Finally, the hot springs. They'd traveled almost non-stop to reach it. Blinking dizzily, Iruka stared down at their destination.
"That's it." Kakashi's voice was flat and colourless. Iruka couldn't answer. He couldn't breathe.
"Steady." Kakashi's arm slipped around Iruka's waist and supported him for a moment.
They hadn't been attacked since the one that had killed Yumiko. Iruka thought they'd finally thrown off their assassins. Leaning wearily against Kakashi, he fought to catch his breath.
When he felt stronger, he gently pushed away from Kakashi. "Let's go."
…
Almost a full week later, Iruka was feeling almost normal again. Daily immersion in the hot water had finally soaked the last of his bruises away. Plenty of food and rest had brought his strength and chakra back.
Kakashi, currently sprawled on his stomach on the bed, opened his eye and gave Iruka a long look. "You look better."
Iruka sank onto the bed and absently rubbed his hands over Kakashi's backbone. "I feel better."
"Mmmm." Kakashi sighed and then abruptly rolled over. Capturing Iruka's hand in his, he reached up with the other and yanked his mask down. "Iruka, we need to talk."
Iruka tensed slightly. Giving Kakashi a wary look, he freed his hand and rearranged himself more comfortably on the bed. "Ok. So talk."
Taken slightly aback by Iruka's sudden defensiveness, Kakashi rolled over and sat up. Rubbing his face, he took a deep breath before spinning around to face Iruka.
"Iruka…" Kakashi licked his lips. Suddenly he wished, strongly, that he hadn't removed his mask. He felt horribly exposed. "Look. You and me…"
Iruka flushed slightly. Kakashi wanted to sink into the bed and disappear.
"It's…it can't continue." Kakashi hesitated, and then rushed on. "You're a jounin. I'm ANBU. We're both always going on these crazy missions. Either of us could die at any time. It'd be stupid for us to enter into a relationship like that."
Iruka blinked and then, to Kakashi's internal disappointment, nodded slowly. "I…see."
Kakashi gaped at him for a moment. Then he collected himself. "I'm glad you understand."
He'd expected Iruka to…what? Protest? Complain? Beg?
Shoving down his totally irrational sense of betrayal, Kakashi sat up and smiled cheerily at Iruka. "I'm glad." He sighed. "I'm glad that we got to know each other though, Iruka."
Iruka sighed and rubbed his scar. "Yeah. Me too." He looked out the window for a moment. Suddenly he grinned. Turning back to Kakashi, he raised one eyebrow suggestively. "Uhm. I was wondering…you know."
Kakashi stared at him for a moment and then suddenly found himself grinning from ear to ear. "Break up sex? Oh my god. Iruka…what have I done to you? You're getting as perver…"
Iruka pounced on him and he forgot what he was about to say.