Rustling had him turning back towards the fire to see Kakashi pushing off his blankets and shifting up his headband out the way of his Sharingan eye.

"Oh no you don't" Iruka commanded, stepping round the fire and forcing his head band back down again before he could open his eye, "You are still recovering, they wouldn't let you out of the hospital for a week in this state if we were back at the village, I'm not going to let you go out there and kill yourself, you still need to rest."

"Iruka," Kakashi gently chided, no doubt about to put forward a very convincing argument for his case.

"No," Iruka interrupted, pushing Kakashi's shoulder back so he was lying down again, "No arguments, you are going to rest, even if I have to sit on you to make you do it!" A silly threat, but one that would probably work, Kakashi couldn't even contest Iruka's gentle pressure on his shoulder he was so weak.

Kakashi raised his eyebrow, as Iruka glared, daring him to try and argue. "Iruka," Kakashi tried again, "We can't just sit –"

Iruka interrupted him, "Or course not, but I'm not some helpless villager that need's protecting Kakashi, I'm a ninja too, so for once let me protect you."

Kakashi was frowning, "I know you're a very capable Chunin Iruka but –"

That was quite obviously the wrong thing to say as Iruka's expression darkened even further, "I am not helpless Kakashi!" he repeated, almost spitting, "You are not leaving this spot. I'll tie you up if necessary but I'd rather not leave you quite so vulnerable, now which is it going to be?"

Kakashi was silent as they stared at each other, his grey eye like a dark whirl pool, sucking in the light, expressive but unreadable in the flickering fire light. It was Iruka who looked away first, fearing he was seeing pity in Kakashi's eyes, and he couldn't stand that. He stood up and started collecting what little they had together, keeping the corner of his eye on Kakashi to make sure he didn't move. Most of the stuff he put in his own pack, the rest he left in a pile near Kakashi. He was angry and upset, and wouldn't meet Kakashi's eye even though he could feel Kakashi watching him. He was being emotional, ninja's weren't supposed to be emotional, and that just made him even angrier, knowing that he was failing in front of Kakashi. He paused as he opened the door.

"I'll set up a ward that should alert you if anything passes through it, it'll just be around the house so it won't give you much warning but..." He trailed off. When Kakashi didn't say anything he stepped out and shut the door quietly behind him.

Kakashi continued to stare at the door for a long time after he'd left, trying to suppress his worry and anger, anger that he'd upset Iruka, anger at Iruka for being so bull headed, anger at being so weak that he wasn't strong enough to protect his comrade.

Finally he sorted out the pile Iruka had left him, tucking kunai in hidden holsters and other weapons into handy places. He wanted his jacket so he could have some handily close up his sleeves, but it was pretty much rip to pieces by those creatures, and after so many years with ANBU he was well used to using other handy places in his sleeveless black undershirt and mask. He tried to rest, to be ready for anything that might come through the door, whatever it may be...but he couldn't, he lay and worried, and worried some more. He was worrying so much it was the opposite of resting, he might have well been out there helping Iruka for all the rest he was getting. Finally he sat up and pushed the broth off the fire, helping himself to some, knowing he should eat, but instead just sat watching it cool in the bowl. What was Iruka going to do? Did he have a plan? What could he do when all Kakashi managed was to suck them into a vortex to a different dimension. He expanded his senses, and focused on the creatures signature. It was no longer moving towards him, though it was closer than before. He couldn't sense Iruka's presence anywhere, concealing his location from the creature no doubt, probably why the creature had stopped, waylaid by Iruka. The thought of Iruka alone against the creature had Kakashi trying to rise with the thought of joining him, but it was all he could do to sit back down again without collapsing in a heap – his legs could barely hold him up they trembled so badly. In the end, all he could do was sit and follow the creatures movements about the forest. Occasionally he thought he detected a flash of Iruka's presence, but unless he was focusing on the exact spot at the time, it was so brief he was never quite certain. He took reassurance from the creatures erratic movements that Iruka was still alive and seemingly leading it a merry dance.

Hours passed. They'd moved closer, but were to the east of him now. Iruka must be exhausted. It was three days since they'd left the village, since Naruto had disappeared. Two days they'd been fighting and running from these creatures. The first night they'd barely slept at all, maybe an hour or two each in total. The second night they'd hidden under an overhang on the bank of a stream, protected by layers of concealing cloaks. Somehow the creatures knew they were nearby and they searched all night but thankfully, had been unable to find them. It was the following day they manage to destroy the last one, or so they'd thought, Kakashi had keeled over where he stood and Iruka had carried him while he searched for a place to shelter and recuperate. He didn't remember Iruka finding the hut, just brief moments of consciousness came back to him, one minute walking through the woods, next he was wrapped up, warm, next to a fire in the log cabin. They must have been there over a day by now, as it was well into evening, and Kakashi suspected Iruka hadn't slept at all during that time, someone was always awake, guarding, and it certainly hadn't been Kakashi.

Kakashi's head snapped up, he was momentarily confused by the grogginess he was feeling. He was perfectly clear where he was, the log cabin in the woods, but it took him a moment to realise why he was groggy. He must have fallen asleep. He was more exhausted than he'd realised to do that.

Iruka! He sharpened his focus and searched the area for his presence. Nothing. He felt a momentary panic twist his stomach before he quelled it. Iruka must still be cloaking his presence, he sent his focus out further in all directions, looking for the creature as well. Still nothing. Had they moved out of range? Maybe the creature was dead! So then where was Iruka? Could he be dead too? Think logically, he commanded himself. The only reason the creature hadn't got to him already must be because Iruka was still alive and keeping it at bay, or it was already dead, it had to be. He wanted to hope, but hardly dared allow himself.

Another hour must have passed. It was well into night by now, its coming hastened by the canopy overhead. He'd stirred up the fire, bringing it back to life with a few remaining unburnt pieces of wood so he could re-heat the broth. He'd have to try and move and get more wood from by the door if he wanted to keep it going, but after he'd eaten, hunger pangs had overcome the worry. The liquid had just started to bubble when he sensed it. Something outside, close. A kunai was ready in his hand before he even thought about it. There were no windows in the cabin, so he could not see outside, but the light from the fire would be visible around the door from outside, it was too late to put it out now.

A tingling sensation passed through him from his head to his toes, something had passed through the ward! His limbs still trembled as he rose, but from adrenalin now, he had kunai in either hand, ready to throw. The latch rose, and the door swung open with a lurch.