Shizune was keeping an eye on Tsunade as she completed her paperwork, when an Anbu transported himself in the room. Tsunade and Shizune looked up in shock. Normally people knocked.
'' Didn't anyone teach you how to knock? '' Tsunade asked.
'' Yes ma'am, sorry ma'am. '' The Anbu said.
After Tsunade had scolded the Anbu, she looked further.
'' What happened to you? '' Tsunade asked as Shizune hurried to the Anbu to help him. She healed his left arm.
'' Umino Iruka. '' The Anbu replied.
'' He attacked you? '' Tsunade asked in disbelief, the nice teacher wouldn't do such a thing.
'' Well yes, but under different circumstances, I was following them. I swear as I arrived at Hatake's apartment he turned around and looked right at where I was hiding. Then they walked to the memorial stone, I stayed away for thirty minutes to give them some privacy. It was also the first time Kakashi-senpai allowed someone to stay with him. '' The Anbu said.
'' And? '' Tsunade asked curiously.
'' Iruka-sensei sat in between Kakashi-senpai's legs as he played with Iruka-sensei's hair. '' The Anbu said.
'' Alright, alright back to your explanation. '' Shizune interrupted.
''Yes, right … uhm … So when I arrived at one of the trees about ten meters away from the memorial stone, he looked directly at me, I swear he looked me directly in the eye and I think he was sleeping before I arrived then he threw a kunai directly at me … he could have killed me, but I think he chose not to. '' The Anbu said.
'' Well, it is not like Iruka-san to kill someone. I assume that your presence was well hidden? '' Tsunade asked.
'' Yes ma'am, Kakashi-senpai did not notice me. '' The Anbu replied.
'' Mhmm … Thank you. Do you think Iruka-san has seen his face? '' Tsunade asked.
Everyone in the village wished to see Kakashi's face, no one except for Namikaze Minato. Naruto and his team had tried, but they didn't succeed. And when Kakashi lay unconscious in the hospital he would grab your wrist before you could even come close to his mask or the sheet that covered his face.
'' Could be … he asked me to leave once. '' The Anbu said.
'' Do you think that Iruka-san would tell us what he looks like? '' Tsunade asked
'' No he wouldn't tell a soul. '' Shizune said.
- Memorial stone. -
Kakashi and Iruka still sat against the memorial stone. It began raining a bit, the soft wet drops woke up Iruka, he looked up.
'' Just saying my goodbyes. Then we'll leave. '' Kakashi said.
Iruka patiently waited until Kakashi had said his goodbyes. Then Kakashi started combing Iruka's hair with his fingers and put it up in its usual pony tail.
'' Let's go home. '' Kakashi whispered, he sounded a bit sad. Iruka knew it was because he was remembering his friends and sensei.
'' Yes, home. '' Iruka said as he stood up. When he stood he offered his hand for Kakashi to take, to help him up. Kakashi took his hand and stood up. He grabbed his duffle bag and then they walked back to Iruka's apartment.
When they finally arrived home they were both completely soaked. They took of their shoes and Kakashi walked to the bath room and Iruka went to the bedroom, he grabbed some clothes for himself and Kakashi. Then he walked to the bathroom and knocked on the door.
'' Yes. '' Came the simple reply.
'' I brought you some clothes. '' Iruka said.
'' Well … come in you need a towel too. '' Kakashi said.
The door slowly opened and Iruka walked inside. He sat Kakashi's clothes on the sink, he saw that Kakashi was unbuttoning his shirt. Iruka blushed a nice pink color and turned to leave.
'' Ruka? '' Kakashi asked.
'' Hm. '' Iruka said as he turned around again to face the speaker.
'' Towel? '' Kakashi asked holding out a towel for Iruka. Iruka blushed even harder, he forgot that he also needed an towel.
'' Yeah … uhm thanks. '' Iruka said stuttered as he took the towel and then he quickly left.
Iruka changed in his bed room, a bit later he came out wearing grey sweatpants and a white sweater. He carried his wet clothes. Iruka noticed that Kakashi was in the kitchen. Iruka walked into the bath room and instead of just tossing his clothes in the hamper he decided to wash all clothes.
'' Ruka do you want tea? '' Kakashi asked.
'' Yes, would love some. '' Iruka called back
After a few minutes Iruka entered the living area, he looked around, he saw Kakashi sitting on the couch with a cup of tea in his hands and one waiting on the table. Iruka walked over to the couch and sat down besides Kakashi, he took his tea in his hands and let the tea warm his hands, he carefully took a sip. Iruka shivered as the hot liquid filled his body.
'' Are you cold? '' Kakashi asked.
'' Yeah. '' Iruka replied.
'' Come closer. '' Kakashi said.
Iruka moved closer to Kakashi until he leant against him. Kakashi started rubbing circles on Iruka's back and arms in order to warm him up. They sat like that for a while completely enjoying each other's company in silence.
'' Shall I make us a nice warm dinner? '' Kakashi asked.
'' 'Kay sounds good. '' Iruka mumbled.
Kakashi stood up and walked to the chair that stood by the book shelves, he grabbed the blanket from the chair and laid it over Iruka. It was the blanket Iruka used when Kakashi used his bed. Kakashi walked to the kitchen where he prepared dinner. Thirty minutes later dinner was served and tea was made. Kakashi walked back to the couch were Iruka lay soundly asleep, once in a while he shivered. Kakashi put a hand on his shoulder.
'' Ruka dinner is ready. '' Kakashi said softly, but Iruka didn't respond. Kakashi sat on his knees in front of Iruka. Kakashi softly let his fingers roam over the other man's face.
'' Ruka … Ruka wake up … dinner is ready. '' Kakashi said a little harder every time he tried to wake up the chunin. Finally Iruka slowly opened his eyes and looked directly in Kakashi's eye. Iruka smiled.
'' Sorry. '' Iruka mumbled.
'' Don't be, come dinner is getting cold. '' Kakashi said.
Iruka and Kakashi walked to the dining table and sat down, they ate their dinner in silence. Iruka was silent because he was rather amazed by Kakashi's cooking skills. When they were done they cleaned the dishes and the table. Kakashi got a book from his duffle bag and then sat down on the couch and started reading it. Iruka searched through his school bag and got out his sketch pad and pencil, he also walked to the couch and sat besides Kakashi. Kakashi pulled him down by his arm, which startled Iruka. Iruka now laid now on Kakashi's thigh with his head.
'' Hey! '' Iruka said. Kakashi smiled.
'' Sorry .. I just love playing with your hair. '' Kakashi said. One hand held the book and the other played with Iruka's hair, Kakashi softly pulled out the tie and now played with the lose strands.
'' Weird jounin. '' Iruka mumbled softly with a please smile plastered on his face. Kakashi saw it, he was only pretending to read the book, he actually just kept watching Iruka.
Kakashi liked Iruka, very much, but he didn't know what Iruka thought of him. Obviously they saw each other as friends and Kakashi liked to think that Iruka thought of him as best friend, since he told Kakashi his story although Kakashi hoped to be more. Iruka started drawing something that came to mind, he liked to draw landscapes.
'' Naruto's coming. '' Iruka said softly. Kakashi looked down to Iruka, drawn away from his thoughts.
'' Sorry, what? '' Kakashi asked.
'' Naruto's coming. '' Iruka repeated.
'' How do you know? Kakashi asked.
'' I can feel his chakra coming, it's coming right to us. He'll be her in ten minutes if he keeps this pace. '' Iruka explained. He was still drawing and not once had he looked up. Kakashi frowned a bit, he couldn't feel the blonde's chakra, but he would patiently wait ten minutes.
Exactly ten minutes later there was knocking on the door. Kakashi stood up and walked to the door, but was stopped by Iruka's voice before he reached the door.
'' Kashi, your mask. '' Iruka said. Kakashi grinned and scratched the back of his head and then pulled up his mask and opened the door.
'' Hello, Naruto-kun. '' Kakashi greeted.
'' Oh, Kakashi-sensei … may I come in? '' Naruto asked.
'' Yes, sure. '' Kakashi said as he stepped aside to let Naruto in.
Naruto walked inside and toed of his sandals and then walked in the living room, he sat on a pillow across from Iruka.
'' Hi, sensei, what are you drawing? '' Naruto asked.
'' Hi … you know I like to draw landscapes. '' Iruka replied.
'' Yeah I know. '' Naruto replied.
'' Would you like some tea? '' Kakashi asked.
'' Yes. '' '' Yeah. '' Iruka and Naruto replied.
Kakashi went into the kitchen and went about making tea. A few minutes later Kakashi came back with three cups of tea. He sat them down on the table. Iruka sat up a bit so Kakashi could sit down again. Kakashi sat down and then Iruka laid back, his head on Kakashi's thigh. Naruto looked at Kakashi and then at Iruka and then back to Kakashi, with his mouth wide open. Luckily Kakashi could keep his emotions well in place or he would have laughed his butt of at the look Naruto gave them.
'' Are you okay Naruto-kun, is something wrong? '' Kakashi asked, he couldn't keep the laughter out of his voice though.
''N-N-No not at a-all. '' Naruto replied, he blushed and started drinking his tea.
'' So Naruto-kun, what brought you here? '' Iruka asked after a couple minutes.
'' I … '' Naruto sought for the right words, not to alert them. '' I'm having such weird dreams lately. '' Naruto replied carefully.
'' Tell us about it. '' Kakashi said.
'' In these … dreams I keep seeing a place, it's the same every time, but I don't know where it is. In every … dream I keep feeling as if I'm hurt, badly. I can see a person in the middle of the field, but I'm too far away to see who it is. '' Naruto explained.
'' Well maybe we can help you finding that place. '' Iruka said.
Naruto explained in great detail how the field looked like, but in the middle of his explanations Naruto started breathing weird. It became fast and short. Naruto reached for his heart, to others it seemed like it hurt, like he was hyperventilating.
Iruka quickly got of the couch and rushed to Naruto, he sat beside him.
'' Naruto calm down. '' Iruka said calmly.
Naruto's eyes started to become red and the lines on his face became wild.
'' Kakashi. '' Iruka said motioning to the boys eyes. Kakashi sat closer to Naruto.
'' Naruto I thought … you had control over the Kyuubi. '' Kakashi said.
'' Need … paper … and pencil. '' Naruto said still breathing heavily, but he was trying to calm down. Iruka quickly got up and got his sketchpad and pencil he used earlier. He gave the sketchpad and pencil to Naruto. Naruto took the sketchpad and looked at it and gasped, his facial features returned to normal.
'' Iruka-sensei … '' Naruto said surprised.
'' Y-Yes. '' Iruka replied.
'' This is the place I was talking about. '' Naruto said as Iruka and Kakashi walked back to the couch.
'' Naruto-kun I have to ask. Do you or do you not have control over Kyuubi? '' Kakashi asked, then he sipped his tea.
'' Well … it's … I have control … were sort of friends … '' Naruto replied. Kakashi looked at him questioningly.
'' You want to know what just happened? '' Naruto asked. Both Iruka and Kakashi nodded.
'' I-I told you it were dreams, because I didn't want you to worry … this is what happens when I have one of those so called dreams. '' Naruto explained.
Iruka looked worried and if Kakashi was as well, then it was very well hidden, for Naruto that is.
'' Alright I can probably help you. Give me that sketchbook … '' Kakashi said. Naruto handed him the sketchbook and Kakashi looked it over, then he looked at Iruka.
'' Sorry Iruka. '' Kakashi said. Iruka looked a bit confused. Kakashi opened his Sharingan eye and looked at the drawing once more.
'' It's … leave through the front gates, head three kilometers north east … '' Kakashi said slowly because of chakra depletion. Iruka smiled sadly he knew now why Kakashi had apologized.
'' Don't fight it, come here. '' Iruka said tugging Kakashi's arm, Kakashi complied and laid back on the couch facing Iruka's belly, his head on Iruka's thigh, one hand pulling at his mask. Iruka helped him pull down his mask, then he softly played with Kakashi's hair on the back of his head, with his other hand he caressed Kakashi's jaw line, After just second Kakashi gave up on fighting the darkness and let it consume him. Naruto stared at them in disbelief.
'' You've seen his face? You actually seen his face? '' Naruto asked. Iruka looked up to Naruto.
'' Yes, several times. '' Iruka replied honestly.
Naruto stared at his sensei, with his mouth wide open. Complete shock written over his face.
'' Naruto-kun maybe you should go. Leave the window open, come back when you found it. I'll wait here. '' Iruka said, still caressing Kakashi's face.
Naruto nodded and stood up, he put on his shoes and then he left through the window in Iruka's living room, in the direction Kakashi had said.