Chapter 11

Remind me to get you a copy

"I-Is there something wrong, Kaka'- senpai?", Tenzou hesitantly asks when Kakashi stops dead in his tracks.

Kakashi turns around and puts his left hand onto his hip. He stares right at Tenzou. Tenzou can't help but feel extremely vulnerable and weak as Kakashi's stare pierces right into him, as if he can reach his very soul with just one single look.

"You're late", Kakashi states. His tone of voice matches his body language and stare. It's strict and blunt, it's intimidating his comrade and feels so unusual , it's unlike.. Kakashi. Even though he could be strict if and when needed in the past, he was never insensitive of the other person's feelings when speaking to them. It seemed out of character. Tenzou attempts to swallow once more, but feels that it's quite difficult to do so. It feels as if a lump has been starting to form there, out of sheer nervousness. He starts fidgeting with the zipper on his vest, looking rather fixated at the little piece of metal.

There was no way he could get himself out of trouble. He had no other option than to accept his coming punishment. Heck, he was already lucky enough that Sakura hadn't beat him into a pulp, but perhaps she did it on purpose, so that Kakashi could have his way with him.

"Yes, Senpai..", he manages to mumble quite softly, accepting his crime if he had to.

"Excuse me?", Kakashi asks gruff, coming across as harsh and inconsiderate.

"Y-yes, Senpai!", Tenzou blurts out, cheeks flustering and he immediately releases the fastener from his tight grip as he looks right into his friends eye, his pulse rising quite dangerously in result. He can practically hear his heartbeat ringing in his ears.

Kakashi gives him a once-over, quickly examining him as he remains his stern posture. This doesn't go unnoticed by Tenzou, who instantaneously looks away. He place the tips of his index fingers against each other, letting them softly and constantly touch each other. "Is there something wrong?", Tenzou now asks in a soft tone, almost a whisper.

"Don't make a habit of it."

Tenzou immediately looks up, slightly confused, "Senpai?"

"Don't make a habit of being late," he places his hand in his pouch and Tenzou's eyes, now a bit widened, follow his movement as he does so, humoring Kakashi ever so slightly, "It doesn't suit you very well."

"Hai", Tenzou nods and pauses for a brief moment as he hangs his head down in shame, "Gomen*."

Even though it's not quite visible through his thick mask and, for the untrained eye, it would pass by as unseen by many, but Tenzou notices the faintly-visible smile that appears upon Kakashi face. "Don't worry about it, " he retrieves a book from his pouch and his former peer immediately raises an eyebrow as he reads the title of the infamous written booklet by none other than Jiraiya-sama, "Besides, how often have you put up with me being late?"

"You're always late, Senpai", Tenzou says, nearly mockingly and secretly hopes his comrade feels somewhat offended, as he feels how his heart starts to slow down at the very exact moment his superior loosens his discomposure. Tenzou's eyes are fixated on the Icha Icha novel for a few seconds before he faces Kakashi again, who looks even more amused now, eye fairly twinkling.

"Exactly", Kakashi beams brightly, smiling widely as he opens his novel and sits under a nearby tree and Tenzous simply follows him with knotted eyebrows, "But seeing as this kind of training would go down the drain right away if you were not to show up, it's crucial that you arrive on time."

Tenzou places one of his hands against the tree as he stands behind his former teacher, relativity close to not let his fellow peer realize that he still is much conflicted by this very man. He lets the rest of his body hang and rest against said tree as he hopes to catch a glimpse of the content of the little aqua-colored book, his curiosity awakened. He has never seen his Senpai without the book. He seems to carry it with him, always.

But why?

Was Jiraiya-sama truly a great writer? He didn't seem all that great. A bit of a pervert, actually.

"The boy's progress is even faster than I imagined", Kakashi suddenly says when a few silent minutes have passed, hoping to attempt to break said silence as he felt rather uncomfortable. There was and is something uncomfortable between the two of them, that is. Anyone with a good sense of mind and pair of eyes could feel and see it, unlike Naruto.

Naruto has already managed to make a small cut into a leaf. Tenzou, however, doesn't even seem to comprehend what Kakashi is saying, let stand alone pay attention to Naruto, as he is too busy with his attempt at peeping. Kakashi notices the continuation of the silence and slowly looks upwards, towards Tenzou and immediately notices the man's actions. A devious smirk appears upon his face, though it remains practically invisible. Not that Tenzou would even notice it, with him being so focused on finding out what the content of the book is. Kakashi changes his posture so that they're both looking straight in each other's eyes. Consequently, Tenzou blinks a couple of times.

"See something you like?", Kakashi smirks as the younger man starts to blush.

"I didn't mean to.. I.. ", Tenzou stammers as Kakashi nods along. He decides to not further embarrass himself as he has done so many times before in these past few weeks and closes his mouth wisely.

"I'm sure you don't", Kakashi says quite teasingly, obviously smirking from ear to ear, "But if you're so curious about Icha Icha Paradise, remind me to get you a copy."

Another chapter, boom! Hope this makes up for the previous chapter. I plan to have, at least, a chapter up per month. I'm going for one per week, but I can't promise anything, with exams and such coming up. Almost vacation, almost! *crosses fingers*

Yes, I thought it'd be wicked to have Tenzou not known what Icha Icha Paradise is all about. He kinda seems as the naïve, innocent person, at least, in my mind. Besides, it gives great opportunity in later chapters ;).

And yes, we secretly all know that Kakashi isn't just mad because Tenzou is late, don't we? ;)

Anyways. Let me know what you think of this chapter. Liked it? Hated it? Things you think are going to happen? Must happen? Hit that review button!

* Hai means yes

Gomen means sorry