Pretty Wings

A Kakashi x Iruka fic

By Magnificent Meow

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AN. Again thanks for reviews :3.. they make me happy and keep me going. ... Also, a big thank you to all of you who understand this story so far. XD

The super long break between chapter three and this one kinda threw me off since I was away for a long time with no computer to speak of and... then came the writer's block --;;. Forgive me for any............ crappiness. Oo I promise not to take so long with the other chapters =X

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Chapter 4: Past Aura

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Glancing towards the window the young chuunin could see the orange glow of dusk hovering in the distance. The sun was setting, the long day was over, and just when he was starting to feel a little more comfortable in his surroundings it was all coming to a close. At least for now. Within only fifteen minutes Konoha would be dark once more, open to the petty thieves or troublemakers who might dare to set foot in a shinobi village. And after last night's ordeal, security would be tight tonight.

Still on duty at the clinic, Iruka sat unmoving at his new desk (which he had quietly 'borrowed' and dragged into the room), letting his thoughts drift over some hot tea. For a moment, fear flickered across his senses, sending a shiver up his spine. In the back of his mind, the chuunin wondered what sort of troubles this night would bring. Would Kakashi's rebel group attack once more? And if so, would they aim for their previous target or head for their captured man?

Or will they keep us waiting. Scared.

It was a common saying in any shinobi village that a ninja has no fear, but Iruka could never bring himself to be heartless, and he knew very few who could. A ninja felt fear like anyone else, but for Iruka the desire to protect and help was always stronger.

At least, that's what he thought. Maybe he was wrong.

Iruka turned his head away from the window and towards the bed. He was glad in some ways that Kakashi had been out for much of the day. He didn't want to deal with such a cocky man, or rather; he didn't want to deal with a cocky man who couldn't move. He knew how to handle a pain-in-the-ass student, but there was something inexplicably annoying about a grown man with an unending supply of witty side commentary. Thinking back to the morning, the chuunin knew he didn't quite carry the same confidence that Asuma had, and Kakashi still managed to take him down a notch. Compared to the bearded man, Iruka might just look like a sitting duck, ready to be plucked of its feathers.

He frowned thoughtfully and returned to his tea.

I'm a sensei, not a joke. Not anymore.

The tea in his hands had come from the vending machine in the hallway. At least the chuunin had that much to look forward to. Readily available caffeine.

And how I need it, he sighed.

The can was hot on his hands and with a quick sip Iruka felt the liquid soothe the back of his throat and warm his entire body. The drink was bittersweet with the taste of honey and it was relaxing to the point that Iruka could have fallen asleep right where he was, but he knew the Hokage would lecture him endlessly for it. The Hokage, after all, was due to arrive any minute. At least according to his messenger. For now, all Iruka could do was wait.

Letting out another soft sigh, he looked once more at Kakashi, disappointed (but only slightly) that he had nothing to tell the Hokage about the captive. Since the missing nin had passed out shortly after the elder had left, there was no new information, no new conversations, nothing to speak of but theories and ideas about why Kakashi was here to begin with. But then again, tomorrow was another day, and Iruka would have to use his skills of subtle persuasion.

Iruka felt his brow twitch.

And maybe slap him once or twice.

He smiled inwardly at the thought as he drank down the rest of his tea in one quick gulp, forcing every molecule of caffeine into his system whether it wanted to be there or not. After such a short night and a long, slow day, Iruka knew that he needed every drop.

Setting down the empty can, Iruka was the first to admit that he might be wrong about the scarecrow-like man, but he still needed to keep his wits about him. Judging by the history books, Kakashi was a traitor to Konoha. Judging by the present, he was a threat to...something or someone. Neither past nor present was good, and the situation should be handled with care. Though Iruka wished he didn't have to be involved. Babysitting wasn't his preferred duty.

He stretched slightly in his chair, bringing a shot of pain to his still-aching shoulder.

Come to think of it, he wasn't really sure what his preferred duty was. He wondered, resting his head in his palm before letting out a yawn, purring slightly as the weight of his eyelids forced them down over his eyes.

All though...right now I would have to say napping. With a nice big bed and some warm blankets and --

"Iruka sensei!"

The chuunin snapped out of his thoughts. "H.Hokage!" Iruka nearly jumped from his chair but got to his feet as fast as he could with dignity, bowing politely in the presence of the robed man.

"Good to see you," Iruka said with a smile.

Two guards flanked the Hokage, each watching the bed warily, though the old man himself didn't seem to mind the presence of the sleeping enemy. Iruka gave the Hokage a steady gaze, already knowing what his first words would be.

"Tell me, Iruka," the Hokage spoke quietly, "has he-- ?" The man trailed off with the understanding that Iruka knew what he meant, which clearly Iruka did.

In response the sensei shook his head 'no', his tied hair swaying behind him. "He's been out like that all day, Hokage. I've learned nothing."

A short pause was followed by a brief exhale. Sandaime looked a little distraught, but he nodded and waved his hand as if to say it's all right. "We should speak privately then, Iruka. I have no desire to find out if Kakashi is listening." He paused. "Will you two stay here?" he asked, nodding towards his guards.

Of course, it wasn't as if they had a choice.

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Sitting down with the Hokage was not an unusual thing for Iruka to do, but sitting down with the Hokage to discuss important matters of secrecy and potential destruction was not something your average chuunin was accustomed to. It was more of a jounin thing; the kind of talk that makes a person feel like they've got more power than they know what to do with.

"Iruka," the Hokage began, much like he always did. "I'm sure you realize that this is a matter of importance. Right now there is no one that I can trust more than you."

With a slightly raised eyebrow, the chuunin looked skeptically at the elder, but he adjusted his look when he realized that the Hokage had meant every word.

"But Hokage sama," Iruka started, "there are shinobi who are much more capable than me. I don't really understand why you can't tell anyone else. Is the situation really that bad?"

The Hokage smiled knowingly and turned his back to the sensei. "Whether or not the situation is bad is not important. The best thing we can do right now is just keep the identity of the enemy quiet before wild rumors start spreading."

Iruka took a deep breath and nodded, still a little uncertain but trusting Sandaime's words.

"You remember the story, don't you, Iruka? It didn't happen so long ago. I don't want my village in turmoil over the face of that man," he motioned his hand in the direction of Kakashi's room. "I want to know why he's here first."

Silent in his chair Iruka mulled over the implications of the situation. There were so many questions he wanted to ask, if only for clarification's sake. There was a lot of information to take in, and yet so little, but something told him that the Hokage wasn't here to answer questions so he ventured only one.

"And then?" Iruka asked.

The Hokage turned back towards Iruka with a serious look on his face but never gave his response. Instead he smiled a forced smile and walked towards the exit. "Please be ready for your duties tomorrow. Take down anything he says and does because I'm relying heavily on you, Iruka sensei."

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The field was lush with colourful sakura blossoms and sweet scents. Kakashi pushed his hair back in the soft breeze and pulled down his mask to take in the warm air.

Beautiful...

He could hear the sound of footsteps behind him, but as he turned the sound vanished. Soon he found himself on the ground beneath a heavy weight, but the boy just laughed and placed a kiss over Kakashi's soft lips.

For a while Kakashi watched his companion with a smile, his heavy heart lifting, if only a little. He knew it wasn't real, but the depth of the dream was unmistakable. Kakashi could feel the warmth held in the boy's touch, the spirit captured within his movements, the energy swirling in his eyes. It was all there, the same as it had always been, as if neither had ever left, and nothing had changed.

For just a moment it was so happy.

For a moment everything was oblivious, like a picture of utopia.

But something twitched.

Like it always did.

As eyes met for the second time, the glimmer was already draining from one pair. The two orbs that only a moment ago held the most dazzling soul began to droop and sag like a wet painting. The boy's smile faded, a look of pain passing over his delicate features. Too stunned to do anything, the silver haired youth only released his grasp as his companion tugged away and turned to run.

When the young Kakashi looked to the sky he realized that it had darkened drastically, and the landscape which had provided the most beautiful setting had shriveled into a wasteland in the time it takes to blink. The vast mountain that had graced the horizon of his paradise grew into a looming elevation before his eyes, destroying all around it. The force was suddenly so close. It would surely crush them both.

And yet the other boy kept running.

Part of him didn't want to continue. Deep within his sleeping mind he knew it was a dream; the reality that he had created in his mind to deal with the anguish of the past. He knew that his friend would trip and stumble. He knew of the terrifying image when he finally reached his companion, and once again looked into his face.

But the dream wasn't ending.

For some reason turning away was never an option. With the pulsing environment surrounding him Kakashi ran forward, watching the boy collapse. Before he knew it, he was there beside his fallen friend, begging him to get up, but finding him long dead; a disturbing mess of blood and decay. He shot back in fear at the sight, stomach turning, before he collapsed himself in a fit of tears.

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"The night air tonight is chilly," Iruka mumbled to himself, pushing through the doorway of his building. He lifted his head briefly to look at the sky, seeing a mass of grey clouds in the distance. "It looks like it might rain again."

He climbed the stairs and unlocked his door, flicking on the light to his small apartment out of habit and illuminating the tidy interior that had been cluttered with this morning's mess.

To be cleaned up AFTER I relax, he decided with a nod.

Immediately he began removing his excess gear, throwing his vest down upon a chair, and carefully tossing his kunai across his dining table. He didn't care for neatness right now, all he needed was a quick snack, a steaming hot shower, and lots of sleep before he had to wake up tomorrow and work at it all again.

It's not like he had anything else to do, though.

Looking at the sky once more, Iruka paused for a moment to admire the view.

"There are so many people living here, and yet it's so easy to feel alone," he said aloud. "Maybe that's how Kakashi felt."

The chuunin stood in quiet contemplation, the lack of sleep written all over his face as he waited in his daze. He hated to dwell upon Kakashi, but, to say the least, there was something very weird about the guy.

A confused look passed across his tired features as he thought more about it.

He reminds me of Naruto...

"..."

Iruka shrugged the thought away with a simultaneous yawn and tummy growl, grinning afterwards with nervous embarrassment. For a minute he continued watching the clouds roll in over the city but as a cool breeze sent a shiver over the back of his neck, he drew the blinds tightly. Scratching his head, the hungry chuunin tread lazily over to his kitchen and smiled as he pulled out some peanut butter and jelly.

"Whatever it is, I won't worry about it today."

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A cold breeze brushed across his cheek, forcing the images to flutter and disappear within his imagination. In a mere instant it was all gone.

Kakashi furrowed his brow in his partial awareness, suddenly coming to and remembering where he was. He opened his eyes to find only darkness and the scent of an early morning rain drifting through the barred window near his bed. Everything was quiet except for the rustling of his bed sheets. Forcing himself into a more awakened state, his senses searched the room for an enemy presence, but he found nothing alarming.

He was alone.

"I guess my keeper has left me for the night," he whispered into the chilly air of the clinic room.

Carefully pushing himself up, the silver haired man leaned back against his pillow and took a deep breath to calm his nerves. I had that dream again, he thought.

The one where you die right in front of me.

You die faster each time...

"I..." he paused for a moment as if reconsidering his words, but he gave up. "I...really hate that dream," he mumbled quietly, bringing a hand to wipe the sweat from his brow while stirring feeling through his stiff body.

I guess coming here brought back some memories...

A scuffle outside the door alerted him to the presence of one - no, two - guards, and he could only assume there were plenty more keeping a close eye on the clinic and its vicinity. It was a fact that a shinobi village never truly sleeps. It's both the grandeur of such a society and it's downfall.

In the soft moonlight Kakashi could see the shape of his hands, how ragged and worn they were with visible scars that never quite healed the way they should have. His palms were rough to the touch and calloused, nothing at all like they used to be. It seemed as if things always changed for the worse as time went on. With a downfallen heart he knew he was getting old despite his relatively young age, but time was a murderer.

He closed his eyes before relaxing with a sigh. Why hasn't it killed me yet?

There was always something about the darkness that made him miserable, maybe even a little suicidal, but he wrestled with the thoughts in his mind like he assumed he should. After all, there was a part of him that desperately wanted to live, to find the answers to his questions, the truth behind all of the lies. And perhaps to see... just one more time...

"Obito..." Kakashi whispered.

"I love you..."

"And yet. I hate you..."

"For giving me these...nightmares..."

TBC

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AN. This chapter is over 2500 words and it seems so short to me. I originally wanted Kakashi's section(s) longer but I was getting a bit frustrated with it. I know what's supposed to happen in my mind, but it just wouldn't write itself.. -- And is it too obvious to include Obito? I mean, it's not like you know how I'm gonna use him XD

::bows:: As usual, thanks for the support. I appreciate all comments/questions/criticisms. :)

::glomps all of you::

KakaIru shtuff comes a little later.... --;;; gomen, gomen... I like a good plot and build up sometimes... this isn't the usual fluff.