Book XI: But Who's the Hunter?

Kakashi was a light sleeper by nature, which was only intensified due to a lifetime of training and an occupation that necessitated a constant state of being on guard or risk dying. Deep sleep for him seldom coincided with the true definition of the term, his instincts simply didn't allow him that luxury. So, when the grey pre-dawn light prompted his brain into stirring from its rare truly deep slumber he found himself overwhelmed by a sense of complete disorientation because his semi-conscious mind and instincts were shouting conflicting messages that his reflexes were responding to before he even opened his eye.

It all happened in a second, and he was only vaguely aware of reacting to a frantic stream of information he perceived but didn't understand. Weight on his chest that shouldn't be there, don't move, someone was in his apartment, DON'T MOVE, something pinning his leg and arm, PROTECT HIM, he was being held down, GET AWAY FROM HIM NOW! He blinked owlishly in the dim light as his feet hit the floor, skidding across the room in a crouch with his fingers trailing over the wood.

His heart was hammering in his chest, his stomach was twisted in a panic so violent he had to swallow to keep from vomiting, and he had absolutely no idea why. He blinked again and wilted to his knees as his brain finally caught up to him, kicking him in the face with an overabundance of comprehension as he stared at the motionless figure on the bed. He pressed his palm into his sternum to try to calm his breathing, slow his heart, and keep his rebellious stomach from mounting an all-out assault.

Rubbing his face and thanking Naruto's parents for whichever side of the family passed down his ability to sleep like a rock, Kakashi lurched to his feet and picked up his discarded slacks as he walked to the washroom. He closed the door silently and leaned back against it in the dark for a few minutes until his nerves settled. The fabled 'morning after' had started dreadfully, and the total unfamiliarity of the entire situation made his skin twitch with the sensation of being too exposed. He'd broken down all his walls yesterday, and there was no putting them back up. Everything was laid bare, and he couldn't help the feeling of discomfort that came with it.

The fog that had been clouding so much of his rational thought had lifted, and he could recall every minute detail of the previous day through the all too clear lens of guilt. Switching on the light, he stepped into the shower. He kept the water just cold enough to be tolerable, snatching up the soap with a snort of self-disgust. Of all the stupid things he'd done yesterday, allowing himself to fall asleep like that with Naruto in his arms was close to the top of the list. And bloody hell, it was a long list!

He rested his forehead on the cool tile wall as he scratched the soap through his hair. He knew himself better than that, he should have...should have... Should have what?! Untangled himself from Naruto's limbs and pulled away so there was some space between them?! Slept on the god damn floor?! After everything that had happened, what kind of fucked up person would do that?! It had felt so good holding Naruto as he'd fallen asleep. Why couldn't that have stayed?! Why couldn't he have just...just...not been the person he always was when he woke up?!

Books made it sound so easy to change overnight. Why couldn't that simply happen to him?! He'd held someone in his arms like that for the first time in his life, and he had to go and ruin it by being himself. He'd finally had an entire day of what he'd ached for and dreamt about for what felt like a thousand years, and the chill of raw fear that came with being accepted so unconditionally in that last moment was still strong enough to make him shiver under the cold water.

Scrubbing the goose bumps off his arms, he let his fingers brush the small bite mark on his stomach and viciously quashed the heat that began radiating from beneath it as he continued washing himself. It would have been so much easier if Naruto had rejected him somewhere along the way, drawing a line in the sand that Kakashi could step back from and deal with. But he'd driven himself to the brink knowing the answer would be 'yes', still half expecting it to be 'no' because that's what was supposed to happen.

Rejection was simple and routine. He'd been rejecting people, or manipulating them into rejecting him for as long as he could remember. Damn it! Why did Naruto have to look at him with eyes begging to be allowed to stay?! To be captured and held forever because he wanted and needed Kakashi with every scrap of his being. Glowing and burning with that greedy expression because Kakashi wanted and needed him so fucking bad it hurt.

He turned the shower off and stood there as the water trailed down the contours of his lean muscle, dripping off his chin and fingertips. The howling itch in his blood that he'd been trying to suppress for months was gone, sated beyond measure, but he didn't have the cool sweeping calm he was accustomed to feeling afterwords. Instead, it felt as if he had warm syrup in his veins despite the cold shower, underpinned with a thrumming growl frighteningly familiar enough to let him know it had been echoing in the background for quite some time.

He wasn't satisfied. He wanted more. More than just a taste. More than just a day. More than just a body trembling under his fingers. He wanted that smile turned toward him in a way no one else would ever see. A laughter in Naruto's voice that was his alone to hear. He wanted to hoard Naruto and hide him in his pocket, never letting him go until that bright scent was threaded in his clothes and clinging to his skin forever. Until he could smell himself in that blonde hair and know he was the only one allowed to touch him.

"You are one seriously creepy guy..." Kakashi said darkly, scratching most of the water from his hair.

He swiped as much of the moisture off his skin as he could before pulling on his trousers. The room was brighter when he stepped back into the apartment, but the sun hadn't risen yet and everything looked hazy and washed out in the dim pastel light. Naruto's snoring had turned up in volume, and he'd somehow managed to sprawl himself into an awkward looking position on the bed. The blanket was off his back and tangled around his feet and waist, one arm dangling off the edge of the bed and the other shoved under the pillow above his head.

Kakashi sighed as he picked up the dirty towel off the floor and dumped it into his hamper, suddenly a bit thankful he'd skittered out of bed early enough to avoid being mauled by the blonde's restless sleep. He grimaced and tried not to think of what might have happened if Naruto had been the one to wake him with his flailing. Sliding his dresser drawer open to take out a long-sleeved shirt, he had to admit he was more than a little astonished Naruto hadn't appeared to have even moved throughout the night. Granted, he was always more active right before he woke up, but unless he was sleeping propped against someone's back he still tended to roll and shift around a lot.

As if on cue, Naruto mumbled something about ramen and swimming pools, and then flopped onto his back. The pillow tumbled to the floor as he switched which arm now dangled off the mattress. Scooping up the fallen pillow along with the second pair of discarded trousers, Kakashi sat at the head of the bed and draped the slacks over his knee before setting the pillow on his lap. He slipped his shirt over his head, pausing for a moment as he reflexively adjusted the collar over the bridge of his nose. Gazing down at the fitfully sleeping blonde, he gave himself a rueful smile and pulled the mask down.

"How do you even sleep like that?" He murmured wryly, reaching out to carefully cradle his hand beneath Naruto's head so he could tuck the pillow back where it belonged. There really wasn't any need to wake him up just yet, he could sleep for a while longer.

Abruptly, Naruto shifted again, turning over and swinging his arm so it bumped numbly into Kakashi's leg. His fingers twitched, catching on the fabric of the Jounin's slacks, and his tangled feet kicked out as he shrugged his shoulders in to snuggle his head against the side of the man's thigh. Kakashi sat there for a minute, waiting for the next round of flailing. But it didn't come. All the restless tension had drained out of the young man, and his snoring had quieted down to the soft background noise even Kakashi could sleep through.

That now-familiar ache wound its way through his chest, and he hesitantly slid his fingers through the blonde hair. It wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that he had the heart of Konoha curled up next to him in a bed he'd spent his life never once even considering sharing with another person. It wasn't fair that he'd stolen it in a moment of unguarded passion, getting scorched in the backdraft till there was no hope of letting go. It wasn't fair that he didn't want to let go when he knew he had nothing but old shadows, emptiness, and a dwindling number of years to give back. It wasn't fair.

"Hey, Sensei?" Kakashi whispered to the quiet room, a sad smile pulling at his lips as he brushed his fingertips across Naruto's bangs. "Can I keep him? I promise I'll take him for walks and feed him every day."

The only answer was the rustling of the curtain as a chilly breeze drifted through the open window, and Kakashi stretched out his hand to tug the blanket over Naruto's shoulders. He had an hour before the spell was broken, before Naruto would have to wake up and leave. Logically, he knew he should wake him up so they could talk and attempt to begin to sort out the mess they were now in, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. He couldn't let go of the last lingering peaceful fragments of forever yet, and he didn't want to stop sliding his fingers through that warm soft hair because he didn't know when he'd get the chance to do it again.

The clock eventually betrayed him well past the hour he'd originally given himself, and the sky had lightened to the clear blue of morning now that the sun was up. There was no helping it anymore. He'd already procrastinated long enough that Naruto was going to have to scramble to get to the Mission Assignment Desk at a reasonably late time. Letting the blonde strands fall off his fingers, he closed his eye and mentally readied himself as well as he could for the uncharted territory ahead. He wasn't looking forward to what he was going to have to say.

"Naruto, it's time to wake up," he said, giving the young man's shoulder a little shake.

"Nnmm...five more minutes..." Naruto mumbled, scrunching his body closer to Kakashi's leg.

"Come on, get up," Kakashi said firmly. "You're on duty today, and you're going to be late."

"You're late all the time, why do I have to be the one to watch the clock?" Naruto groaned, heaving himself to a sitting position and looking around with half-awake bleary confusion. "Why is Mr. Ukki the Second in my apartment?"

"He's not," Kakashi said with a touch of amusement, glancing over at the potted plant which had been re-named and re-gifted after Naruto managed to salvage a cutting of the poor mangled thing from the rubble of Pain's destruction of Konoha. "He's in my apartment."

"Oh," he said blankly, turning and blinking at Kakashi. His muzzy eyes stared at the taller man's face for a moment, and the Jounin arched an eyebrow as he watched the gears starting to turn. "Ooohh..." Naruto breathed, his eyes clearing and widening while a blush crept up his cheeks.

"Good morning," Kakashi smiled wryly, plucking the second pair of trousers off his leg. "Here, put these-" He grunted at the impact of Naruto damn near tackling him with a tight hug around his waist, quickly tensing his muscles so they both didn't tumble to the floor. "-on..."

"I have a better idea," Naruto grinned impishly from where he was half draped over the Jounin's lap. "Why don't you take yours off?"

"Not going to happen," Kakashi said flatly, resting his hand on the blonde's narrow waist and stolidly refusing to allow his own body to give in to the temptation of that warm skin. "You see that round thing up on the wall? I want you to look at it and count to ten."

Naruto gave him a perplexed scowl, and then looked over his shoulder at the clock.

"Shit! I'm going to be late!" He gasped, scrambling out from under the blanket and hurriedly stuffing a leg into the offered trousers before halting and then trying to kick them back off. "Shower!"

"Ah, you can't do that here," Kakashi said, hooking one of Naruto's arms as he attempted to bolt to the washroom while tripping on the slacks still caught around his ankle. "I don't have any towels left, and you don't have a change of clothes. You need to go back to your own place to wash up."

"Damn it!" Naruto grumbled, hiking the slacks up around his waist before crouching down to fix the rolled cuffs over his ankles. Kakashi stepped over to his dresser and picked up the blonde's folded clothes, holding the shirt out. "Why didn't you wake me sooner?!" He demanded, shoving the shirt over his head and snatching up the rest of the unwearables.

"I was busy."

"Doing what?!" He wailed in frustration, darting over to the entranceway to yank on his sandals.

"Thinking," Kakashi replied, the seriousness of his tone making Naruto stop and look up at where the Jounin stood on the step.

"Thinking about what?" Naruto asked with a touch of hesitation, all the frantic energy draining out of his frame as he straightened up. Kakashi's stomach clenched at the expression on Naruto's face, and he took a deep breath.

"A lot of things," Kakashi said, stepping down into the small entranceway so he didn't feel like he was towering over the shorter young man. "And now that I have your undivided attention, there's something we need to talk about before you leave."

"Can't we talk about it when I get back?"

"Oh, don't worry, we're going to do that, too," Kakashi said. "The problem is, I might not be here when you get back, and you might not be here when I get back. So, this needs to be said now, and I need you to listen to me." He paused for a heartbeat to let that get absorbed, trying to ignore the sinking in his insides. "Don't tell anyone what happened here."

"What? Why?!" Naruto bristled in startled confusion.

"Because you need to do some thinking, too," Kakashi replied firmly.

"About what?!"

"About everything, damn it!" He said forcefully, gripping Naruto's shoulders and glowering at the defiant blonde until he cooled down a notch. "That sure as hell wasn't anything that either of us just do on a regular basis."

"First time for me..." Naruto mumbled, glancing down as his cheeks flushed.

"Yeah, well, me too," Kakashi sighed, relaxing his hold. Naruto lifted an eyebrow in wry disbelief as he looked up. "You know what I mean," he said, rolling his eye. "At any rate, this is not something other people need to know about before we've figured it out ourselves. Yesterday was not supposed to happen-"

"Not supposed to happen?!" Naruto snarled, pulling away from the Jounin's hands and stepping back.

"Damn it, let me finish," he grated, feeling his own ire boiling a lot faster than normal.

"Are you trying to say it was all a mistake?!"

Kakashi looked dead into Naruto's eyes as he heard himself say 'Yes', icy little black tendrils winding their way under his skin and hissing in his ears. It felt as if the air was cracking like glass as the blonde's eyes widened and lost a great deal of their light. Rage swiftly blazed behind them again, but it was a dark shine and it felt like his sternum was splintering and driving inward as the shadows scratched at his wrists and ankles. He could take the fall and make it a clean break.

Or...

Kakashi lunged forward as Naruto opened his mouth to deliver some unfathomably venomous feedback to his reply, effectively preventing the verbal backlash by pinning Naruto to the wall and devouring those parted lips with a fierce hunger that startled himself. "And it was the best mistake I've ever made, you impatient hot-tempered idiot," he said, breaking the kiss before Naruto's fervent response carried things too far.

...he could finish his fucking sentence.

"You need to stop interrupting me, it's a very rude habit," Kakashi sighed, resting his forehead against Naruto's and putting his palms on the wall.

"Shut up!" Naruto snapped and bit his lip, blinking furiously as he clutched the front of the Jounin's dark shirt with subtly trembling hands.

"Naruto, you don't know anything about me," Kakashi said softly, an apologetic smile pulling at his lips.

"I know enough," he said with stubborn conviction as he tightened his hold on Kakashi's shirt.

"No...you don't..."

"Then start talking!"

"I don't like talking about myself, and there's no time to even start."

"I'll send a shadow clone to the Mission Assignment Desk," Naruto persisted, jerking lightly on the fabric in his hands.

"You know that won't work."

"I'll call in sick."

"I'd rather not have Sakura kick my door in."

"I'll call in dead!"

"I'd really rather not have the whole village kick my door in," Kakashi said dryly. "Now, listen to me this time. Yesterday was not supposed to happen the way that it did, and there's no avoiding the fact that we are now in a mess. It's a mess we can iron out, but you need to give yourself time to think about more than just what you want for today. And for both our sakes please don't tell anyone about it. Okay?"

"All right," Naruto said reluctantly as the Jounin dropped his hands and straightened up, letting his own arms fall to his sides. "And we'll talk when I get back?"

"Yes," Kakashi nodded, sliding his hands in his pockets and stepping back

"What's your first memory?"

Kakashi blinked in surprise at the question, then grimaced and sighed. "Come on, you're late enough as it is. You need to get going."

Naruto scowled and made an agitated noise, tucking his dirty clothes under his arm so he could reach up and carefully situate Kakashi's mask over his face. The taller man stood there, completely bewildered, and allowed the blonde to tug him toward the door. Still having no idea what was possessing Naruto to move him around like a stage prop, he raised his eyebrow as the young man opened the door and stepped over the threshold before grabbing his hand. When his hand was pressed firmly over Naruto's eyes, he felt that same painful expression pull at his features as when Naruto had put on his mask as a blindfold.

"What's your first memory, Kakashi?" Naruto repeated.

"Try to remember to use the 'sensei' honorific in front of other people, and be sure to take care of yourself out there," he replied, feeling the silence between them weigh him down as he started to close the door. "...my first memory is my mother's funeral," he said quietly as he pulled his arm back and shut the door.

Naruto stood there for a few seconds with his eyes closed, fists clenched at his sides as he desperately fought the urge to kick Kakashi's door in himself. All he wanted to do was curl up in the man's arms and listen to him talk about whatever the hell he was willing to talk about for as long as he wanted to talk about it. It wasn't fair. He spun on his heel and took off toward his apartment at a dead sprint, hopping over rooftops to save time. For the first time in his life he wished he wasn't a shinobi, because he did not want to leave!

He'd filled in the empty spot on enough missions to know that schedules were reworked for couples whenever it was possible, and there was no way he could even ask for something vaguely resembling that. It wasn't fair! He had to keep on hiding everything, just like he'd been doing since that first dream turned his universe upside-down. God he hated it! It made his nerves crackle, and he simply wanted to start shouting and yelling so everyone in the whole fucking world knew he was pissed off because he couldn't tell anyone how god damn happy he was!

Fishing his key out of the pocket of his folded slacks, he darted into his apartment and left a trail of clothes behind him as he dove into the shower for a quick scrub-down. A peek in the mirror as he dried himself off made him halt, his fingers reaching up to trace the line of his neck and collarbone. There wasn't a blemish to be seen. Enraged at the injustice of it all, he flung the towel into the apartment proper and stomped after it so he could throw on some clothes.

It wasn't fucking fair! He knew Kakashi had to have left marks from his teeth or lips, because his skin had tingled and jumped and felt so fucking good even after the man had stopped, and he really shouldn't be thinking about that right now, but he'd wanted to see the marks left behind, damn it! Even if he couldn't have showed that shit off to anyone who glanced his way like he wanted to, he at least would have had them there for himself. A secret little reminder of the absolute best day of his entire life. He zipped up his jacket and brushed his fingertips across his lips.

"Best mistake I've ever made..." Naruto grinned and tied his forehead protector on as he trotted to the kitchen area to feed his fish. "Hesitant bastard, you couldn't have scared me a little more?!"

He'd moved the small fishtank to the kitchen table so he could keep Kakashi's ANBU mask propped up against it without it being next to his bed, and the slender vase of paper flowers he'd kept from his stay in the hospital had gone to the bedside table to replace it. Sprinkling some food into the tank, he then carefully stowed the mask back in its box under his bed and hurriedly dumped his dirty things in the hamper in case Iruka would have to come in and feed the goldfish while he was gone.

Dashing out the door, he again took to the rooftops to get to the Hokage tower as fast as he could. He still felt a little odd hiding the mask like that, but after Kakashi's reaction to it he'd taken more care about making sure no one else might see it. He certainly hadn't expected it to be such a source of turmoil and...disgust from the Jounin, as if the mask itself was somehow a filthy dangerous creature. Then Kurama had been roused by his fit of temper after Kakashi had left, exacerbating everything by getting him so mad he'd gone after the man without bothering to put any clothes on. He never did find his towel.

Naruto bit his lip and dropped lightly to the ground outside the steps of the large domed building, trying to shuffle back remembered images and the feel of Kakashi's arm swept around his shoulders with the cloak draped across his bare back as he stood close enough to smell the man. He shook his head, wishing he could simply grab the first person he saw and brag about EVERYTHING! The fact that he was horribly late helped cool his heels as he ducked through the entrance and quickly traversed the halls to the Mission Assignment Desk.

He was expecting the dark expressions from behind the long table as he burst through the doors, narrowly side-stepping a Chuunin on his way out. What he wasn't expecting was for Tsunade and Shizune to then start gaping at him with a disturbing amount of astonishment as he approached the table. He gave them a bit of a disgruntled look, wondering what the fuss was about. It wasn't like he was the first person to ever be late.

They recovered quickly, though he immediately wished they hadn't, since Tsunade started asking him about his day off. He muddled through the questions with half-truths, and by the end of it Iruka was beginning to join in and give him a curiously scrutinizing gaze. Thankfully, they didn't pry any further than a polite inquiry, and Tsunade finally handed him his next assignment. After a quick scan of the paper, he very nearly threw it back at her.

"Two weeks in Iwa?!" Naruto protested vehemently, crumpling half the paper in his fist. "Why do you keep sending me on these joint missions?!"

"Naruto," Iruka scolded. "They requested you specifically, you should feel honored that you're a part of helping to maintain the truce we have with the Land of Earth."

"I know that," Naruto replied, his shoulders sagging as his temper deflated and he smoothed out the wrinkled paper. In truth he was honored and proud to be sent on the joint missions, but this one couldn't have come at a worse time. "It just feels like lately I'm doing more work for other Countries than my own."

"Such is the price you pay for wanting world peace," Tsunade smirked.

"Ah, Tsunade-sama? It is quite a long way from Konoha, and Naruto will be traveling alone," Shizune said thoughtfully. "Would Iwa object to us sending someone with him?"

"Hmm? No, I don't think they would," Tsunade said, tapping a finger on the table as she leveled her sharp eyes on the blonde and smiled sweetly. "Is there anyone you'd like to have accompany you, Naruto?"

Naruto blinked at the older woman, the flush to his cheeks a stark contrast to the cold sinking in his gut. The question had been asked far too casually, and even he couldn't miss the avid tension of the three adults as they waited for his answer. The temptation to say the name at the tip of his tongue was raw and powerful, made only harsher because there was a high chance he could request Kakashi without drawing suspicion. Unfortunately, it was a chance he couldn't take, because holy fuck they knew he'd been with someone!

He clamped his teeth shut and shook his head, turning on his heel and striding out of the room. HOW DID THEY FIND OUT?! Panic chased him down the halls, and he quickly checked his clothes to make sure he hadn't put something on inside-out. No, that wasn't it. Damn it! He'd made sure to keep his responses to their questions neutral, so what gave him away?! He racked his brain for clues as he sprinted back to his apartment to pack for the extended mission, but came up with nothing. How was he supposed to stop giving himself away when he didn't know what it was he was doing to give himself away in the first place?!

Slinging his backpack over his shoulder, he clasped his cloak at his throat and decided the best course of action at that point was simply to get the heck out of the village before he ran into anyone else. Adding to his steadily mounting frustration was the awareness that it would take him nearly three days to reach Iwa, which meant his two week mission was closer to three weeks. Three weeks away from Kakashi! Was the world conspiring against him?! Sure, it would give him time to think like the Jounin had asked him, but he still didn't know what the hell he was supposed to be thinking about!

Locking his door and pocketing the key, he tapped into Kurama's chakra and swiftly entered Biju Mode to transport himself a fair distance outside the North Gate. He was only beginning to contemplate using Biju Mode to cut a day off his travel when he was abruptly spun around within his subconscious. His concentration faltered in surprise, and the glowing cloak dropped as he stumbled on the tree branch he'd been aiming to jump onto. Catching his footing to resume his pace, he split his attention and glared up at the fox who was flat-out gawking at him.

What is wrong with you?! Naruto demanded, shrugging out of the grasp at his shoulders.

You've been plucked! Kurama said, pitching his head back and laughing in wicked glee.

WHAT?! Naruto shouted, his face burning up as he again lost his footing and stared aghast at the fox. This was not happening!

Holy shit, look at you! Kurama practically crowed. He fucked you good, didn't he!

Naruto balked and slumped against a tree in wide-eyed denial at the nightmare unfolding in his own head. OH MY GOD, THIS WAS SO NOT HAPPENING!

Hell, he sure took his sweet time jumping your bones, Kurama chuckled, shaking his head. I was starting to get worried he wouldn't land you before winter set in.

He did not jump my bones! Naruto snapped, more than a little insulted that what had happened between him and Kakashi was being reduced to that term.

Oh? Kurama grinned with devilish curiosity as he stretched lazily forward to rest his chin on his palm. So, you jumped his? Now this is interesting...

No! No it is not! There was no jumping of bones, and I did not get landed! I won't let you call it that! It- He grimaced and cut himself off, curtailing his temper before he said too much. It's none of your business, and I don't want to talk about it.

Too bad for you we share a body, technically it is my business, Kurama said pointedly, flicking his tails behind him. And it's painfully obvious you do want to talk about it, so you might as well just go ahead.

Naruto glanced away and started leaping through the tree branches again, hesitating at the offer to be heard. Kakashi had told him not to tell anyone about what happened, but - much to his horror - Kurama already knew everything so it was a moot point. Keeping it all inside was already tearing him up, and he was fairly sure the fox wasn't going to let this particular subject slide. It was rare for Kurama to instigate a conversation, much less show a desire to keep it going when it could be easily dropped. He shot an irate wary look at Kurama, debating which torture would be less painful; talking to the fox and suffering the humiliation of his sharp-tongued teasing, or not talking and still suffering the same fate.

He asked me not to tell anyone, Naruto said with a slight scowl.

Geeze, were you that bad in bed? Kurama drawled.

Kiss my ass, I was fantastic! Naruto felt himself turn crimson as Kurama flicked an ear and watched him with silent amusement. He crossed his arms and darted his gaze away. At least, I'm pretty sure I was good... Damn it, he had a good time! He said it was the best mistake he ever made!

He called it a mistake? Kurama asked with thoughtful interest.

Yeah, and that it was a big mess now, because yesterday didn't happen the way it was supposed to.

Wait, wait. Yesterday?! The fox demanded, his eyes going wide in shock for a moment before he swung his head and glared daggers over his shoulder at the retreating scenery. He pinned his ears back and lashed his tails in irritation before turning back to the blonde. Well, that certainly explains why you're lit up like a New Year fireworks display, he sighed, dropping his chin in his palm again. What else did he say?

That I needed to think about what I wanted tomorrow, Naruto said, shaking his head in confusion.

Those were his exact words? Kurama asked, lifting an eyebrow skeptically.

No... Naruto mused, squinting as he recalled the conversation. He said I needed to think about...more than what I wanted today. But I don't even know what the hell that means! What's there to think about?!

Okay, we're going to pretend for a moment that you're not an impulsive idiot, Kurama said dryly, massaging his temples as he gave the bristling young man a flat look. Kakashi was the one who said that, so it implies a certain amount of intelligence behind the statement. Don't worry, little one, I'll walk you through it, he said with patronizing sweetness.

Naruto flipped him off and gave him a dark glare.

If he's telling you to think about more than what you want today... Kurama continued, ignoring the gesture. ...and you're not even going to see him tomorrow, wouldn't that mean he might be talking about you thinking ahead a little bit farther?

How much farther?

How far are you willing to go?

Naruto felt his pace through the trees slow down as he regarded Kurama's serious expression, a tangled sensation of conflict rising in his chest.

A month? Kurama asked quietly.

He'd be back in Konoha in a month, and then he'd get to talk to Kakashi. That was an easy one.

A year?

Naruto furrowed his brows. A year wasn't that far away, why would he want anything different than now?

Five years?

The knot in his chest tightened. He'd never thought that far ahead, but he still didn't know why he would want anything different! He might be Hokage by then, that was the only change.

Ten years? Ah, but that is assuming Kakashi will still be around.

Naruto halted on a tree limb, digging his fingernails into the rough bark as he glowered scathingly at Kurama.

I'm only stating a real possibility, Kurama shrugged, his expression unreadable. He was three heartbeats from death earlier this year, and there aren't many shinobi hanging around Konoha that are much older than him. So, if there are any sparkling little fantasies floating around your empty head with the phrase 'I want to be with him for the rest of my life', you should toss them out because they're a lie. You won't be spending the rest of your life with him, he'll be spending the rest of his with you.

I don't care! Naruto shouted, shaking his head and kicking off the branch to burn some of his tension away. I don't care how long, I'll take anything he'll give me! I know the life of a ninja is a risk, and there's always the chance we won't make it back home. I know that! That's why I want to enjoy the time we have while we have it.

Well said, shinobi, Kurama chuckled softly. The inscrutable light in his eyes shifted to an impish gleam after a few seconds, and he drummed his claws on the floor. Of course, there are other drawbacks to shacking up with another man if we're going to keep on talking about the future.

Like what? Naruto scoffed.

You used to have a thing for that pink-haired bundle of mass destruction, didn't you.

Sakura-chan? He blinked, perplexed as to why Kurama was even bringing her up.

Well, she's got something that Kakashi will never have.

What? Naruto asked after a pause.

A uterus.

Naruto tripped rather spectacularly over the tree limb ahead of him, tumbling gracelessly to the ground and landing in a heap as he gaped at the highly amused fox.

What the fuck does that have to do with anything?! Naruto sputtered, untangling himself from his cloak and brushing the dirt off his clothes in angry embarrassed confusion.

I'm just saying... Kurama cackled, spreading his hands innocently. He's never going to give you a kid, and, as talented as I am, I sure as hell can't just create an oven for you to cook a bun in. I thought I should at least point out the one important fact that procreating will have to involve a third party.

I'm 18, he grumbled, jumping back into the treetops. Procreating is not exactly on my list of things to do.

True, Kurama shrugged. But we're not talking about today, or tomorrow.

I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

You want kids?

I...I've never really thought about it.

Kurama squinted at the walls and scratched his chin idly. You're lying.

All right, fine! Naruto snapped, flailing his arms in the room and pacing around a bit. Yes, okay?! I did hope that maybe one day I'd... But it's not like I plan my future around that, it's just a thought! It's just a 'maybe' want.

And if he doesn't even want a 'maybe'?

Then I'll cross that bridge when I get there, Naruto grated stubbornly. Why the hell are we even talking about random stuff so far in the future?!

Good point, Kurama said, swishing his tails and narrowing his eyes at the blonde. After all, the two of you might not even last a week together.

We'll last, Naruto said with quiet firmness.

How do you know?

I just know.

The fox grunted thoughtfully, folding his arms and settling his chin on them as he curled his tails around himself. Congratulations, he smirked, closing his eyes.

Naruto watched Kurama sleep for a moment, then abandoned his subconscious room to focus on making his way across the landscape at a decently fast pace. There were too many thoughts jangling in his head, writhing with half-formed questions and bouncing from memory to memory without clear direction. He let them rattle around for a while before attempting to sift through a few of them as he stopped for a short meal. He'd skipped breakfast in his haste that morning, and he was starving.

Kurama's prodding him to think years ahead remained a conundrum. What the hell did it matter if it was five weeks away or 50 years?! He paused and did some quick calculations. He'd be...68. Well, 69 if he rounded up a month. Cripes that was old! Kakashi would be...83. He shivered and took a swallow of water as Kurama's words drifted through his mind. 'You won't be spending the rest of your life with him, he'll be spending the rest of his with you.'

There had been too much truth in what he'd said, too much understanding beneath it. His stomach twisted and he drew his knees up to rest his forehead on them. Kurama would have to bury him one day...just like he'd have to bury Kakashi. The idea was unbearable, and he coughed as his chest constricted around his lungs. Gripping his arms around his knees, he cursed his weakness and helplessness. As much as he believed in what he'd said about accepting that inevitable fate, they were just pretty words in the face of that one painful truth.

The only way to avoid it would be to die before the Jounin, and the chances of that happening were slim at best. Was he strong enough to bear it? Could he look at himself honestly and say he was okay with it? He grumbled and scratched at his hair as he stood up. Of course he wasn't okay with it! He'd never be okay with it! But he knew he could accept it, and he knew he would endure it. He resumed his pace through the trees with a sense of renewed determination, though he had to shake his head at himself for going overboard and thinking things out way too far ahead.

They'd had one day together, and Naruto was planning funerals after his retirement. To say it was absurd as well as morbid would be an understatement. Wasn't the next step supposed to be dating? He paused as he jumped to the ground when the trees thinned out into a wide grassy plain, guilt making him cringe before he started running across the rolling hills in the early afternoon sun. Dating wasn't the next step...it was supposed to be the first step. He suddenly understood what Kakashi had meant when he'd said yesterday wasn't supposed to happen the way it did. They really were in a mess, weren't they.

Well, they'd spent nearly seven years - minus two and a half in the middle - together, that should count for something! Also, there was the two weeks he'd had Kakashi all to himself just last month. They'd gotten along great, even if he did sometimes make the Jounin uncomfortable. He hadn't been able to help himself. He'd been trying to figure out a lot of stuff at the time, and every so often Kakashi would say or do something that got him thinking.

Naruto had had no idea if he was even anything Kakashi would want, and he'd still been wrestling with the extent and turn of his own desires. There were only two times he'd seen the man show any kind of inkling toward another person, and his infatuation with his porn novels didn't count. The first time had been years ago, before he, Sakura and Sasuke had even entered the Chuunin exams. Kakashi had called it worthless when Naruto had suggested that the kunoichi spy, Hanare, might have loved him. The second time was the reaction to his transformation earlier that year.

That both of those times had been in response to women wasn't surprising, although it was disheartening. But then something had started to shift after their clash over the ANBU mask, and he hadn't been able to work out what it was. He'd wanted to ask, but he knew he couldn't. He'd been left with searching for some hint, just wanting to get closer so he could peek behind the walls as he'd tried to keep telling himself that he'd be satisfied with only that.

He'd find himself too close all of a sudden, and Kakashi's demeanor would go rigid at the intrusion of his personal space. But Naruto would have caught a glimpse of something beyond the neutral expression, and it was like a tiny little victory. Kakashi wouldn't turn away, or shove him away, or look at him with bewildered disgust, and Naruto had always been so incredibly happy about that. As boring as the low-rank missions were, those two weeks had been among the best times he'd ever had.

He snorted wryly. Well, except for the meal thing. Damn that man! He knew Kakashi had done it just to piss him off, but seriously?! Did he have to pay for every...single... He stopped dead in his tracks on top of a small hill, his eyes going wide at a dawning realization. Kakashi had been playing a game with him. For two weeks solid he'd been playing that game, paying for Naruto's meals like it was a fucking date! Picking up a stone, he spun around and hurled it in the direction of Konoha with all his strength, seething with an irrepressible fury.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH, YOU WERE FLIRTING WITH ME THE WHOLE FUCKING TIME!" Naruto raged at the empty landscape. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY ANYTHING?!"

Considering - up until recently - you've done nothing but run away screaming like a schoolgirl at the slightest hint of not-so-platonic affection involving another guy, what did you expect? Kurama asked with dry amusement, opening an eye to gaze at the angry youth.

"Shut up!" Naruto snapped waspishly out loud, turning and kicking back into a run toward the Land of Fire's border. "He was just doing it to aggravate me, how the hell was I supposed to know he was..."

Hitting on you? Kurama supplied with an impish grin as he lifted his head.

He probably wasn't! Naruto said, stomping his foot in the subconscious room. You tell people when you do that kind of thing! You make it clear!

He was dealing with you, Captain Oblivious. And why are you trying to argue the possibility that he wasn't attempting to hunt his way into your pants?

Will you stop making this all about sex! Naruto fumed.

Then what is it about? Kurama asked curiously, resting his chin on his palm.

It's about wanting to be with him! I just want him there! I don't care if we never have sex again as long as I can just...be with him!

Lies.

Fuck! I hate you! All right, I would care if we never had sex again, because IT WAS FUCKING UNBELIEVABLE! Naruto shouted, waving his arms and flopping to the floor. God I just want to chain myself to his bed and send clones to do all our missions... He sighed and scrubbed at his face. But I want more than that.

Greedy little tart, Kurama chuckled.

I guess so, Naruto grinned, sitting up. His smile faltered a bit, and he pulled up one knee to lean against it. He said I didn't know anything about him.

That's probably true, Kurama shrugged.

He said we'd talk when I got back, though.

What are you going to do if you find something you don't like?

Why would I find something I don't like? Naruto asked, giving Kurama a puzzled look.

People hide stuff for a reason, the fox said pointedly. He didn't want you to have that ANBU mask for a reason. He doesn't talk about himself for a reason. He covers his face for a reason, and I'm guessing it's not because he's hideous enough to make babies cry and old women faint.

No, definitely not, Naruto smirked.

There you have it. You might not find him to be ugly, but that doesn't mean the reasons behind what he does will be pretty.

I don't care. There may be things I don't like, but there won't ever be anything I won't want.

It's flippantly benevolent of you to simply say you'll accept it without bothering to think about it, Kurama drawled.

I accepted you, didn't I? Naruto shot back with a sly grin.

Touché, Kurama laughed, pushing himself up onto his haunches so he could form a seal to begin molding chakra. Well, let's get this show on the road. Your ass is going to burn a hole in the floor if we don't get you back to Konoha soon. Where the hell are we going, anyway?

Joint mission in Iwa for two weeks, Naruto grumbled as he stood up.

What the fuck! Kurama spat, pinning his ears back and tossing a venomous look over his shoulder. Is that old bat senile as well as blind?!

Neither. She already knows, but I don't think she knows who I was with. She even asked if I wanted anyone to come with me for this assignment.

Then why the shit isn't Kakashi here?! Kurama demanded.

Because I'm not supposed to tell anyone, remember? Naruto quipped dryly.

You humans always have to make this crap more complicated than it needs to be, the fox growled. Well, at least we can cut a day or two off this bitch of a trip.

You like him, don't you, Naruto said, an astounded smile pulling at his lips.

What can I say? Your zoo of one gets awful boring, Kurama grinned, flashing his teeth wickedly. Come on, let's get this mission over with so you can get back to that dangerous wild animal and see how this all shakes out.

Naruto tipped his head back and laughed. Forming the seal to mold chakra along with Kurama as he closed his eyes in his subconscious, he let the golden cloak of Biju Mode swallow him up and transport him straight across the border.