Fandom: Naruto
Title: Holidays With KakaIru
Genre: Romance, Angst, Humor?
Characters: Iruka x Kakashi x Iruka
Rating: Rating went up to be safe NC- 17
Comments/ Summary: Iruka and Kakashi relationship grows into that of lovers as Christmas grows closer how will things change in the two mens lives. Written for the KakaIru Livejournal 12 days of Christmas Theme Challenge .
Disclaimer: I do not own in any way these charactor nor do I profit from these fleeting fancies. All rights belong to the original creator, Masashi Kishimoto.
Status: of 12

A/N I am so so so sorry for the delay... I'm gonna try really hard to catch up today.

Maybe some really really minor spoilers for after Ep. 68

Theme 16: Silver Bells ( now for my wonderfully original title)

Silver Bells

Team Kakashi came trudging back into town mid-afternoon bone weary and exhausted from what should have been a relatively simple mission. The rookie nine, their jounin leaders, and team Gai had been assigned that morning to care for and protect the children of the village as they had a sleigh day on a nearby set of hills. The jounin on these teams being some of the most senior shinobi in the village where given the holiday off for the most part except for some minor missions (or emergencies) such as this one, meant to keep them busy and out of trouble, thus there chuunin and jounin teams got dragged along. The mission was simple and straight forward ensure the children had fun and that the future of Konoha was safe from any attacks, seeing as how they would all be gathered in one place outside of the village walls. The various teachers who where being given a much needed rest from the kids, other then a few that had mission room duties, had the day off. Any in the group assigned to the mission that day, who did not already have a healthy sense of respect for the job the Leaf teachers did everyday quickly developed one. Both Kakashi and Sasuke, last surviving members of genius clans, had decided the revival of there clans was not worth the trouble of a child, they where simply too troublesome as Shikamaru had so eloquently put it.

"Alright you three head home; warm up and change, we'll meet back at the bridge in an hour" Kakashi ordered and headed to the missions desk to turn in a report and pick up Iruka.

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Iruka had a vague sense of guilt when he had handed Kakashi, Gai, Asuma, and Kurnei their teams missions that morning, but had quickly forgotten it as he had become tied up in his work as the day had worn on. Now looking at a bedraggled and rather pitiable Kakashi, the man couldn't help but feel guilt once more that he hadn't been able to better prepare the teams for dealing with the children.

"Thank you Kakashi-san" Iruka took the wet report from the jounin, giving a quick once over before filing it away. " I'll be done here in a few minutes why don't you go have a seat and wait for me. We'll go get you warmed and changed to go and decorate the trees as soon as my shift ends."

Kakashi gratefully took an empty seat against the wall and drifted into a light slumber as he waited for Iruka to finish his shift. What seemed like only a moment later the slightest flair of familiar chakra awoke him. The tanned chuunin stood before him hand outreached to help him up.

" That bad huh?" Iruka asked as the two left the building together.

"Worse, I don't know how you deal those little hellions everyday"

"Sometimes I wonder myself" Iruka laughed. The two walked in comfortable silence the rest of the way to Kakashi's apartment, occasionally bumping arms and sharing secret smiles. Kakashi opened his apartment door and let Iruka in, both removing their boots and Kakashi his mask before Iruka went to sit at the lone chair in the small room and Kakashi went to the closet to get a change of clothes. Quickly and efficiently the tired out jounin removed his pouches and emptied his pockets of scrolls, varies weapons, and last but not least his beloved Icha Icha. Idly Iruka picked up the orange book and flipped through the pages, while Kakashi changed.

"Some of this has potential." A considerably graphic picture of two men in a rather intimate position was shoved into Kakashi view as he was pulling up his pants.

"Oh?" Kakashi said grinning wickedly

"Oh yes definitely, alas we are already running late. The kids will be at the bridge in just a bit and you still have to finish changing" Iruka leered at the still half naked man. Kakashi stood before him long sleeved black shirt hanging loosely in his hands. Black uniform pants hung low, since his pouch belt still lay on the bed. Iruka's eyes traced the hip bone showing just above the pants then followed a scar up to rose-pink nipples the only color on the pale landscape of his chest. Eyes lingered a moment before finishing tracing up the collarbone and the slender neck to find smiling lips.

"See something you like?" Kakashi asked chuckling.

Iruka only hummed an appreciative sound before getting up and walking over to the other man pulling him tightly against his own clothed body. Then taking the shirt into his own hand he slid it carefully over that silver mess of hair and two strong arms letting his hands brush cool skin as he slid the shirt over a body he knew he would have to molest if he was forced to look at it uncovered any longer. Not that he minded, but they did have somewhere to be and they didn't want Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura searching for them and chancing a repeat of the Incident.

"Come-on Kashi-kun if we stay here much longer I don't know that I'll be able to control myself." Iruka kissed rosy lips lightly flicking his tongue and nipping teasingly before turning to walk toward the door. A moment later arms wrapped around his waist from behind hugging tightly, eager lips moving over his neck.

"Tease" Kakashi breathed into his ear before joining him to put on his boots once more and head out to meet his team.

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Naruto sat on the red railing of the bridge swinging his legs back and forth Sasuke and Sakura stood leaning over to look at the semi-frozen water with him. Looking up at the sky and sighing he reached into his pocket and pulled out two silver bells. Soft clear ringing filled the silence.

"You think they'll like them?" Sakura asked looking at the bells in his hand. He looked carefully at them, each had a crane engraved on one side and on the other one had a dolphin and the kanji for wisdom, the other a scarecrow and the kanji for harmony.

"Of course they will, their sappy like that" The blonde boy said holding the bells up and letting them swing in the breeze the soft rings perfectly pitched.

"Hn…" was all the answer they received from their raven-haired teammate but a small grin tugged at his lips.

When they had learned they would be returning to Konoha in enough time for the tree decorating celebration the three had stopped to pick up these small gifts for their former sensei's. Each had been given a similar gift from the two men. Iruka had given them each a small silver bell when they had returned from their first mission after finally being reunited and all reaching chuunin level. Iruka's bells had a crane engraved on one side, then on Sasuke's the kanji for peace, Naruto's had faith, and Sakura's healing. Kakashi had given the them each a small bell the day after they had finally defeated him together as a team and taken the bells from his waist. His like Iruka's had a small crane but the kanji had been different, for Naruto, Kakashi had chosen to put the kanji for determination, Sasuke's had clarity and Sakura's insight. They felt that they had come full circle at last each of the team would be taking the next jounin exam and finally all that had their sensei's had tried to instill in them made sense. They where a team and each others precious people, they where family and together they could survive. This little gift was their way of telling Kakashi and Iruka this and that they understood what the two had known all along family is so much more then blood.

Looking at the bells once more and smiling brightly the whiskered boy put them back into his pocket.

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The tree decorating ceremony had been brought to Konoha from the same shinobi who had brought Christmas, they had told of how some families in the west believed Kami lived in and around evergreen trees, like the ones that grew slightly north of the village, and that these Kami could ward off evil. They also spoke of how these trees ability to stay green through the harsh winters a symbol of life's triumph over death. Colorful decorations and bells to help ward off evil where put on evergreens in these lands.

Many of these beliefs were close enough to their own beliefs to be excepted by many in the village. When an official day had been picked for the tree decorating it had become a quick custom to give small bells as gifts to place on the trees. At the end of the new year celebration all would go out to the evergreens ones more and retrieve their bells to use the next year. Along with the bells the adults of the village would put origami cranes in the trees for peace, harmony, happiness and health. Children put up colorful origami animals and toys.

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Kakashi and Iruka couldn't help but be suspicious of how quiet the three teens where being as they rushed through the trees. They were just starting to pass pine trees and were starting to see many shinobi and villagers that they knew. Iruka nodded to Kakashi and Kakashi gave a sign to the teens that they would stop here.

"Sakura-chan I saw your parents around here would you like to go be with them?" Iruka asked " the four of us will find a tree near you and you can join us when your down."

"That's sounds good but I'll wait a moment." one to gently she nudged Naruto.

Naruto looked at his teammates and the three silently agreed that this was as good a time as any to give their musical gifts. Reaching in his pockets and taking a bell in each hand Naruto held out his fist to the chuunin and jounin standing before him.

"Here." was all he said Sasuke snorted behind him knowing that their would be no elegance in the kyuubi vessels gift giving, the pink haired kunoichi just glared wishing she or Sasuke had given the gifts.

Glancing at each other and Kakashi and Iruka firmly believed they were about to be pranked by the teen, who although they had matured greatly in the last few years, where not above such things. Hesitantly Kakashi held out a gloved hand making the first move to protect his lover the pranks embarrassment. Naruto dropped a small silver objects into his outstretched had and when nothing immediately happened Iruka reached out for his too. Upon closer inspection the gift sincerity became apparent. Iruka marveled at the small bell in his hand the fine engraving done on it, Kakashi let his hand listening intently to the perfect pitch ring. Naruto had stepped back to watch with his two teammates in anticipation as their former sensei's, now friends and (for the two boys their only) family, looked over the gifts given them. Iruka was the first to react walking over to the three he grabbed them all in a fierce hug.

"Thank you that was very, very thoughtful of you three." He said eyes glistening slightly with emotion while trying not to laugh at the boys embarrassment at being hugged in public and Sakura's blush. Kakashi had come to stand next to the chuunin, he reached out to ruffled blonde and ebony spikes before hugging the girl of the trio.

"Thanks you three. Iruka's right that was very thoughtful of you." he said trying to keep his bored and lazy demeanor but failing to keep the emotion from his voice.

Naruto flashed a foxy grin at the two men and Sasuke graced them with an honest smile, Sakura beamed brightly.

"Alright lets go find Sakura's parent and pick a tree." Kakashi decided and the small group moved through the forest in search of said parents. It took them a full twenty minutes to find them, stopping frequently to greet friends along the way and give well wishes. Iruka had to catch up several times having stopped to admire one child or another's origami. The three teens lead the way Kakashi and Iruka following closely behind content to walk shoulder to shoulder and admire some of the colorful trees and hundreds of cranes. After hellos and some pleasant conversation the four males of the group left Sakura with her family, to find their own tree.

Sasuke had brought the paper to fold their decorations and Naruto had brought a blanket for them to sit on. All settles down the four set about folding paper lanterns, cranes, butterflies and flowers. It was a peaceful affair, if one ignored the occasions bickering between the Uchiha heir and a certain blonde kyuubi vessel, Iruka patiently teaching Kakashi some folds the other man didn't know and Sasuke not so patiently correcting the impatient Naruto's folds. Genma and Raidou came by for a moment to chat (tease) the new couple. The senbon sucking jounin was highly amused at Sasuke's recounting of the Incident.

"Why Iruka-sensei you sly devil." Genma said nudging the grinning chuunin. The two had been friends for years and it was no secret to Genma that Iruka had an aggressive side the two, would have at one time been lovers themselves if it hadn't been for that, Genma just wasn't one to give up top. Raidou gave Kakashi a sympathetic look. Kakashi thanked once more his eccent nature for the mask to hide his blush, and lazily shrugged it off, while deciding what form of torture he would use on his subordinate. Naruto was off talking to Lee and Ino with Sakura and missed the whole episode. The sun was well into its decent into the western sky and genin where distributing lanterns to the various groups still out. Most of the civilians had long ago started their return to the village the weather turning to cold for them. Finishing up the last of their decorations and hanging their silver bells on the tree they had chosen Team Kakashi and Iruka moved toward where several shinobi were gathering. Tsunade had had some warm sake and tea brought out to a clearing in the pines and several blanket for the present ninja to share, using their chakra to keep it warm. Asuma and Gai had gathered some logs and built up a nice bonfire. Sasuke and Naruto seated themselves on either side or Sakura huddling under a blanket together watching the fire dance. Leaned against each other a bit further from the fire Kakashi and Iruka shared a blanket chatting with Anko and Ibiki. All around the villages shinobi enjoyed each others company it wasn't often so many of them were able to be home at the same time and they all wanted to enjoy it as long as possible one never knew when friends and loved ones would leave for a mission to never return. Softly the tinkle of hundreds of little silver bells warded of the evils of the world.