much better. He didn't know Mizuki, he didn't like it one bit that Mizuki was treating him so horribly and he didn't need that in his life at all. There was a whole weight off his shoulders but there was still something he had to do that he was dreading more.
The gift he'd made was one that he'd put a lot of thought into. He could have gone with something easy like money or a toaster but he wanted it to be special. Inside a brand new shoe box, he'd made a kit for movie watching including a few movies and gift cards for extra measure. There was popcorn and goodies and even that weird salt and vinegar topping stuff Kakashi liked so much. He didn't know what the bride would like so he put a range of everything.
Bride. Kakashi's wife.
He sighed and stuck the last bit of tape on the wrapping. The walk was a short one and it felt like it had gone by too fast. He hadn't expected people to be at Kakashi's though much less a huge lineup of parked cars and people going in and out of the house. So much for dropping the gift off on the step and doorbell ditching.
Weaving through people in suits and dresses, he stepped into Kakashi's home and noted how much nothing had changed.
"Hey, Iruka," Someone greeted and Iruka didn't recognize him at first. The mousy brown hair and plain face clicked.
"Yamato," Iruka shook his outstretched hand. "Hey, it's good to see you again. You look good in a tux."
"Thanks," Yamato said with surprised gratitude.
"Have you seen Kakashi?" Iruka quickly asked, really not wanting to see the bride at all. He was fragile enough as it was.
"Uh, yeah, he's getting ready in his room."
"Thanks," Iruka rushed up the stairs before Yamato could say anything else. Panting and nervous, he hesitated at the door but knocked anyway.
Anxiety rising with the sound of steps, Iruka waited until the door opened with Kakashi standing on the other side. His suit was sparkling white, waistcoat contrasting black and his tie a matching white. With his hair fluffed and natural, Iruka couldn't help but think that… He was beautiful.
"Iruka," Kakashi seemed surprised but let him in anyway.
"Hey, I was just gonna drop this off but I didn't know you were having the wedding here," He rushed out but Kakashi chuckled away his nervous jitters and made him feel safe.
"Don't worry about it. Are you staying for the ceremony?"
"Ahn, I actually have an appointment today," An appointment with a pillow and sad romance movies. "But here, take it."
The box transferred hands. "Mind if I open it?"
Meeting dark eyes, Iruka nodded. As hands ripped open the paper, memories of them going through his hair made his heart burn.
"Wow," Kakashi said in amazement as he went through the box and laughed at the contents.
"It's for a movie night. In case you just need to chill." Iruka smiled against the pain. The fond smile that his best friend had for him was starting to hurt even more.
His straight best friend and the best one he could ever ask for. The one he'd kissed in a closet on his birthday and one who had still been there for him no matter what. Kakashi was the greatest guy any girl could ever dream of and one Iruka had dreamed of many times before but refused to believe was because of anything he felt. The same guy who let Iruka be himself, who made Iruka feel like himself. And now he was getting married.
To someone else.
And Iruka couldn't stand that.
He hated the thought.
Because he realised that he had the hugest crush on his best friend.
Maybe even love.
"Iruka?" Kakashi put down the box, concern and worry in his eyes that was blurred by tears in Iruka's. He didn't notice he'd started crying.
"Ah, sorry." His voice even cracked and he wiped desperately at his eyes. "Just got something in my eye is all."
"Iruka." Kakashi almost cut through his bullshit but Iruka didn't meet his eyes, the thing that would break his walls down.
"Sorry, just… Realise something a little too late is all." He put on a smile couldn't fool anyone and it certainly didn't fool Kakashi.
"Yeah," Kakashi said softly and Iruka could feel him getting closer but was a deer in headlights. "A little too late."
Hands reached out and held his softly, pulling whatever he had deep inside right out into the open, "I love you."
He quickly hurried out, "You've always been my best friend in my mind and… I can't bear to lose you."
Seeing Kakashi's lips move inches from his face, Iruka barely heard the words coming out of them.
"We'll always be best friends."
It was barely a whisper and Iruka could only whisper back, "Promise?
"Promise." And it felt like they were saying goodbye.
"I should go." Iruka quickly tried to compose himself, sniffing and pulling his hands away to dry his face. He did notice the red around Kakashi's eyes though.
"Wait, here." Kakashi disappeared into the closet for a second and pulled out a shoebox that Iruka knew very well.
"I couldn't find the book though," Kakashi said in dismay but Iruka took the box from his hands and pulled a strained smile.
"Thank you."
"Kakashi?" Yamato poked his head in and Iruka immediately backed away towards the door. "Oh, is everything okay?"
"It's fine," Kakashi quickly answered.
"We're great," Iruka chimed in and backed out the way Yamato came. "Well, I should be going. Have a great day."
And with that, he flew down the stairs. God, he wanted to go home. He'd embarrassed himself enough. He just wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
"He's going to be such a wonderful husband. They both are." A woman was saying to another man as they crossed right into Iruka's path and he quickly backpedalled but not back up the steps. Instead, he gripped the shoebox and almost tripped down the steps in an attempt to hide away and never be seen again especially with his burning red cheeks.
Down in the basement, he sniffed and tried to keep things quiet but he felt so loud. Everything around him was so loud and he just wanted quiet. Right under the stairs, Iruka opened the door to the closet and snuck in.
It was dark and the sounds from outside were still going on but less now. It was a peaceful calm that made tears stream down his cheeks even faster and he gripped the box tight, trying not to imagine the feeling of lips on his own from almost seventeen years ago.
With a hiccupping sob, he pressed his head against the shelf out of frustration.
He was surprised when things started falling in a cloud of dust on him.
There was a hard sneeze.
And then another.
And another until the frenzy had passed. Finally, the dust settled and he laid flopped on the dark closet flooring, feeling worn and tired.
Wait, when did he turn the light off?
Standing on shaky legs, noises outside the closet started to become clearer and he could hear music, familiar and so welcoming. There were voices and giggles of what sounded like kids. Kids his age. His pants were baggy, his shirt was loose and when he touched his head, he almost broke out into tears to find his head full of long, luscious locks. Yes! Yes, he was thirteen again!
Before he could cheer anything though, there were sounds of someone coming down the steps above. Kakashi.
Pressing his ear against the door, Iruka listened against the music to the voices who greeted the newcomer.
"Ah, Kakashi," It sounded like Mizuki. "Iruka's waiting for you in the closet."
"In the closet?" Kakashi answered in confusion.
"Yeah, he said he was taking a nap or something," Iruka heard Mizuki lie.
Despite the snickers though, Iruka could hear Kakashi's soft unease but only barely over the music, "Okay."
Iruka knew how this was going to end. Kakashi would come inside and he would unknowingly kiss Iruka and someone would throw open the door, embarrassing them both to the point of tears. He didn't know what the heck would happen after everyone would leave but he knew what he wanted to do. He wanted revenge.
"Right in here," Someone said as the door opened and a tall, lanky figure was pushed inside. Iruka wondered why he hadn't realised it was Kakashi the first time. He was unmistakable in his awkward stance and nervous breathing.
As much as Iruka kinda wanted to kiss the daylights out of his best friend, he instead piped and patted where Kakashi's face was, "Ah, Kakashi! Finally, I have to ask you something."
"Iruka?" Kakashi grabbed the arms tapping his glasses and moved in closer, asking as quietly as he could with the music, "What's going on?"
"Okay, so," Iruka whispered as he slowly backed up to the shelves, leading Kakashi with him. "They're planning to pull a prank on us. Probably from all the times I've messed with them but they kinda deserved it after all the names and stuff. Anyway, I'm gonna prank them back."
"What? How?" Kakashi asked as Iruka blindly searched the shelves.
"With this!" Iruka proudly held out a pouch in the dark for no one to see. "Wait, gimme your hand."
"O-okay." Iruka waved a hand around in the dark until he found a warm, clean palm and carefully wrapped Kakashi's fingers around the packet. "No way. You're not, are you?"
"Heck yeah," Iruka pulled the pouch back to rip it carefully open and shuffled his way in the dark to stand by the door. Ear against the wood, he could hear giggling and muffled noises of movement. Soon.
"Okay, when they open the door, don't breathe in," Iruka warned. "Trust me, I know from experience."
"What?"
"Ready?"
"I guess?"
It only took a few more seconds before the handle giggled in the dark. Swinging open, there was an erratic flash of phones and cameras as Iruka pinched his nose shut to fling the pouch out in a fan. But Iruka saw the one holding the doorknob and he specifically made sure it hit Mizuki dead in the eyes.
"Oh god!"
"What the fuck!?"
And then the wild mass of sneezes started.
"What did you do!" One girl started coughing and ran up the stairs while the others were trying to control their flurry of sneezed. A guy sneezed right into another's mouth and they ran in horror up the stairs too. Soon, they were all alone in the basement, mouths covered and listening to the symphony of agony upstairs. Ahn, that felt so much better.
"Wow," Iruka looked back to find Kakashi still covering his mouth and nose but his eyes huge and in awe.
"All in a day's work," Iruka grinned and ducked through the possible contaminated zone. At the foot of the stairs, he listened with his hands on his hips, wondering why he'd invited them anyway. Sure, Anko was nice but the others? If they were going to pull pranks like they'd planned just to bully them then he wasn't down for that. He turned to Kakashi. "Hey."
"Yeah?" Kakashi breathed once he was long out of the infect air, cheeks flushed and looking so dorky and cute with his button down and khakis.
"They're still not gone… Do you mind if I kick em out?"
"Eh? Really?"
"Yeah, I mean, they're sort of being asshats."
"Sort of?" Kakashi snorted and stared up the stairs too. "More like are. It's like their default setting."
"Yeah…" Iruka remembered how awkward Kakashi had looked all night and hated that he was willing to make his friend so uncomfortable just to hang out with the 'cool' kids. "I'll get rid of them and then we can have our own party."
Kakashi's grin gave him the confidence to march up the stairs, almost tripping over his baggy pants.
The group were taking turns pulling out tissues in the living room and rubbing their noses.
"Another brilliant prank," Iruka declared, striking a pose as most of them glared at him.
"Fuck you, Umino," Mizuki spat through a nose full of tissues, his eyes and nose running more than the rest. It was super uncool and Iruka relished in in. He might have had a few text messages from the future on his mind.
A few other guys echoed Mizuki's sentiment but Iruka wasn't taking it to heart. "What is this stuff?"
"Anthrax. Better go wash off," He answered with a big grin and the whole room gasped. Within seconds, the entire house was empty with kids streaming out for their own homes in a panic. He watched with sadistic satisfaction as they sprinted and Kakashi came up beside him a second later.
"Wow. They don't even run like that for gym class." Kakashi leaned against the door, more relaxed than before and it reassured Iruka that he'd done the right thing.
"Yeah, they'll be aching in the morning." As they watched the running and the night sky above, the events of the day and everything that had happened were starting to weigh Iruka down heavily.
"Wanna watch a movie?" Kakashi offered and Iruka couldn't say no to him.
Downstairs they flopped onto the huge, comfy couch, slumping into each other and Iruka could feel himself nodding off as the movie played. It felt so good to have a warm body next to him and the pressure of a cheek on his head. He didn't even realise when the movie ended. The screen turned off and the basement went dark, soothing him into unconsciousness as a pair of lips kissed his head.
"If you forgot anything, call me," Kakashi waved the next morning as Iruka sleepily dragged himself through the front door.
They'd woken up to a dirty basement and Iruka had put Kakashi's worries to sleep by starting the cleaning process himself, throwing away the plastic cups and boxes. Juggling his present box in his arms to rub his nose from the sneezing powder he'd cleaned up, Iruka couldn't help but feel a bit sad that the night had gone by so fast but was glad to be back in his present.
"Kakashi, really," He said seriously as he turned back, trying to show as much gratitude as possible with his smile. "Thank you."
Through his black-rimmed glassed, the older boy winked and shot him a finger gun that hit Iruka right in the heart. "No worries."
"See you Monday!" Iruka threw over his shoulder as he marched his way back home, holding his precious birthday box in his arms like a box of precious antiques and that image of Kakashi forever burned into his mind.
On the way home, he tried to remember his Kakashi with the thirty-year-old Kakashi he had hung out with the past few days and the image of older Kakashi was fading away. Most of the memories were. He didn't remember what he'd done when he wasn't with Naruto or Kakashi. He knew there were things he was forgetting but he couldn't figure out what in specific. He hoped it was nothing important. Sadly, he did remember all the terrible things Mizuki had texted him after their break up and he wondered if that had happened every time they'd 'taken a break' as Kakashi had put it. He decided he didn't need that in his life no matter how popular he was. He was really happy with what he had now; loving parents, the bestest friend in the entire world and eventually a super cool little brother.
Speaking of family, he had a duo of adults to appease. That was assuming that they hadn't called out of pure rage. Either that or they weren't angry but that was a shot in the dark. Arms cradling his present, he kneed over the front door and somehow got inside without dropping anything.
"Mom?" He called out. "Dad?"
Against all expectation, the house was quiet.
No dads shuffling, no moms complaining, no babies blabbing.
Had he forgotten they were going somewhere? Did they leave somewhere without telling him?
In a panic, he called out again and kicked off his shoes, hurrying and almost tripping over his pants through the house.
"Surprise!"
Confetti blasted through the kitchen and his parents broke out into laughter when Iruka squeaked a scream.
"Holy shii-" He cut himself off midway, Kushina's smile getting tense for a second before he smoothed things over. The whole kitchen was decorated, there was cake sitting in the middle of the table, and there was a present waiting on Naruto's toddling lap. "You guys did this all for me?"
"Oh, course we did," Minato clapped a hand on his shoulder and they brought him in for hugs. "Happy birthday, bud."
"We've got a surprise for you," Kushina slowly took the box from Naruto's wiggling fingers. "Here, open it."
With eager smiles, they watched the wrapping fall away and Iruka gasped.
The box couldn't have been real. It must have been an old box they were reusing. They couldn't have gotten him his first cellphone. Well, technically his second but he couldn't remember much of the one he'd had when he was thirty and this felt… It felt like he owned it, like it was really his.
"Thank you!" He gushed and hugged them all so hard. He had never expected any of this in a million years and was so grateful. He even went from hugging his parents over to the baby and gave Naruto a fond kiss on the forehead, remembering bits and pieces of the amazing man he'd grow up into. He promised, "Thanks, buddy. If you ever need help with homework, let me know."
He missed the way Kushina and Minato looked at each other in awe. They carefully went through the process of setting up the phone so that he could really use it. For most of the day, they goofed off. When Kushina suggested going out for food, Iruka felt his stomach churn from all the takeout he'd eaten when he was thirty and asked if maybe they could eat food at home. So, they made food together.
"Heh mom," He asked as they ate their creations, thinking through the past few days and realising that there were things he missed and things he didn't. Pants were one of them. "Can we go shopping soon? I think I need new clothes."
"What's wrong with the pants you have, honey?"
"Well, they keep falling and it gets annoying tripping over them so much." His words made both adults look at each other stunned.
"Of course, we can, bud." Minato gave Kushina a covert shrug of confusion and despite Iruka's eye roll, they seemed very happy with his new interest in looking normal. Kushina opted to stay home as they went to the store and Minato proudly held open the passenger seat for Iruka to climb in.
For the second time that week, Iruka got to sit in the front but this time he was watching as cars passed and the whole dash as his dad drove. With every gear switch and turn of the wheel, Iruka was more and more entranced by how cool cars were. No wonder his older self drove cars for a living. It looked so cool. A lot cooler than from the backseat. He couldn't imagine how cool it could be to actually drive.
"Awesome," He whispered to himself and Minato smiled.
"You okay?"
"Huh? Ah, yeah," Iruka said truthfully.
"Yeah? You've been acting funny since you got home this morning."
"Funny?"
Glancing over, Minato smiled, "You seem more adult now."
If only Iruka could tell him that he had been put in those shoes for almost a week. Instead, he smirked, "Maybe it's age catching up to me."
He got a chuckle and as they parked into the mall and got out, Iruka looked back at the car and asked, "Hey, dad? When can I start driving lessons?"
"Driving lessons?" Minato seemed blown away by the question but happily answered, "Technically, you can start when you're sixteen but… Give it a year or two and maybe we can take the car out for a spin down the backroads."
"Really?" Iruka glowed, excited to even have the chance to try and drive a huge machine like that. He should watch more shows about cars and racing. Did they have any movies about driving at home? Could they rent any?
Minato smiled down at his eager son but that smile quickly turned into horror when Iruka asked, "Can you teach me about rallying?"
On Monday when he walked up to an unknowing Kakashi waiting for him on the sidewalk and poked him in the side, the other teen jumped. "Holy shit, you scared me."
"Aw, come on. I didn't think I looked that bad," Iruka joked.
"You do. I mean, you don't! You don't look bad at all." Kakashi stammered. Finally finishing with, "You look good."
Cheeks flared and pride fluffed, Iruka strode towards school with a spring in his step and a signed poster in his backpack he'd later give to his best friend, "Thanks."
As unsure Iruka was of his new choice of fitting pants and very plain shirt inspired by seventeen years into the future, he felt okay. He felt better with himself than he had in a long time. He felt comfortable in his clothes and with himself.
"Have you ever thought of losing the gel?" He asked nonchalantly on their way.
People stared of course when he walked through school. He noticed a brown-haired boy with big eyes watching them in awe and made a selfish promise he wouldn't introduce Yamato to his best friend. Sure, it was selfish to stop Kakashi from a potential friend down the line but he more than anything wanted a future where Kakashi and him were still best friends. He would eventually have to deal with the girls that would throw themselves on Kakashi and the one who would eventually become his wife but he'd cross that bridge when it came time.
"Hey, Umino! Nice pants," Someone jeered from a group of teenagers in matching baggy sweatpants and shirts up ahead but instead of flinching like Kakashi did, he stopped and stared at them.
"Got a problem?" One of the bullies from Mizuki's gang taunted, not thinking that Iruka would have a come back.
Iruka remembered something Kakashi had told him a long time ago as a joke before Iruka had started wearing the baggy trend too.
"I don't have a problem. I think you might though when you hear why Mizuki wants to wear baggy pants." There were a few things he still remembered from the future and a few revelations that he would always remember about Mizuki too.
"What are talking about, dweeb?" The main kid talking seemed uneasy but the other guys listened in, interested in gossip.
"Well, in prison guys used to sag their pants to let the other guys know they were…. Open for business." Iruka grinned and winked to the pale, confused group before dragging Kakashi away to their lockers.
"That was insane." Kakashi gushed but Iruka immediately felt guilty. Mizuki was definitely going to be gay too and he kind of just set him up for bullying.
"Yeah, but what if they go after him now?" Iruka worried.
"Pff, so what? They put you through years of misery and now you feel bad of them?"
"Well, yeah. I mean, when Mizuki realises he's gay then he's gonna have a hard time."
"What?" Kakashi froze. "Where did you hear that?"
"Well," Iruka started, trying to come up with an excuse. "He kind of gives me that vibe you know?"
"A vibe?" Kakashi asked unconvinced. "Have you ever gotten the vibe from anyone else?"
"Yeah, like a radar."
Kakashi picked up his backpack and smirked when Iruka flushed at how silly he sounded, "I don't think you radar needs a tuning."
Iruka wanted to tell him so badly about everything that had happened and what they'd gone through but Kakashi would never believe him. Someday though, he would have to come out of the closet and tell Kakashi how he felt but he would do that in due time. As much as he kept thinking back to his first kiss, he couldn't dwell on that moment. Now, he was happy to have his best friend back and joking around with him like everything was normal, his present.
"Well," Kakashi said as he pushed off the other lockers and started to his own down the hall. "When you get that radar fixed, come and find me."
"Eh?" Iruka called after his tall figure. "Why?"
Secretive smirk on his lips as he looked back, Kakashi threw back as he went, "To test it."
13 Going On 30
Hope you guys enjoyed reading as much as I did writing!
Happy birthday to the amazing Iruka and the beautiful community that loves and supports him!