Chapter 18

At the cafe

When Kakashi and Iruka woke up in the next morning, they decided to have their breakfast at the café. When they planned to find a table in the garden, they saw An was talking to the Hinata. Iruka was amazed to see An-kun in the morning outdoors, while Kakashi didn't show any sign of surprised. An saw them and so waved at them to go over to the table that he was at. Kakashi and Iruka greeted An-kun and the Hinata causally.

'So Kakashi-kun know An-kun?' Karou asked curiously.

Before Kakashi could make a response, An has already replied, 'yes, we are old friends, he ran into my bar when years ago. So how about you, Karou-kun, I didn't know you know Kashi-kun.'

'Oh… I see. Well, I just met Kakashi-kun when we were on the way to here. When I first met you, Kakashi-kun, I always felt that you looked like someone.' He paused, 'now I know who I was thinking of. It was An-kun, as you guys have the same silver hair and that you guys have similar dressed sense.'

'Haha…' An laughed out loud. 'Of course, I taught him all the dressing knowledge and skill.'

'Huh,' Kakashi smiled slyly. 'An-kun, then even Karou-kun now know your secret. You are not as young as you look like.'

'Kashi! It is impolite to tell people how old they are.'

'Well, I didn't tell the exact age.' Kakashi shrugged his shoulder, 'have I, Ruka?'

'No, you haven't.' Iruka laughed. The Kakashi that stood in front of An-kun was always different. 'Seems he is more relaxed with An-kun, maybe because with An-kun, he is not the legendary Copy-nin, I suppose,' he thought. 'I hope that he is relax when he is with me.'

'Well,' Hideaki stood up, 'Karou, we still have not packed yet.' He pulled Karou's sleeves.

'Oh true, so please excuse us, as we are going back home today, so I hope we could keep in touch.' He handed out a business card. 'Or see you at Knot's?'

Kakashi took his card and exchanged for his. 'Sure, I will see you at Knot's if I have time. Or maybe when you have your boy.' He laughed.

'Sure, or maybe your boy if you guys are fast enough.' Karou laughed. 'Sayounara.'

'Sayounara,' said Kakashi and Iruka together, 'See you at Knot's when we have time.'

When the Hinata were gone, An invited them to his room to have a chat. When he was holding Kakashi's arm, he could vaguely see a tattoo on his arm, he suddenly figured out what had happened to Kakashi, and where the blood from. The dark time in his life, he sighed.

When the men settled in the sofa, drinking tea, An asked, 'Kashi, you have went into ANBU, didn't you?' Although it was suppose to be a question, An said it rather like a statement form.

Kakashi was surprised that he would bring this up. He thought An would not ask as he could already sense the blood that he has on his hand. He sighed.

However, Iruka was surprised that An knew about ANBU. Although Kakashi did not say a word, Iruka looked at An dangerously, though he doubted that he has the power to harm the vampire as he sensed the charka that the vampire has.

An laughed out loud to break the tension, when Kakashi tried to explain the situation to Iruka. 'Go-me, Iruka-chan. Please relax as I am not your enemy. The last time I was back in Konohagkure was 10 years ago. As my family was based in the forest nearby for thousand years, so I went back to the mansion sometimes.'

Iruka relaxed a bit, as Kakashi nodded at him. 'Although An-kun has not told me that he lived in Konohagkure, he told me that he was from Land of Fire in the first place when I met him, and I have checked his file with Ibiki. If not, I won't be friends with him for these years.' He laughed.

'haha… go-me-ne, Kashi-kun. It was not the nicest time in my life when I moved out of Konoha. I was simply wondering around the world, as I was feeling lonely and bored. Although I have enjoyed the time when I lived in Konoha, I just felt that I was not mature enough by that time. Anyway,' he waved his hand, 'now I knew where your blood smell from, the training in ANBU has darken you, which sadly, I have to say that I was pleased to see that my training programme has done its purpose.'

'What?' both Kakashi and Iruka screamed in unison. 'You wrote the programme?' Kakashi asked, 'no wonder I could be the top of the bunch, as I learnt lots of basics from you and Minato sensei.'

'Hahaha… I am glad that I have trained the famous Copy-nin then.' An slipped some tea before he continued, 'actually, I have not go back to Konoha since my last visit, could you inform Sarutobi-kun that I will be back within a week when you guys back into the village?'

'Sure, An-kun.' Iruka replied. 'Do you want to stay with us? Or shall we arrange accommodation for you?'

'You are so kind, Iruka-chan~ but no, since you said us, I guessed you guys have lived together and I don't want to be a third wheeler.' He laughed slyly.

Chapter 19

Hokage office, Konohagkure

Kakashi and Iruka left the resort as they have planned and managed to travel smoothly back to the village. After they passed the gate, they dashed to the Hokage office straight away, still in their casuals. The ANBU who guarded the office nodded at their ex- leader gently and opened the door. Sandaime was at the balcony, smoking. 'Sandaime,' said Iruka, when he gently bowed at the old man.

'Great, you guys are back.' The old man moved to his desk swiftly. 'Result?' he questioned.

Iruka placed the book and the bottle of pills on the desk. Sandaime picked a book and flipped though and check out the content. 'Very well. Your military jacket suits you, Iruka sensei.'

Iruka blushed, as he forgot to take that off when they entered the village as he was wearing the same jacket as Kakashi. 'Sono…'

Kakashi waved at Iruka and began, 'Sandaime, I have two things to report.'

'Say,' said the old man, waved at the ANBU who was standing at the door. The ANBU picked up the book and the bottle and disappear in a heap of smoke.

'Firstly, I need your permission to let me move into Iruka sensei's apartment.'

''Hmm…' the old man fixed his glaze on Iruka. He thought that Kakashi would by this time asked the young sensei out, but he was not expecting them to move in this quickly. 'You sure, Iruka?'

'Yes…' Iruka replied weakly as he was bit concerned that Sandaime would say no.

'Granted. I will ask Sparrow to update your location, so that the ANBU know where to find you next time.'

'Secondly,' Kakashi began, 'An-kun, Sasaki An-kun has asked me to inform you that he is planning to come and visit the village next week, and he asked me to require your permission formally.'

'An-kun?' Sandaime was surprised to hear that, as he has not heard the name for a long while, thought that the vampire was not keen to come back to the village. Also, seems that the young Jounin has knew the vampire for a while. 'Kakashi, tell me, how long you have known Sasaki-kun?'

'Since age 7.' Kakashi answered crisply. 'During a mission in the Land of Water.'

Sandaime didn't say a word, and in deep thoughts. 'No wonder… although the Hatake-clan are one of the best shinobi clan, I always thought where some of his habits and skills Kakashi has picked up from, as it for sure was not from Jiraiya nor Minato. It was from Sasaki-kun, which now made sense,' he thought. He causally waved at the men, 'Very well, I will deal with Sasaki -kun's visit personally, dismiss.'

Once the men have left the Hokage office, they decided to drop their bags at Iruka's apartment, so that they could simply move whatever left in Kakashi's apartment over. It was not much as Kakashi has not have many belongings and that during the 2 weeks at Iruka's, Kakashi has moved half of his Icha Icha series over already.

When they were on the way to Iruka's apartment, a rush of orange and gold stopped Iruka. 'Iruka sensei,' the orange figure hugged Iruka tightly, Yamato taicho told me that you are coming back today.' He sniffed at Iruka's jacket, 'how come you smell like that Bakashi-sensei, what has he done to you?'

'Naruto, I am right here,' said Kakashi and Iruka just realised that he has already put back his mask and hita-ate on.

As Naruto turned his glaze to Kakashi, he realised that the sensei were wearing the same kind of jacket. 'You pervert sensei, why you are wearing the same jacket as Iruka-sensei?' he shouted and pointed at Kakashi.

'Can't you tell that we were just back from a mission?' questioned Kakashi. 'Don't you still have training this afternoon?'

'Yes, but Iruka-sensei…' Naruto pull Iruka's sleeves, tried to get his attention.

'No 'but', this is an order,' said Kakashi.

'Okay…' Naruto walked away miserably.

When they arrived at Iruka's apartment, Iruka could not help but asked Kakashi, 'ne… I have been thinking for a while already, why An-kun left in the first place? I have been working in the Archive and mission room for so long, never heard of Sasaki at all.'

Kakashi pulled Iruka towards the sofa where he was sitting, 'my love, of cause you didn't, as his file was only with the ANBU. I could tell that An-kun didn't leave the village 100% on his wish. I guessed it was Daimyo, who wanted him to be out of sight, out of mind.' He wrapped his arms around Iruka's waist. 'When I was working in ANBU, I didn't like the Daimyo at all. He is just a jealous man, if any ANBU walked across the line; he would be vanished in the next day. Since An-kun is the head of a immortal-clan, he would be concern that he would take his power away from him.' He shrugged his shoulder mindlessly. 'I thought you are better at these things than I do, Ruka, since you have worked with Ibiki for so many time.'

'Well, yes, I was… but I never used those skills out of mission.' Iruka blushed. 'Need to split work and daily life separately.'

'Good.' Kakashi whispered, before he cupped Iruka's lips.

[Yanvi: so for the next chapter, An-kun will be in Konoha, and the second part of Mission 10 will began. This time, when An-kun met Kakashi's novice, Naruto, he realised that there was something that the hunter should not have involve, and from that, can he manage to get his love, Hiroshi from the hunters?

This would be more able the conspiracy inside the village gate and in order to get the help that An-kun needed, he has gone back to ANBU and took up his legendary position, which causes Kakashi back to the team as well as the new recruit, Iruka!

And will the newly made lovebirds survive thought all the troubles?

Hope this will keep you, my dear readers on track of what's going on next, see ya.]