A/N: Last chapter. Yep, that's right, folks, I'm DONE. With this fic, at least. There are several other multi-chaptered KakaIru fics just waiting to be posted, but I'll get to those in time.

Try not to die of fluff overload in this chapter. My sincere apologies.

I've got a pseudo-plot planned out for a sequel to this fic, so keep an eye out for it in the future. It's still in its pre-planning stages, though, so it might take some time.

My deepest, heartfelt thanks to all my reviewers and readers who supported me throughout this fic. I can't express how grateful I am for your support and kind words. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, and let's meet at my next story.-MeeLee

RAIN MUST FALL: FINALE

It was nearly midnight when Umino Iruka finally found himself trudging wearily up the wooden steps of the apartment complex, dragging his feet as if they were laden with bricks. He had considered staying out in the forest all night, but it was cold and dark and lonely out there. And here, this place had warmth, and comfort, and…and Kakashi.

He reached the apartment door, hesitating for a moment and taking a deep breath before attempting a tentative knock. Only silence answered for a brief instant before Kakashi's voice spoke up, slightly muffled by the wooden barrier. "Door's unlocked."

Sighing, Iruka turned the knob and entered the apartment. Shedding his sandals, he looked up and saw Kakashi seated on the couch, orange book lying face-down in his lap. The silver-haired jounin blinked once upon his entrance before inclining his head slightly in a formal gesture of acknowledgement. "Welcome back." His mask was in place once again.

"Ah…" Iruka looked away. "Th-Thank you."

Kakashi rose, tossing the book carelessly back onto the couch as he turned to face Iruka. "Would you like something to eat? Or I could make tea."

Iruka felt himself start to crumble. "I—th-that's all right, I'm f-fine—"

Kakashi tilted his head, single eye portraying total boredom. "Oh, come now, you must want something," he said. "After all, I'm supposed to be as hospitable to my guests as possible, right, Iruka-san?"

The cold formality nearly brought on tears, and Iruka struggled to keep his voice steady as he whispered, "Listen, Kakashi, I'm s—"

"There's no need to apologize." Kakashi's voice was calm, but had Iruka been looking at him he would have seen the uncertainty flickering in the blue eye. "Oh, you're bleeding, Iruka-san."

"Ah." Iruka brought his right hand up; blood was currently streaming quite freely from the knuckles. "It's…It's just a scratch. If you'd lend me your medical kit, I'll be able t-to—"

"Follow me then. I'll patch it up for you." Kakashi turned from him and headed into the bedroom. Wondering how much longer it would take for his heart to completely shatter, Iruka obediently followed.

A few moments later, they were seated side-by-side on the edge of Kakashi's bed. The medical kit lay open beside Kakashi, who was slowly and methodically wrapping the white bandages around Iruka's hand.

Iruka, in the meantime, sat still as stone, eyes fixed on the ground at his feet. So this was it then. Kakashi was angry with him, would never forgive him for what he had done. They would pass the night in cold civility, and Iruka would leave the next morning, and that would be the end of it. Kakashi would forget him immediately—perhaps he already had—and that was what he had wanted, yes, but did it have to hurt so much? Did a broken heart have to hurt so goddamn much?

"Finished," Kakashi said in an even tone, shaking Iruka out of his thoughts. The Rain jounin managed a nod, moving to draw his hand back—but Kakashi refused to release his hold, and Iruka blinked when he realized that the other jounin had once again pulled his mask down.

"K-Kakashi, what…" His voice trailed off when Kakashi slowly lifted his hand, gently brushing his warm lips over the fresh bandages. And when he looked up and Iruka saw the pain, the longing written in both his eyes—he could have melted.

"I…" Kakashi's voice was strained, a far cry from the formal tone of before. "I don't…I don't want to forget this, Iruka. I don't want to—I won't."

Iruka said nothing, feeling the hand holding his tremble slightly as Kakashi continued, "I've tried to forget so many things in my life, Iruka. But now…now I've finally found something I want to remember. And I'm not going to just let you go like this. I won't—I can't forget you, Iruka." He lifted his head, mismatched eyes locking with Iruka's brown ones. "S-So please," he said, voice cracking just slightly, shaking almost uncontrollably as if having trouble keeping the sobs from coming up, "Don't—Don't make me forget. B-Because I want to remember…" And a single tear leaked out of that blue eye.

Iruka had prepared himself for a variety of emotions in response to Kakashi's words: guilt, anger—pity, perhaps. But he totally did not expect what came in their stead: relief. Relief that flooded his brain, his very being. Relief that Kakashi didn't hate him, that Kakashi wasn't angry, that it wasn't over. Relief that Kakashi still loved him. Relief that there was still a chance. And somewhere between that moment and the next, Iruka's entire list of reasons against this was incinerated in a mental furnace.

Very slowly, he brought his bandaged hand up, gently pressing it against Kakashi's cheek. Kakashi blinked, perhaps surprised at the reaction, but Iruka only shook his head. "You're right," he said. "If it's something worth remembering, it doesn't deserve to be forgotten." He paused before smiling, soft, reassuring. "Come here," he said simply, and Kakashi readily obeyed.

The hours ticked slowly by. The wind wafted through the trees and the walls of the village, the moon shone pearl-like in the sky, and the chittering of nocturnal insects gradually receded as they too gave in to sleep. And in a small room in a dark apartment at the heart of Konohagakure, soft moans and whispered pleas filled the air as two lovers chose to remember rather than forget.


It was a little before noon when the small group of Rain ninja gathered at the gates of the village, checking their packs and straightening their affairs one final time before departure. Perched lightly on the roof of one of the nearby guardposts, Hatake Kakashi watched them quietly, sweeping a passive eye over the group before stopping on one person.

Umino Iruka was currently helping one of the government officials into his palanquin, smiling and nodding politely to the man as he stepped inside. As soon as the silk curtains closed, however, he immediately turned around, eyes instinctively seeking out Kakashi's. Calm brown eyes met passive mismatched ones.


"The sun's rising," Iruka quietly remarked.

Kakashi sighed, turning away from the steadily-lightening window and instead burying his nose in Iruka's long brown hair, inhaling his lover's scent. "Don't look at it."

"Can't stay here forever," Iruka said, his actions suggesting the exact opposite as he sleepily nuzzled Kakashi's bare neck.

Kakashi's voice was quiet, resigned. "I know." He paused for a moment. "Promise you'll come back?"

"I…I can't." Iruka buried his face in Kakashi's shoulder. "I'm our clan's second head now; I have to stay home to keep things under control. There isn't much time for…other things."

But the Leaf jounin only smiled, bringing a hand up to brush some of Iruka's hair out of his face. "Then at least promise you'll keep your window open for me."

Iruka smiled sadly. "All right."

"And…" Kakashi took a deep breath. "Don't leave me behind, okay?"

Iruka lifted his head. "I won't if you won't."

"Promise?"

"Promise."


Very slowly, Iruka's face broke into a reassuring smile, a smile that spoke of love and comfort and a whispered promise. Then, in a flash and a rush of scattered leaves, he and the rest of the Rain group disappeared.

Standing alone on his silent, mournful lookout, Kakashi slowly tilted his head upward, quietly regarding the bright sunny sky.

"It's raining," he remarked to no one in particular. And it was.

FINI