Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. I have been to a party like this though and I was as weirded out as Iruka.
Much love to Meiun and ReixGarra for editing this story.
Stranger Situations
Chapter 7: Finding Oneself
"Can I have my hair tie back?"
Iruka looked furtively at the stretchy brown band Kakashi was absently fiddling with. They hadn't spoken in the last twenty minutes or so, the space inside the vehicle oppressively silent except for sound filtering in from the outside. After the toe curling, dominating kiss, and Iruka's angry outburst, the two men had fallen into broody silence, each looking out his respective window.
The intensity from the kiss and his subsequent anger had left Iruka feeling shaken, doubting his ability to control the situation with the older man. The initial heat, which made him feel as though he'd been seared from the inside out, had abated. Now he just felt chilled emotionally and physically, the thick blue scarf was doing nothing to help warm him anymore. If anything, being surrounded by Kakashi's scent was keeping his nerves tight and frayed. He was cold, starting to shiver again, on edge, and not looking forward to what the night could possibly bring.
He had no idea what was expected of him tonight, no clue about where they were going in LA or any of the people that would be at the party. For the life of him, he couldn't figure out why Kakashi still wanted to take him after their altercation that morning. Shouldn't the man have decided he was too much trouble by now and moved on? As it was, Kakashi looked over at his request and frowned, the single grey eye assessing him with a calculating gaze.
Oh hell, what now? Iruka thought irritably.
He was not in the mood for another fight. All he wanted was his hair tie back. The dark strands were still wild from the wind and Kakashi's pawing, no matter how many times he pushed them back behind his ears, lengths kept falling free and tickling his nose. It was pissing him off and all he wanted was his damn hair tie back.
"You haven't eaten today, have you?" Kakashi sounded more like he was stating a fact than asking a question.
Iruka almost growled. "Do you always have to reply to one of my questions with a question? Can't you just answer me straight for once?" He scowled as the older man merely raised an eyebrow at him. "I don't even need an answer. I just want my hair tie back."
Silence reigned for a short time as the two men stared at each other, the older obviously assessing the situation while the younger just glared in irritation. The driver shifted slightly in discomfort at the tension between his two passengers. He couldn't understand the language they were speaking but the atmosphere in the car was very heavy.
"Why haven't you eaten?" Kakashi asked in a low tone.
It was obvious to Iruka that the older man did not intend to give up his hair tie until his questions were answered. Iruka scowled at him one more time before turning to face the window again, hair falling around his face at the sharp movement. He was in no mood to play games; he'd had quite enough of uppity businessmen for one day. There was a spare tie in his backpack. He would just have to be patient and wait until the car stopped.
"Forget it," Iruka muttered and resolved to ignore the older man for as long as he could.
Hunching down he tried to sink further into the thin jacket and scarf, attempting to trap in the minimal warmth and stop his trembling. Agreement be damned! He was cold, in a foul mood, and not prepared to answer any more arrogant questions. If Kakashi had half the sense of a goat, he'd leave him alone.
Less than a second after that thought had formed warm fingers raked gently through his hair and made Iruka jump in surprise. Thankfully, he was able to hold in any undignified yelps this time, instead turning to glare heatedly at the larger man who had moved into the centre seat and was far too close for comfort.
"What are you doing?" he snapped irritably while slapping the pale hand away.
Kakashi just gave him an impatient look and sighed. "Your hair's obviously annoying you. Let me tie it back."
The pale hands reached forwards again and Iruka batted at them, missing completely as Kakashi moved easily to avoid the strike.
"I've been binding my own hair since I was four years old. I don't need help. Give me the damn tie and back off," he bit out angrily, trying to look ferocious and hoping the gorgeous man would retreat back to his side of the car. The business tycoon was very large and he was beginning to feel cornered.
Kakashi simply raised his eyebrow again and looked as though he was trying not to smile. "I'm not denying your ability to tie back your own hair; I'd simply like to do it for you."
Iruka actually growled and his eyes narrowed dangerously. If Naruto or Sasuke had been in the car, they would have immediately gone completely silent and tried to make themselves as small as possible. Kakashi just sat there totally unperturbed. The only conclusion the furious teacher could come to was that either his tormentor lacked any semblance of survival instinct or he had a death wish. If it was the latter, Iruka was in the mood to assist him with that wish.
Since he'd met the silver haired tyrant in a time of weakness he had been manipulated, frustrated, humiliated, and practically mancipated. That morning's confrontation had left him feeling so incredibly foolish and he was still berating himself for letting the older man get so close. He opened himself to a total stranger in ways he'd never even considered to be possible before and all Kakashi did was push him for more. It was just too much. His hand clenched into a tight fist and just as he was contemplating punching Kakashi in the nose part of their conversation from the night before flitted through his head.
"I've been doing martial arts since I was three years old. My father had me train in all forms and with a new sensei every year so I developed new skills and techniques constantly."
Iruka froze. Kakashi was fast, strong, and trained.
"I have, on many occasions, carried around men three times your weight and both of our packs while in the army over stupidly long distances for no other reason than training."
"If you ever manage to punch me in the face, Ruka, I'll be mightily impressed."
The man had not been kidding. It was true, if Iruka ever managed to land a hit on the larger male it would be either a fluke or a miracle. He glared up into the striking pale face and unclenched his fist. Perhaps he was the one not reading the situation intelligently. Kakashi was the head of a powerful corporation, from the way he moved one could just tell he'd be a superb fighter. Whether the teacher attacked him verbally or physically there was a very small probability Iruka would come out the winner.
However, just allowing Kakashi to have his own way again to keep the peace would be too much of a blow to the younger man's pride. Even though their disagreement appeared to be about who would tie up his hair, Iruka knew the underlying argument was really about control. Kakashi was trying to control his movements, to dominate him, just as he had been doing since they'd met at the airport in Tokyo.
To be fair though, Kakashi had also helped him a great deal since they'd met in Japan. He'd also been very kind and understanding of Iruka's past and subsequent issues, both mental and physical. Iruka knew he wouldn't be able to win a verbal or physical match against Kakashi when they appeared to be speaking over something as vague as securing some wayward hair. As much as Iruka loathed admitting it, the older man had the upper hand in this situation. Kakashi could throw out as many underlying messages as he liked and if Iruka eventually snapped and told him to stop playing mind game or be so controlling, he'd just fall back on the fact that they were speaking of a hair accessory. No matter how Iruka played out the possible conversations in his head, he'd end up looking foolish.
Even though his thought process had only lasted a few seconds, it was evident in Kakashi's expression that he had a fair idea of what had just passed through Iruka's head. The younger man let out a small sigh and broke their eye contact. He ran a frustrated hand through his hair and let his head fall back against the headrest of his seat. It was only for one more night and then, regardless of his mixed feelings, they would separate back into their own lives. Perhaps their paths would cross occasionally in the future, but they would effectively go back to being strangers. This wasn't worth being so worked up over.
"Just leave it be, Kakashi." He sighed and looked out the window, sending the clear message that the conversation was over.
The rain had gotten heavier and Iruka absently noted that the dark tinting on the windows made it seem much gloomier than it really was. The weather really was matching his mood perfectly. He could feel Kakashi's assessing gaze still on him and wondered if the older man would go back to his side of the car and leave the situation alone. Somehow, he doubted it. That just didn't seem to be the older man's style. As if to answer his thoughts warm fingers took a hold of his chin and firmly turned his face.
Oh for fucks sake!
"What are you doing?" Iruka snapped and fixed his eyes back on the man next to him only to discover the handsome face much closer than before. The teacher swallowed nervously and consciously steeled his expression.
The dark grey eye studied his furious brown ones. The hard, penetrating gaze, as always, made the younger man feel as though Kakashi was looking directly into his mind. It was as if the older man really could read his thoughts, could see everything he was feeling and thinking. No matter how much he wanted to, Iruka was unable to look away from that single orb, pride demanding that he hold that piercing stare. The whole world seemed to shrink down until it contained just the two of them and Iruka's breathing becoming increasingly shallower. It was as though the larger male's presence wrapped around him and held him in a silent cocoon from the rest of the world.
The teacher's anger abated as uncertainty took over and he fought to keep his features in a glare. What did Kakashi see? What could he read in his eyes? Could he see how much that morning's confrontation had hurt him? How angry he was with Kakashi for betraying his trust and how furious he felt at himself for been stupid enough to give that trust in the first place? Could he see that all Iruka wanted to do was to get as far from him as possible while at the same time knowing he would miss the physical intimacy Kakashi had given him? Did the older man know how much he despised himself for craving that sinful touch?
A muted ring from the businessman's coat pocket broke the spell, making Iruka jump slightly in surprise. The single eye flashed in annoyance as the elegant hand released its grip on his chin and warm fingers pressed briefly against his chilled cheek. Frowning, Kakashi moved back to his side of the car and pulled a slender phone from his pocket, flicking it open. Before he spoke into it, though, he addressed the driver in English.
"You," the driver flinched at the commanding tone, "turn on the heater."
"Yes, sir." The driver quickly fiddled with some dials and warm air instantly started flowing into the car.
Iruka watched as the stylish phone was pressed to a pale ear. He felt frozen, like an animal trapped in a cage with a predator who had just stalked over, looked into his soul, and, for some reason, decided to let him live a little longer. Who the hell was this man?
"Yes?" the large male demanded of the caller before listening a moment. "I see, put them through." The granite eye was once more turned to him. "Please excuse me a moment. This is a business call."
There was no way Iruka trusted his voice enough to speak at that moment so instead he just narrowed his eyes and gave a small nod. The teacher knew Kakashi had no need to explain himself; it wasn't as though he was going to demand his attention anyway. He actually felt as though the call had come at just the right time.
Saved by the bell, the teacher thought ironically.
As someone obviously came onto the other end of the line, the older man turned away again and, to Iruka's great surprise, began speaking in another language. He couldn't tell what it was but it sounded vaguely German to him. How many languages did the man speak? So many questions. There were so many things he didn't know about the mysterious man that had appeared in his life and confused the hell out of it.
While the language might have been different, the tone used by the business tycoon was still direct and emotionless. No matter how grateful he was that Kakashi's attention was elsewhere, Iruka still couldn't help but hate that tone of voice. He completely refused to acknowledge the fact that the smooth, deep baritone was still sending little thrills down his spine.
With a small shake of his head, Iruka turned his attention once more out the window and breathed a small sigh of relief. He had been gifted with a moments respite and the air in the car was finally starting to warm. The teacher ignored his still loose hair; actually, he was mildly grateful he had never reacquired his band. The long strands fell around his face and helped to hide it. He felt the need to hide at that moment, no matter how ineffectual it really was.
…
The business call took the remainder of the drive, only ending once they had arrived at the private section of an airfield. The larger commercial jets could be seen taking off or landing in the distance, but the section they were in had obviously been reserved for smaller, private vehicles. The plane was the same size as the one they had taken from New York but Ino was not there to greet them at the stairs. Instead, a young brunette introduced herself as Clarissa.
Unlike Ino, Clarissa was completely smitten at first sight with Kakashi, but Iruka really couldn't blame her. The businessman had emerged from the luxurious car gracefully, silver hair blowing in the wind, expensive clothing impeccable, and speaking into the phone with a deep, commanding voice. The man was magnificent there was no denying it.
The woman did cast her eye over Iruka as he exited the vehicle after Kakashi, but dismissed him after a single glance. In his old worn clothes and hair flying wild, he knew any woman would rather set their sights on the tall, elegant figure. He did not begrudge her for the dismissal and simply went to retrieve their bags from the driver who was pulling them out of the car boot.
"Thank you for bringing us here." The tanned man smiled warmly as he shouldered his backpack. "I hope you get back safely and the traffic isn't too heavy."
"You're welcome, sir." The driver smiled back and went to hand over Kakashi's bag when Iruka reached for it.
The teacher's fingers never grasped the handle. Instead, a large pale hand reached around him and took the bag firmly, making Iruka and the driver jump slightly from Kakashi's unexpected appearance. While still talking on the phone, the large male nodded once to the driver and walked off towards the waiting plane. Iruka and the driver watched him walk away in silence for a moment before focusing back on each other.
"He's, ah, very quiet." Iruka smiled again to put the still surprised driver at ease.
"That he is," the uniformed man agreed with him slightly embarrassed.
"I'm sorry about the tension in the car before. I hope it wasn't too uncomfortable for you," he said apologetically, rubbing at his facial scar. "And I hope the rest of your evening is enjoyable."
The driver looked at him stunned for a moment before his face broke into a genuine smile. "Thank you," he said sincerely.
Iruka gave him a quick grin before turning and hurrying towards the plane. Kakashi was waiting for him at the stairs and seemed to have finished his call. The orphanage teacher couldn't help but smile bitterly at the scene in front of him; the powerful, rich businessman standing tall next to his private plane while the sexy air-hostess made smouldering eyes at him and tried to strike a pose which flaunted all her 'best assets'. As he drew closer, he could hear her voice on the wind and it sounded like she had a southern accent. That strange soft drawl you sometimes heard on movies with cowboys and wagons.
"And please, sir, if there is anything I can do to make your flight more enjoyable just let me know. I'm sure there is some form of entertainment available that will appeal to you. Why don't you head on up and make yourself comfortable? I'll make sure your assistant gets on safely."
Oh, for the love of sanity, she was hitting on him! Iruka really wasn't surprised but what did shock him was the blatantly obvious way she was doing it. He hoped to high heaven that there was an extra compartment on the plane he could hide in if Kakashi did decide to take her up on her offer. Just because he wanted to get away from the man didn't mean he wanted to watch him get hot and heavy with someone else. An almost sick feeling settled in his empty stomach at the idea of Kakashi being intimate with someone else. The smile fell from his face as confusion swirled in his mind.
It would be a good thing if Kakashi found someone else that night to turn his attentions to. Wasn't that what Iruka wanted? Wasn't that his plan, to see the wealthy man bedding down with someone beautiful and more suited to his social standing? The fact that he felt sick and saddened by the thought was of no matter. Iruka didn't belong near him, which had been made abundantly clear by a number of people over the last few days.
It didn't matter if the idea of losing intimacy was hurtful, he didn't belong in this world, and that morning had shown that he couldn't trust Kakashi. At least if Kakashi found someone else the mind games and manipulation would stop... Even if it meant losing those beautiful moments of intimacy that had become precious memories for him. He dropped his gaze as the silver haired man turned at his arrival, missing the brief flash of concern that travelled through the narrowed grey eye.
"He's not my assistant. He's my companion," the deep voice stated firmly as the tall man turned and started ascending the stairs.
"My mistake," the woman drawled, watching the lean figure. "Welcome, sir," she commented absently as Iruka started to follow Kakashi.
The teacher didn't bother to answer her, she wouldn't have noticed if he did anyway. She was completely focused on the gorgeous businessman and there was a scary hunger in her eyes. It made him feel sorry for Kakashi. This woman didn't care that he was incredibly intelligent, had a wicked sense of humour, or was very gentle. She only cared that he was handsome and rich, therefore worth pursuing. It was sad.
The plane was a different layout to the last one but no less opulent. If anything, it was even more so. His bag was taken by Clarissa and stored in a small cupboard while he curiously gawked at the jet's interior. He was so distracted he forgot to get out another hair tie. There was no kitchenette but an open bar area with everything needed to mix any drink, cleverly designed in such a way that everything was safely secured in case of a bumpy ride. There were couches lining the walls, all in soft black leather, and a small table. The stylised leaf pattern, which had decorated the other plane, was prominent in this one too. A small alcove at the back must have been where the bathroom facilities lay. Thankfully, the air was warmer.
Kakashi was moving towards one of the couches, removing his thick black coat to reveal a dark charcoal suit beneath. The cut was perfect and just made him look all the more striking. A midnight blue tie overlay a black silk shirt. Kakashi was stunningly handsome and his outfit proclaimed wealth. The tall man wore the suit with ease and elegance, clearly showing himself to be the powerful corporation owner he was. It was intimidating.
Iruka dragged his eyes from the imposing figure and focused on what Clarissa was saying as he unwound the blue scarf that should have gone with the other man's outfit. It must have looked ridiculous with his plain attire.
"We will be ready to depart in just a few moments. Would you like something to drink before takeoff?"
"Could I just have some water please?" Iruka answered her, forcing politeness into his tone.
"Of course, sir. Still or sparkling?"
Iruka blinked in confusion at the question. There were different kinds of water?
"Um, just normal water thanks."
The look their hostess gave him was mildly depreciatory before she schooled her features and turned her gaze back to the silver haired man, now seated and watching them.
"And for you, Mr. Hatake?" Clarissa drawled provocatively. "What can I offer you?"
A blush tinted tanned features slightly at the woman's brazenly obvious offer. Kakashi, though, just fixed her with a bored eye.
"I'll have normal water too. After that, I require privacy. Unless I press the call button stay in the cockpit with the pilots and don't bother us." The tone was ice cold.
Two sets of dark brows rose at the blatant dismissal. While Clarissa looked shocked and disappointed, Iruka frowned disapprovingly at the older man before he quickly spoke to the startled woman, attempting to break the heavy atmosphere.
"Miss, could you tell me how long it will take to get to Los Angeles please?" he asked kindly.
Clarissa turned to him and took a deep breath before lifting her chin, collecting herself once more. "It will take just over an hour."
"Thank you." Iruka smiled warmly but was only gifted with a cold look before she turned towards the bar area.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, the tanned man walked over to one of the couches. Kakashi was leaning back comfortably in the plush leather watching him, a small, amused lift to the edges of his mouth. Iruka sat down a few seats over from the older man, not so far away that it would be considered rude, but not close enough to show he was comfortable in the other's presence. Their drinks were prepared quickly and delivered in crystal tumblers on a silver tray, Iruka thanked the woman and Kakashi just taking his glass.
"Will there be anything else before departure, sir?" Clarissa asked Kakashi in a clipped tone as she laid out non-slip coasters on the low table.
A silver eyebrow arched. "Were my earlier instructions not clear?"
This time Iruka did roll his eyes. Clarissa simply flushed indignantly and turned on her heel to stalk through the door separating the cockpit from the cabin. She did manage to refrain from slamming the door behind her. Silence reigned for a moment after her departure before Iruka sighed and fixed the pale man with a small frown.
"That was rude," he admonished.
"She was being rude." Kakashi's voice was bored and he reached up to loosen the dark tie, pulling it off and slipping it into his jacket pocket before flicking open the two top buttons of his shirt. Iruka determinedly ignored the flash of tempting pale skin.
"She was being flirtatious with you, not rude."
"She was being rude to you." the dark jacket was shrugged off and carelessly tossed on top of the black coat.
Iruka glared, resolutely keeping his eyes on Kakashi's face and refusing to watch the lean torso swathed in silk as it moved. "I'm old enough to look after myself with rude people. I've been getting a lot of practice in lately."
The grin Kakashi gave him for that little dig shone with pure amusement. "Why, sensei, how cruel. You've hurt my feelings."
"I'm sure you'll weep from the pain," the younger man drawled sarcastically.
"Will you cuddle me better if I do?"
Iruka just cocked an eyebrow and slumped back into his seat. "Sure, I'll buy you an ice cream while we're at it. Try and sweeten you up a bit."
"You're pretty sweet, maybe I should just eat you." Kakashi leered as the plane started to slowly move.
The usually kind face scowled darkly. "That's not going to happen."
The handsome man's amusement lessened slightly and a determined edge hardened his smile. Iruka turned away from that look and nervously gulped down half his water before setting the glass on the table. The last thing he needed to be doing was holding something crystal during takeoff. He clipped on his belt, cleverly tucked away between the soft couch folds so that when it wasn't worn during the flight it would not be noticed. If Kakashi hadn't already fastened his, Iruka wasn't sure he would have even known it was there.
Damn takeoff. At least with the design of the seating on the plane he couldn't look out a window and wouldn't have to watch the ground fall away. He didn't look at Kakashi to see if the older man was watching him, he didn't care right then. At least Kakashi seemed to be honouring the part of their bargain where conversation was ceased during takeoff and landing.
The plane gathered speed and his hands started to shake as he stared fixedly at the floor. There was nothing to watch as the plane gathered speed, nothing to distract him from what was to come. He didn't like watching the ground fall away when taking off, but he'd never realised before what a good distraction it really was, how much the visual stimulation helped. This was worse. This was so much worse than being able to look out the window.
The plane began to lift and he closed his eyes tightly, bowing his head so his hair hid his face. His breathing hitched in short shallow gasps and he clenched his hands in a white knuckled grip as the plane gave its awful shudder. This was so much worse than looking out of the window. It was horrible.
He suddenly heard his belt click undone, the band retracting from around his waist, as strong arms slid under his knees and behind his back. Dark, panicked eyes flew open as Iruka found himself easily lifted then settled on a warm lap. Kakashi leaned back into the thick upholstery, wrapping his arms around the smaller man even as Iruka protested loudly and tried to struggle free. Iruka was sitting sideways on the larger man's thighs with his legs stretched across the seats. It left him in a very awkward position to try to escape from.
"I'm not a fucking child!" the tanned man burst out angrily and pushed against one of the solid arms with as much strength as he could. It wouldn't budge!
"Shh, calm down," the deep voice rumbled above him soothingly.
"Fuck off!" Iruka snapped before flinching back instinctively as a large hand moved towards his face. Dark eyes closed tightly as his tanned hands shot up to block against a strike.
His eyes opened again in surprise as the warm hand cupped the side of his face and pressed his head against the broad chest. A pale cheek rested against his forehead as a warm thumb stroked gently over half his scar. Iruka froze, not relaxing by any means but not fighting anymore either. What the hell did Kakashi think he was doing? The plane was taking off; he was supposed to be left alone during takeoffs. It was part of their agreement!
"Deep breaths, Iruka. Nice deep breaths now."
Iruka focused on his breathing and realised how shallow and quick it was. Was he having a panic attack? He'd never had one before so he really wasn't sure. With his breathing to concentrate on and Kakashi's presence distracting him from the airplane's ascent, Iruka calmed. The elegant hand shifted to stroke through his hair but the arm anchoring him to the large male hadn't loosened its grip. Iruka ordered his body to relax, forcing the tension from his muscles.
"Did I just have a panic attack?" he asked in a low, unsure tone.
"No, you were just frightened." Kakashi's voice was also low, as if to calm a flighty animal.
The younger man tensed again in anger. "It would have been alright if you hadn't touched me."
The chest he was leaning against shifted as the older man shrugged a shoulder. "You needed a distraction."
Iruka sighed and just let his whole frame go loose. Damn the man for being right again. The teacher raised a hand to his face and pressed hard against his eyes in frustration.
"I hate this," he muttered angrily to no one in particular.
"Hate what?" The older man's voice was gentle and it just made the younger feel more frustrated and ridiculous.
"This person I've been for the last few days. Normally I'm not the one who needs help; I'm the person who helps everybody else. I'm the one who fixes problems, sorts situations out and keeps people sane. I'm supposed to be the responsible, reliable one not this… this incompetent, useless person I've been since leaving Japan. Not this annoying, desperate thing you've met." He took a deep breath and dropped his hand away from his face. "You know, if we'd met a week ago, before Naruto and Sasuke got in trouble, and you tried to pull half the shit you have I would've either dismissed you so harshly you'd never wanted to see me again or smacked you into a wall… tried to, at least. I'm so sick of showing weakness in front of someone like you. I hate it."
There was silence for a few moments before Kakashi finally spoke, his voice low and thoughtful.
"I've met a lot of needy and helpless people in my life. Some because they're just built that way and others because they choose to be. Then there are those people, who are incredibly strong. They're self reliant, intelligent, and hard working but every now and then, they fall down. They stumble across something out of their depth or everything just becomes too much and they lose their way." Kakashi's hand lowered from his hair and took one of Iruka's limp hands, entwining their fingers. "Just because they collapse and need someone to help them back to their feet, hold their hand, and guide them for a little while, doesn't mean they won't walk again on their own."
Those words repeated over in Iruka's mind as he stared at their linked fingers.
"That may be true," he said eventually before removing his fingers from the long, pale ones. "But the people who have fallen need to be able to trust those holding their hand. Otherwise, it's better that they just sit on the ground until they can rise on their own again. Besides," he tried to push away from the older man but was held firmly in place, "I didn't fall. I had my legs kicked out from under me."
At that statement, the large body tensed just enough to be noticeable. Iruka knew that saying what he had wasn't going to incite a friendly response and was now more determined to get out of the strong grip than ever. Only a fool would anger and then stay in close proximity to someone as dangerous as Hatake Kakashi.
This time when he pushed at the arms there was no resistance. Iruka quickly slid off the older man's thighs and retreated a few seats distance. The slate eye locked onto chocolate ones, which were equally as hard. It was obvious in the expressions of both men that neither was going to back down. The only question was who would speak first.
As it turned out, Kakashi broke the silence. His voice was cool and calm but Iruka could clearly see the undercurrent to his words. "You're not complying with our agreement, Iruka. You didn't answer my question earlier."
"You've been breaking promises today too, Kakashi," Iruka stated flatly. "You asked earlier why I haven't eaten. It's because I'm so disgusted and angry over what happened this morning that every time I even think about having something to eat I want to throw up."
"Disgusted?"
"Yes, disgusted!" Iruka snapped, brown eyes flashing dangerously. "I trusted you. I let you in and gave you more of myself then I've ever given anyone and you practically spat in my face!"
"I did no such thing," the older man responded in a low, tense tone.
"Bullshit," the normally warm voice growled. "You're so bent on control and manipulation that you don't even see it when you're seriously hurting others. So long as you get what you want, it's alright and any method is acceptable. It's not."
The larger frame shifted forwards, elbows resting on knees and causing the dark shirt to stretch over broad shoulders. "I've done nothing that you haven't allowed. You're walking a thin line here, Iruka."
"I'm sick of tiptoeing around your ego, Kakashi." Iruka's eyes were narrowed as he leaned forward, mirroring the older male's aggressive body language. "You've strategically backed me into a corner and I'm done with playing your games."
"Games?" There was a slight lift of the silver eyebrow as Kakashi fixed the teacher with a tiny smirk that held absolutely no humour. "You could have said no at any point during our association. You can't blame me for the choices you made."
"I'm not blaming you for the choices I've made. I'm blaming you for giving me shitty options during a time of desperation while having an alternative agenda centring on controlling another person."
"I've been helping you. I've been pulling you out of difficulty since we met in Tokyo. Are you saying you didn't need my help?"
"Oh no, you're not going to pull that card on me. You may have gotten me where I needed to go, but the entire process was a deceitful and orchestrated information gathering session. This was not done out of the kindness of your heart."
"I'm not allowed to get to know the person my apprentice is so attached to when the opportunity presents itself?"
"Oh, you're very clever, Kakashi, there's no doubt about that. You've managed to intersperse the negative with enough positives during our 'association' that any argument I throw at you can be countered. You contrive situations, which appear completely innocent but are targeted at gaining you more control. It's a wonderful Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine, except Dr. Jekyll's appearance doesn't change along with his personality. The incident during the car ride this evening is a classic example of that."
A faint tilt lifted the corner of the thin lips even as the single slate eye narrowed further. Iruka couldn't help but think Kakashi looked positively predatory and the younger man was just waiting for the strike. There was no doubt in his mind it was coming, but damned if he was going to back down this time. No fucking way.
"Why don't you enlighten me on what you think was occurring in the car, Iruka. I'm very interested to hear your view on things."
The tone of that deep, smooth voice was chilling. It clearly transmitted that whatever accusations Iruka could throw at him would be able easily deflected. Iruka knew that tone well from his younger years. Though the last time he'd heard it, the voice had been hoarser and contained more of a hiss. Ice shards of fear sliced through his chest and he could almost hear the hated demon's words as if the Warden were in the plane with him. But he was no longer a frightened defenceless child and he brutally banished the dark memories. The orphan glared at the businessman with more venom than he'd been able to muster in years.
"I have already survived bigger mind fucks in my childhood than you can ever hope to unleash, Hatake." This time the words were growled and Iruka's hands fisted, his muscles unconsciously preparing themselves for instant action even though he remained seated. "I've dealt with a far more disturbed individual than you. You don't even come close to matching up against him. I can smell a discordian argument a mile away and I know what you're doing. You want to play in someone's head, toy with one of your drones. I will not tolerate this."
The last words came out as a snarl and Kakashi's eye widened at the vehemence in small man's voice. Long hair framed furiously slitted eyes, the normally warm brown darkened to almost black. The gentle and open face was set with barely contained fury that was so palpable it flowed from the slight frame in dark waves. The young orphanage teacher looked downright dangerous.
Kakashi thought Iruka was stunning. He wanted to close the distance between them and savour that passion, taste the anger on the full lips, and allow Iruka to release the bottled up fury on him. He had a feeling it would be magnificent.
More immediate than his carnal desire, though, was what Iruka was feeling. The smaller man was right; Kakashi had been playing with him. It hadn't been completely intentional; it was just so exquisite to draw emotion forth from the teacher. Iruka was always totally committed to his emotions and so beautifully animated in everything he felt. Watching and interacting with the younger man was refreshing and infinitely enlivening. However, he knew he'd gone too far. This time, he'd seriously fucked up.
This wasn't what he'd wanted at all. He didn't want to make Iruka feel the pain of his past or fear and anger like this. To manipulate situations and take control, it was just in Kakashi's nature.
But, he knew it was no excuse. He needed to change the situation from just being focused on the two of them. To draw other characters into the discussion and give Iruka something else to focus on for a while.
"It wasn't my intention to resemble that man from your past, Iruka," Kakashi said quietly. "Seeing you interact with Itachi this afternoon... he's not a good man. It angered me when he grabbed you like that."
"So what, you decide to take that anger out on me through forceful contact and further manipulation?" Iruka snapped furiously, dark red spreading across the scar on his face. "You walked out this morning after I… and you manhandled me when you promised not to do it anymore! Then the first thing you do when we meet up again is aggressively and physically stake your claim! What the fuck is with that?"
Kakashi dragged a hand through his hair in frustration. "I know. It's not the smartest move I've ever made. I just didn't like seeing him touch you."
"I'm not your goddamn property!" A tanned fist slammed into the leather of the couch.
"I never said you were," Kakashi bit back, his temper spiking in the face of the other's anger and refusal to allow him to steer the conversation in the direction he wanted it to go.
"Then stop acting like it! All you've done since I met you is pull me from pillar to post like a plaything," the smaller man seethed heatedly.
"Then why did you get on this plane with me?" the larger male demanded, his eye dangerously narrowed.
"Because I have a debt to pay, you moron," Iruka almost yelled, his voice taking on strained, overly emotional tone. "Because I owe you and this is what you asked for."
Damn it! Iruka could feel his eyes starting to burn with the effort to hold back tears of frustration. His heart was pounding in his chest, his stomach clenched in a nervous knot, and his hands were shaking. He desperately wanted to get up and pace the cabin just to disperse some of his nervous energy, but knew that it would be seen as a further sign of weakness.
"I've already told you that the money means nothing to me. It's less than pocket change."
"It means something to me!" Iruka yelled, a choked sob almost escaped from his throat as soon as the words left his mouth but he swallowed it back down furiously. The younger man dropped his head into his hands for an instant before raking them through his hair and ignoring the strands that ripped out when knots caught on his fingers. "I'm so happy for you that you can throw around that kind of cash as a pittance but it's a lifetime's savings for me!"
The older man just stared at him in what Iruka could only assume equated to shock. The stunning face was still perfectly controlled but the grey eye was slightly wider than usual and the mouth somewhat softer. Iruka wasn't sure whether to laugh or scream. He felt as though he was at his wits end.
"That amount you so casually told me you paid is everything I have to protect me and my little brother!" Tears he'd been so desperately holding back burned hot trails down his cheeks and just served to anger him further. "I could afford to pay it, but I'd have nothing left. Nothing! I'd be stuck here, unable to get home or even pay for somewhere to sleep. My only other option was to ask Sasuke for a loan. Do you have any idea how much that would have hurt? Naruto and I swore we'd never ask Sasuke for a cent. Never. He needs to know we love him for who he is and not how much he has, yet I thought I was going to have to break my vow and ask him to pay. My pride and the financial safety of my family was on the line and I didn't know what the fuck to do then you walk out and say you've taken care of everything and the only thing you want in return is my company. Damn it, Kakashi, what was I suppose to do?"
As his outburst ended, Iruka took a deep trembling breath and swiped impatiently at the moisture still falling from his eyes. Shame at his emotional state burned in his gut as Kakashi continued to watch him in stunned silence.
Iruka let out a harsh single laugh before giving up trying to clear his face of tears and slumping back in his seat.
"Do you know what the shittiest thing is?" the rhetorical question uttered in a defeated tone. "I wanted to go with you. I wanted to get to know you better and have a chance to find out about you. For someone like me to have the opportunity to spend time with someone like you is unheard of. I was excited about the chance to learn about Sasuke's business life, to hear about your life and find out what it is that you love and hate, what you're passionate about. I find you so interesting and enjoyable to talk to when you're not being a manipulative prick that the idea of spending a few evenings with you was actually attractive. Fuck, I should have known better."
This seemed to finally snap Kakashi from his immobility, a pale hand half reaching towards the distressed teacher before retracting again. "Iruka, I… I had no idea."
"You had some idea," the smaller man snapped angrily before burying his face in his hands to hide the fresh set of tears. His eyes just wouldn't stop watering and it was infuriating. "Damn it, Kakashi, you have to be the dumbest smart person I've ever met!"
"You have no idea how true that is right now."
The words were murmured in his ear as arms wrapped around him and pulled him tightly against the larger body. Iruka instantly growled and shoved violently against the solid frame, standing and stalking away from the older man.
"Don't," he bit out and took a steadying breath. "Just don't."
Kakashi made no move to follow him, the two of them remaining where they were for a long awkward moment not looking at each other. As if the gods decided to take pity, Kakashi's phone began to ring, the muffled tone sounding strangely loud in the silence between them. Panic shot through Iruka's chest.
"Shit, Kakashi, you're supposed to turn your phone off before flights. It screws up the plane's syst-"
"You can get phones with flight safe functions, Iruka," the businessman interrupted him in a gentle tone, yet made no move to answer the call.
"Aren't you going to get that?" the aggravated teacher asked impatiently.
"This is more important. If it's urgent, they'll call back."
The younger man huffed in frustration and rubbed a hand over his eyes, clearing away the last of the moisture. Finally they had dried. "Please, just answer it. I need the break."
Kakashi frowned, hesitating a moment longer before he dug into the coat pocket and retrieved the trilling device.
"What?" he snapped into the phone before listening then sighing in frustration. "Put him through."
As the silver haired man began speaking into the phone once more, he rose and approached the smaller man, stopping at a respectable distance and holding out his hand. Between the long fingers was a hair tie. Iruka didn't look at the older man as he took the band and walked away to take a seat once more, messily tying back his wayward hair.
The rest of the flight passed in much the same way as the earlier car ride had. Iruka sat sideways on the plush leather, shoes kicked off and legs crossed comfortably – if not defensively – in schoolyard style. He stared out the window without seeing the clouded scenery, too deeply lost in thought. Kakashi conducted business over the phone, sometimes in English or Japanese but also in other languages that the young sensei couldn't identify.
Only when it was time to land was the phone put away and Clarissa made an appearance, asking them with detached professionalism to fasten their seatbelts in preparation for descent. As the young woman retreated once more to the cockpit, Kakashi moved to sit beside Iruka. They didn't speak but a slender tan hand was held in a larger pale one, thumb brushing gently over the cinnamon skin until the wheels touched the tarmac. Iruka had to concede that it did help.
…
Los Angeles. Famous for being home to movie makers, stars, and celebrities, the base for Hollywood and one of the most renowned cities in the world. Iruka thought the streets would have been cleaner; there really was a lot of litter. There were also lots of palm trees. The teacher knew that the image the city was going for was the appeal of a tropical paradise, but he still couldn't help but feel it showed a lack of inspiration in landscaping. That and the coconut risk factor must have been through the roof!
"I wonder how many people are killed every year," he muttered absently at his window.
"Killed by what?"
Shyly, he turned to Kakashi who was steering them through the nighttime traffic. An expensive, sleek black car had been waiting for them when they landed, a uniformed man standing by to hand Kakashi the keys. They had thrown their bags in the boot and were now cruising through the balmy LA evening.
While the tension from earlier had eased off, an intense awkwardness had replaced it. This was the first attempt at conversation since their altercation during the flight and it just had to have been started by him absently remarking on something so idiotic. At least it was a safe topic, Iruka was thankful for small mercies. The already tentative dynamic of their relationship had changed drastically within the course of the day and Iruka was no longer sure where he stood in the eyes of the other.
Rubbing nervously at his nose scar, Iruka blushed a bit as he answered the older man's question. "Killed by coconuts. There're a lot of palm trees around but I realise that not all palm trees are coconut palms. Still, I was just wondering if anyone had walked under one of the coconut palms here and been killed by one falling on their head. A coconut, not the tree that is - Shut up!" He snapped defensively but in good humour with a grin on his face as the older man began to chuckle. "I know it's stupid, I was just thinking out loud."
Kakashi glanced over at him and the smile on the pale lips broadened. "Well, if you think about it from the coconut's point of view it's really only fair it gets a chance to try and take out a human before someone picks it up and eats it. Uses it for a dish like the prawns last night, mixed with the mango sauce."
Iruka couldn't help but let out a small laugh. It was the most ridiculous thing he'd heard Kakashi say. At first, he'd wondered if the wealthy man was ridiculing him, but it was obvious that Kakashi was taking the topic of killer coconuts as a chance to break the tension between them.
"Mmm, that dinner was great." Iruka sighed as he thought of the food from the night before. "Thanks again for it. I've never had the opportunity to eat such food before. Do you eat like that all the time?"
A broad shoulder shrugged lazily as the older man smoothly changed lanes. "I don't really think about it. Generally, I just eat whatever's available wherever I am. In the army it was mostly rations and canned food, when staying in hotels its room service and restaurant fare, at home I'll just have something quick and easy. I'm not that fussy with food. What about you?"
"I usually end up cooking three times a day if not more. When Naruto's at home, I'll make proper cooked breakfasts because he's growing and needs to refuel all that energy somehow. If I left him to fend for himself, it would be instant ramen for every meal everyday! The brat's addicted to the stuff, so I have to round it out with some healthy food. Then I make sure the kids have a good lunch at the orphanage. Usually, I get two or three of them in the kitchen to help out and use it as an opportunity to teach them life-skills they'll need. The other guys are pretty shocking at cooking and really can't be trusted near a kitchen, especially not with children present. After that, it's back home and I'll cook up dinner for the three of us. Sasuke's normally around in the evenings and sometimes he and Naruto will bring other friends over as well." Iruka gave a warm laugh and scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Seems I'm always either cooking or doing dishes. But if it means the boys are healthy, safe, and home I really don't mind."
"What about when the boys aren't at home?"
"Huh?" the teacher asked, the question catching him off guard.
"What do you eat when Naruto's not there? He and Sasuke have been out of Japan for months now. Are you still cooking full meals for yourself?"
Iruka frowned at the questions. "No, if it's just me I tend to cook up quick easy meals or just grab some fruit. I don't go to a lot of effort."
"Bet you skip a few meals too, hm?"
The younger man's frown deepened as his eyes rose to look at the older man. "Sometimes I just can't be bothered and I'm too tired from work to prepare a meal. Either that or I'm just not hungry."
The silver crowned head nodded a few times before Kakashi's eye slid over to him briefly, a small understanding smile tilting the thin lips. "It's too lonely eating by yourself," he stated.
Iruka didn't answer. It hit far too close to home and the larger man's words hadn't been a question. Instead he turned to look out at the passing scenery again and wondered how even the simplest conversations with the man managed to turn into revealing windows of his life.
"You know," Kakashi continued in a low tone, drawing Iruka's attention to him once more. "I rarely get to eat with company either. I don't live with anyone and travel so much it's hard to catch up with friends. There've been times when all I'd wish for is a familiar warm body sitting with me while I eat, even if they're totally silent."
The pale man continued to focus on the traffic but the smile was still on his lips and Iruka realised that Kakashi really did understand. The lifestyle the he lived must be a very lonely one. While the gorgeous wealthy business tycoon would easily be able to attract company (for business or pleasure), they would be there only because of what Kakashi is rather than who he is. The thought made Iruka sad. It would be such a shallow existence to constantly be judged for the wealth of one's possessions rather than the wealth of one's character. This would be especially so for someone of Kakashi's calibre.
He's even lonelier than I am.
The unexpected realisation slowly seeped into his mind. Slender fingers rubbed absently at the scar running across his nose and Iruka licked his dry lips as he concentrated on his stomach. It was calm, the sick nervousness gone for the time being. As the car came to a halt for a red light, he came to a decision.
"Hey, you hungry?" Iruka tried not to wince at the uncertainty in his voice.
The single slate eye slid over to lock with his, the striking pale features highlighted in red from the break lights of the vehicle stopped in front of them. The expression was as schooled as always, but the eye watching him so intently showed a mixture of regret and hope.
"Starving," the powerful man said simply.
Kakashi looked like a person in need of a companion and the teacher knew he would answer the call. Even though the older man didn't know yet, the reality of their situation was that this was their last night together. For their last meal, Iruka would give Kakashi the companionship he craved. The younger man wanted this last opportunity just to speak with the fascinating person who had breezed into his life and managed to flip it upside-down within a few short days. The tension that had been in his body through out the day eased a little and a warm smile slipped naturally onto his face.
"You covered dinner last time so it's my buy tonight. Know any good ramen places around here by any chance?"
The smile, which lit up Kakashi's face, was genuine and breathtakingly beautiful.
"Nope," he chirped as he pulled his phone from his pocket and flicked it open. "But I can find out."
…
"And then Naruto comes barrelling in through the front door completely naked, covered head to toe in purple paint, brandishing a plunger and chalkboard eraser like weapons, screaming 'The wizard stole my uterus!' at the top of his lungs," Iruka managed to choke out between fits of laughter.
"His uterus?" Kakashi gasped, his own laughter ringing around the small outdoor area of the restaurant they were sitting at.
"Yeah, then he skidded to a halt when he saw the couple meeting with Sarutobi, pointed and yelled 'You're the pervert that stole my uterus! Pervert!' at the poor man." Iruka had to stop and gasp in a few breaths by this point. "His… his wife looked horrified!" the young man managed to say as Kakashi continued to laugh hard, the gorgeous male leaning on the table for support. "Then he threw the eraser at the man, who was so shocked at getting accused of being a uterus snatching pervert that he didn't even dodge. It hit him square in the forehead leaving behind the clearest chalky imprint you've ever seen. Naruto starts waving around his plunger screaming that he wants his uterus back and," Iruka had to pause to try and control his laughter again at this stage, "and I quote... oh this is the best bit. He yelled 'I have a right to bear children! My breasts are still young and firm'!"
By this stage, the teacher was in no condition to keep talking as he submitted to gales of mirth. Kakashi almost doubled over as he laughed so hard his cheeks turned pink.
"So, needless to say, he was not adopted," Iruka managed to pant out when he finally gained control over his merriment.
"Oh hell, Sarutobi must have wanted to kill him," Kakashi chuckled, shaking his head in amazement at the story's end.
"Nah," the younger man waved a dismissive hand, "he knew that no matter what happened Naruto and I would have to go as a package deal. Even with his scars, Naruto could have been adopted out easily because of his rare colouring. Me, on the other hand, certainly didn't sweeten the deal. There was too much psychological trauma there for me to ever be a good adoption candidate and I wasn't cute enough with all the scarring to tempt any potential parents."
Everything Iruka said was stated with honesty and ease. He didn't feel sorry for himself because of his childhood circumstances and was very pleased with how his life had turned out. He'd never been bitter that no one had wanted to adopt him. After all, there were plenty of boys at the orphanage who had never been adopted and they made a better family for each other than any outsider would have been able to provide them with. There was no sadness that he'd never been taken into another's family. He was very content with his life as it stood.
"What Sarutobi did want to kill him for, though, was the fact that the couple put in a complaint and the department sent out an official to investigate the situation. That led to mass amounts of paper work and questions over whether our sexual education had been started a little too early. They demanded to know what educational material we'd been presented with." Iruka chuckled warmly. "Naruto surprised us all that day, actually. He walked up to the official and quite firmly told him that unless I was adopted out with him he would use any method he felt necessary to scare off potential clients and stay by my side. When the official asked him why, Naruto simply responded that it was because I was his brother and you don't split up family. The man stared at him dumbfounded because the little tyke sounded about a hundred years older than his time when those words came out."
"How did you react?" Kakashi asked with a soft smile.
The smaller man chuckled and scratched the back of his head. "I seem to recall I walked over, bopped him on the head gently, and called him an idiot before bursting into tears. I was very happy. Told him that when I was old enough I'd adopt him, then he yelled at me there was no way he'd let that happen and he would adopt me first. It kinda digressed into a rather childish argument after that but the official was satisfied and went away."
"Sounds to me like there really wasn't much left he could have said. If it's anything like the bond you share now, any idiot would have been able to see how inseparable you two are."
"Yeah," Iruka sighed happily, "I don't know what I'd do without him and the guys in my life."
"Well, hopefully you'll never have to find out."
"Cheers to that!" The younger man grinned happily before raising his teacup in a toast.
"So," Iruka said after they'd set their cups down, "what's the deal with this party tonight? You've not given me any information and I'd prefer to know what I'm getting into, especially after some of the stories Naruto told me earlier."
The silver haired man chuckled. "What'd he say?"
"Oh, ridiculous stories about secret fight clubs, mass amounts of topless women, and raging drug orgies," he said with a grin. "You know, just the usual affair."
"Well, I can promise there won't be any drug orgies," Kakashi answered, a teasing twinkle in his grey eye. "But the other stuff… Maa, you'll just have to wait and see. Besides, I'm sure you'd enjoy a good lap dance or two."
The teacher just gave a cheeky grin and winked at the older man. "So long as you're the one dancing, toots."
Kakashi's laughter at that was loud and appreciative as Iruka slouched lazily back in his chair and grinned happily at the reaction.
"Who knew you had it in you." the unique curvy eye smile was flashed.
"Hey, I can give as good as I get, pal, and don't you forget it."
An elegant hand was held up in surrender. "I most certainly will keep it in mind from now on."
"Good. Now, stop dodging and give me the detail on tonight. What's your friend's name?"
"Genma. We were in the army together and are old friends. Some of the others will be there tonight too and we only catch up a few times a year so I didn't want to miss the opportunity."
Cocking his head slightly to the side, Iruka regarded Kakashi with dark eyes. "They must be very precious to you. You don't strike me as the type to have many close friends."
"I don't."
The two simple words were all that were needed. It was obvious to the teacher that any Kakashi let enter into his inner circle were ones he'd shared major experiences with and they'd earned his loyalty. For the first time that day, Iruka actually felt an interest in the upcoming party. He wanted to meet the people that a guarded character like Kakashi would consider to be true friends.
"Well, I look forward to meeting them then. I'm surprised you're taking me along to something like this actually. If they're that close to you, I'd think you'd not often include others in your get togethers."
Kakashi nodded. "If it was just us I might not have invited you, more for the fact that you'd feel excluded in our conversation than anything else. We tend to talk a lot about old times. But it's a house party and there will be many guests there."
Iruka relaxed a little bit. House parties he could deal with. They usually included people just sitting around and chatting aimlessly about what ever came up. He finished the last of his tea as the older man looked at his watch.
"Well, time's getting on and I'd like to be there before the majority of the guests turn up so we can have a shower and get ready," the smooth voice murmured.
Nervousness once more made an appearance in the younger man's chest. He only had simple clothing with him. He only owned simple clothing.
"What's the dress code for tonight?"
The striking man smiled at him gently and Iruka once again cursed his revealing face. His anxiety must have been obvious.
"Just casual dress tonight. Nothing fancy."
The tension drained from slender shoulders. "Okay. I'll just go pay, won't be a moment."
As he rose, a large hand caught his wrist. "Why don't you let me-"
"I already told you dinner's on me," Iruka interrupted the other's words impatiently. "For goodness sake, I'm not so destitute that I can't even pay for ramen. Trust me; you eat a hell of a lot less than Naruto."
The gorgeous face split into a stunning smile and Iruka swallowed the extra saliva suddenly pooling in his mouth while pulling his wrist from the warm grip. That man's smile was far too disarming. He'd learned an important lesson that morning and only a fool would forget it so quickly. It wasn't safe to trust Kakashi. The man was a master at manipulation and far too intelligent for comfort, Iruka would not allow himself to be sucked in by the charismatic charm that wafted from his every pore. He might be naive in some aspects, but he wasn't an idiot.
As the small male walked inside, a narrowed stormy eye followed his progress intently. Handsome pale features drifted briefly into a frown before settling in into an expression of determination. The damage done from that morning wasn't irreparable. Kakashi knew this was more because of Iruka's great capacity to forgive than anything else. He was just going to have to play it smarter from here on out. As the orphanage teacher finished paying for their meal and made his way back, the wealthy businessman once more schooled his features into a lazy smile.
…
Groaning in disbelief, Iruka dropped his face into the palm of his hand and shook his head. Why was nothing concerning Hatake Kakashi ever simple?
"Well it is a house party, it's just a rather large house," the troublesome character in question said, amusement obvious in the deep voice.
"It's a mansion, Kakashi. I'm pretty damn sure it's only two bathrooms and a horse stable off being a castle," Iruka deadpanned.
A chuckle drifted to his ears as the teacher raised his eyes to once more regard the building they were driving up to. Two stories of sandstone extravagance stared right back at him.
"Oh come on, it's not that big." Iruka gave him a look, which clearly said the older man was being facetious. Kakashi just smirked damn sexily. "Mine's bigger," he drawled.
An inelegant snort of amusement escaped the teacher as he shook his head. "Damn lecher."
There were dozens of cars already parked on large pebbled expanse in front of the building, all the makes and models ridiculously expensive and impressive. Iruka knew he should have expected something like this. As they'd driven through the suburbs, the houses had slowly increased in both size and extravagance. Still, a small, obviously delusional, corner of his mind had wondered if they wouldn't just pull up to a nice, average sized home tucked away on a quiet, out of the way street. Ha!
The car slowed to a halt and they climbed out into the balmy night air. Retrieving their bags from the boot, they walked towards the beautiful building with loud music and general crowd sounds drifting from it. Iruka fidgeted with his hands absently until Kakashi sent him a comforting smile, then he stuffed his hands in his pockets and mildly glared back in defiance. In defiance of what, he wasn't sure, but he was feeling uncomfortable and out of his depth again so by golly he'd glare if he wanted to.
"I thought you said you wanted to get here before the other guests arrived. It's already a full house."
"Maa, I might have gotten the times mixed up." Kakashi grinned, his eye curving into a happy crescent.
It was at that moment the front door flew open and two women ran out of the house, laughing and squealing as they sprayed each other with water from colourful super soakers. The spectacle of two fully-grown women doing this would have been strange enough to the teacher normally, but the fact that they were clad in nothing other than very small g-strings made Iruka stop dead in his tracks and gape in shock. Iruka knew he was flushed dark red as he dropped his gaze to the ground and gripped tightly to the strap of his backpack with one hand, fisting the other in his pocket. The practically naked women ignored them as they took off running to continue their mad game between the cars, using them as cover.
"Is that embarrassment or arousal, sensei?" Kakashi chuckled next to him.
Anger flared in Iruka's chest at the older man's mockery. Of course he was embarrassed! He'd never seen anything like that in his life, and the women were so shameless! Kakashi was obviously completely unperturbed by the situation, but Iruka wasn't used to things like that. He knew that any normal red-blooded male would likely stop and look their fill at the two women, but he just found the situation to be unsettling.
"Fuck you," he bit out angrily shrugging his backpack into a more comfortable position. "Let's get this over with already."
He stepped towards the house, but a hand wrapping around his elbow halted his movement. "Iruka-"
Embarrassed and angry brown eyes locked with still amused grey. "Look, Kakashi, you wanna get some entertainment out of watching me deal with shit like this then that's your advantage." The smaller male's eyes narrowed further. "But if you think I'll placidly stand by and let you ridicule me, you got another thing coming."
"Ooh, I like this one!"
Iruka's head whipped to the door where a tall man with dark blond hair was grinning at them around the toothpick in his mouth. The man had spoken in English but obviously understood the conversation he and Kakashi had been having. Kakashi released his elbow and stepped towards the new comer.
"I figured you would," the silver haired man said in English.
The blond man walked forward and then the two of them were hugging like only long parted friends could, roughly thumping each other on the back.
"Kakashi, me old mate, it's been too long."
"That it has." Kakashi stepped back and held out his arm in invitation for Iruka to come forward. "This is Iruka. Iruka, this grinning git is Genma, an old army buddy of mine and new owner of this 'castle'."
"Castle?" Genma laughed, and Iruka finally recognised the strange accent as being Australian. "Dunno 'bout that. Reckon I'd be needing to have a moat or something first."
"Oh, is that what you wanted for a housewarming gift?" Kakashi asked as he unzipped and reached into his bag. "Well, I figured this would come in a bit handier."
He pulled a flat, brown paper wrapped object out and offered it to the Australian. Genma eyed the package suspiciously for a moment before accepting it and ripping off the paper, revealing a book. He stared at the cover for a second before barking out a laugh and punching Kakashi in the shoulder.
"Fuckin' wanker."
He flipped the book around to show Iruka the title, which read 'The Complete Idiot's Guide to Supercharged Karma Sutra'. Iruka couldn't help himself as he cracked up laughing. It was too similar to a present he and his friends might have exchanged.
"Nice t'meet ya, Iruka." Genma grinned and held out his hand, giving the smaller man's a firm shake in greeting. "Don't mind Kakashi pissing you off. He pisses everyone off. It's a talent of his along with being late to everything, including his good mate's housewarming."
"Maa," Kakashi scratched the back of his hair sheepishly, "I was making good time-"
"And then you got lost on the road of life." Genma finished for the sliver haired man. "Yeah, yeah, I know. C'mon, Iruka, no point letting the flies in even if the view out here is rather fetching." The blond leered as the two mostly naked women went dashing past them and back into the house. "And now it's dull again. Well, hoik 'em up, fellas, I'll show ya where to dump your crap."
AN: Sooo, been awhile. I know that some of you have been happily plotting my immanent demise; however I bring you more ficcage!
This chapter was an absolute bastard. My brain flatly refused to vomit! So then, because so many of you were writing to me and threatening bodily harm, I decided to try and plan the chapter. I wrote it three times, THREE, and every time it was complete and utter crap!
So we all had to wait for my brain to vomit. And the result… Genma became and Aussie ^_^
For those of you who don't know, I'm Australian. So the chapters containing Genma will likely be filled with lovely phrases and words most of you have never heard of. I'll likely have to put a list down the bottom in my AN to explain what they all mean. I'll start with these:
Wanker should always be pronounced as 'wanka'.
To 'hoik' something up is just to lift it.
These are all just common words we use in our everyday lives over here.
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. It was good fun to see Iruka finally fighting back! Fingers crossed my brain decides to expel more plot soon. In the mean time, take it easy and drop me a review if so inclined. Later ^_^
Edited July 2010 and there's likely still mistakes in there, pesky buggers.