Chapter Seven: Not a Student Anymore

Warnings: BDSM influences, foul language, homosexual intercourse, nudity, erotic dreams, sexual influences, etc.

A/N: Yep, still looking for a beta... pm if you're interested.

X.x.X.x.X

Once again, Iruka was at his usual spot for moping – slumped over the Kotatsu in his living room, wrapped in his fuzziest blanket. A cold cup of coffee sat just inches in front of his nose, nagging at him to go dump it out and make a fresh cup.

All Kakashi had really done was confuse him further. Naruto was just so young. He was just a kid. That – that stuff - just couldn't happen.

But what if it could? What if Kakashi was right? What if he was gay? And what if Naruto really did like him?

But at the same time, did he just want casual sex, as it seemed to have been with all the others? Or did he want a relationship? Did he want to be so involved with Naruto, with someone so young? Could he hold a relationship?

All of Iruka's previous sexual encounters had been casual. All of them. It's not like he never wanted a real relationship, but with the stuff he was into, it was hard to be in a long-term relationship with someone. Most people got bored, and eventually left. So most never bothered being serious.

Finding someone who enjoyed it, however, was actually quite easy. Many shinobi were into BDSM.

But was Naruto?

Iruka groaned. He wanted Naruto, badly. Even if it was only for one night – he didn't really want a relationship with Naruto. He really just wanted sex. But he doubted Naruto was really into the stuff that he had done in his fantasies. Naruto was too innocent, to young, to naïve to have such dark tastes.

But what if he did?

Just then, the doorbell rang, knocking Iruka out of his reverie. He cursed, realizing who was here. Of course it would be Naruto at the door. It was Sunday. Naruto came over every Sunday evening for a home-made meal.

Iruka groaned. Why did it have to be Sunday?

Iruka shoved himself to his feet. He would have to deal with these problems later. For now, he had to maintain some semblance of normalcy. Quickly grabbing a fresh cup of coffee that he never really drank, usually just cuddled, Iruka dashed to the doorway. He stashed aside his worries. It didn't matter. He would deal with it another night, he told himself. I don't have time to think this through now.

The apartment door swung open to reveal Naruto, as Iruka had rightly guessed. But Naruto wasn't in his usual orange jumpsuit. He was dressed in black slacks and a black wife beater that clung to his chest, hitai-ate still tied firmly to his forehead. The normal shinobi sandals were discarded in favor of black dress shoes, and a silver chain gleamed at his throat.

Naruto smiled. "Iruka! I was worried you'd still be sick. You feeling okay now, Iruka-kun?" Naruto questioned worriedly, dropping the usual "Sensei" in favor of the more familiar "kun" suffix. Iruka frowned. Naruto had always called him "Sensei".

Naruto made his way into the apartment, shoes left at the doorstep. He was seemingly unaware that he was acting so strange.

Iruka forced a smile, trying desperately to reign in the dirty thoughts that were overpowering his mind. Naruto looked amazing. It was a struggle to keep his eyes on Naruto's face. "I'm doing fine, Naruto. No need to worry," he said, blinking dazedly.

Naruto grinned, noticing the attention of Iruka's eyes. Iruka looked away hastily, blushing, and Naruto sighed.

"Glad you're okay. So what's for dinner?" Naruto asked jokingly, hoping to lighten the mood. Every Sunday they had the same thing – ramen. Just, made from scratch. No cup-o-noodle crap. Iruka refused to eat anything "instant". It was one of his more peculiar quirks. It was why he always took Naruto to Ichi Raku's instead of somewhere more affordable. That, and Ichi Raku's was just so freaking delicious, of course.

"I don't know, I was thinking something like takoyaki, maybe…" Iruka teased, faking a thoughtful expression as he entered the kitchen, Naruto trailing behind him.

Naruto fell for the bait, face betraying a crushed expression. "O-Octopus balls…?" He said, grimacing. "Sounds, uh, delicious… Iruka-kun…"

Iruka grinned. "Well, we could always have ramen," Iruka lamented, smirking over his shoulder at Naruto. They had come to a stop in the kitchen, where Iruka stirred something in a large pot on the stove.

Naruto frowned, then realization dawned on him, and he chuckled. "Silly Ruka-kun," he said softly. But Naruto's voice was different, and Iruka suddenly felt Naruto pressed up against his back. Naruto's voice was low and sultry, a hand brushing Iruka's arm. "What ever shall I do with you?"

Iruka blushed, pulling away. What was that about? He stressed, licking his lips. Naruto was acting strange. He was acting -

Iruka pushed the thought away, and picked up two bowls, passing one to Naruto.

Naruto smiled, taking one of the proffered bowls. He took a seat at the Kotatsu, breathing in the steam. It smelled sooo good, and Naruto made a low, please sound similar to a pur. Iruka swallowed hard, closing his eyes. The sound sent a shiver down his back.

Opening his eyes, and clearing his throat, Iruka took a seat beside Naruto at the Kotatsu. "So, uh, how's training?" Iruka asked, voice cracking slightly. He stared hard at his bowl of ramen, focusing on a little piece of beef floating in the soup.

Naruto shrugged, feeling equally as akward as Iruka. Their knees touched beneath the Kotatsu and it seemed to send a bolt of electricity through Iruka.

"It's okay, I guess," Naruto mumbled.

"Mhm?" Iruka mumbled through a large mouthful of ramen, gesturing for him to continue. Naruto chuckled.

"Jiraiya-sensei's a total perv. There's a new person in our hotel every night, and sometimes he ends up blowing our lunch money on sake."

"Do you share a room with Jiraiya?" Iruka asked, a bothersome thought crossing his mind.

"Well duh, when we're out of town, yeah."

"That must be very uncomfortable then, if he's -uh-"

"What? The woman?" Naruto chuckled. "No, not really. Sometimes he shares," Naruto teased.

Iruka's face went bright red, and he ducked his head. He managed to force out a few garbled words, sounding something along the lines of 'oh okay'.

Naruto laughed. "Jeez, Ruka-kun. I was just teasing. I'm gay, so I usually just sleep down in the lobby."

Iruka's blush darkened even further, this time out of embaressment. "Oh," he muttered, stirring his chopsticks in his ramen, feeling distinctly uncomfortable.

Naruto was just so different. How had he not realized it? When had that little kid he'd known and loved turned into a ninja? How had he not seen this change until it was too late?

You always noticed, a little voice in the back of his mind said. That's why you're so attracted to him now. He's all grown up.

Iruka shook his head, forcing the thoughts away. Impossible. It couldn't be true.

But then again, Iruka hadn't been right about a lot of things lately. Who was he to say something was impossible?

Naruto cleared his through, getting Iruka's attention. "So, Iruka-kun," Naruto began, cheeks tinted pink. He wouldn't meet Iruka's eyes, and nervously fiddled with his chopsticks.

"Yes?" Iruka prodded, frowning slightly. Why was Naruto so uncomfortable?

"Are you dating anyone?" Naruto mumbled, trying to sound casual and failing.

Iruka shrugged. "Well, not really," he mumbled. "I've never been much of a dater."

"Oh, okay," Naruto said, smiling a little. "Why not?"

"Haven't found anyone worth it, I guess." Naruto nodded, his smile a little less hesitant now.

Then, before Iruka could react, Naruto had bridged the distance between them, his body pressing Iruka's onto his back, lips pressed into his. Hands went from Iruka's waist to -

Iruka shoved Naruto away roughly, blinking in shock, sprawled out on his back on the tatami floors, gasping. "What- the – hell?"Iruka snapped, staring up at his precious, perfect student who had just kissed him and stuffed his hands down his pants.

Naruto sat up, rubbing his bruised lips, and frowned. "Oh, c'mon Iruka-kun," he grumbled. "I've liked you for years. When are you going to stop seeing me as an academy student?"

Iruka just blinked at him, not sure what to say, brain struggling to come to terms with the situation.

Naruto sighed, and pushed himself to his feet. "Okay. I understand. See you next Sunday, 'Ruka-Sensei." Naruto's voice was sad, almost regretful, and he was back to the old suffix "Sensei" again. Naruto walked out the door, leaving an extremely troubled chunnin collapsed on his apartment floor, struggling to understand what had just happened.

Had Naruto just kissed him?