:12:

It's been several days since Sasuke started to hate the training ground. Actually, that was because this training ground happened to be the only place he had a chance to be with Naruto alone. And every time it occurred, the whining began.

"Sasuke, please!" Naruto cried in his usual half-pleading manner. "Please, do it again!"

Sasuke rolled his eyes and sighed. He was tired of hearing Naruto's voice. It was a kiss his friend was pleading for, and he really wanted to kiss the pleader. It was starting to be unbearable; all he had to do was just give him another kiss. He was sure he'd break soon. Yet, for now he used his right to tease the dobe a little.

Distracted by his thoughts, he realized too there was someone else besides the two of them on the training ground. He turned around and blinked.

"Hey, jerks, have another family quarrel?" Genma asked happily, with uncovered amusement.

Naruto turned his head and also saw Genma, who had definitely been watching them for a while already.

"Ah, Genma-san," he mumbled weakly and averted his eyes to the side, as if he was unsure how to behave.

Sasuke simply nodded his greeting and stared at the older man, wondering what the hell he forgot near their properly booked training ground.

"Hi," said Genma shortly. He came closer to the boys, his ever-present senbon between smirking lips, "So, what's the buzz?"

Naruto shrugged and pointed his finger at Sasuke's boots.

"I'm asking Sasuke to teach me how to do the kissing in due course, and teme is being a stubborn ass!"

"Oh, really? Is he?" murmured Genma, observing Sasuke's face and noticing a slight blush appear on the usually pale cheeks.

Sasuke punched his friend, inwardly swearing not to hold back during the next sparring session and make him literally eat mud.

"Did he show you how to do it already?" wondered Genma, his eyes still fixed on Sasuke's face. Sasuke winced; that intense attention was rather annoying.

"Only once," confirmed Naruto. "It's not enough I think. I want to be the best all around; I need a good training."

Genma stood there for a while, sucking his senbon. Finally he grinned.

"You know, Naruto, if you really want to learn to do it, you should first watch how it works with other people and only then train, using the points and clues of what you've seen. You can't get it right until you see it happen in slow motion."

That sounded logical, so Naruto nodded his agreement.

Sasuke frowned. He thought it sounded logical too, but, taking into account Genma's cheerful mood, there must be a trap somewhere. After all, that man was the subject of the huge amount of village's weirdest rumors.

Meanwhile, Genma continued, breaking the flow of Sasuke's suspicious thoughts.

"I'll show you an example. You should watch carefully and memorize everything I do," With these words Genma caught Sasuke's chin and brought their faces together.

Like in slow motion Naruto watched Sasuke's mouth open in protest only to be consumed by the mouth of the older man. Their lips moved together, first uncertainly, then more enthusiastically and fiercer, gaining the well-known tempo of the once learned common style. Sasuke's frown slowly disappeared, replaced by an expression of interest and delectation. In front of Naruto's horrified face the kiss deepened, then became open, two tongues licking each other in a strange staged fight. Sasuke stepped closer to Genma and entwined his hands around the taller man's neck.

At this point Naruto's shocked state broke and he darted forward. He grabbed Genma's arm, yanked it, and pulled him away from his friend.

"I've got the idea, thank you," Naruto exhaled and pushed the jounin's back to make him go away. "I think that's enough."

Genma squinted at him, as if he expected another reaction, but then shrugged.

"Are you sure? I just started, as they say, to warm to the subject…"

"I'm quite sure!" spat Naruto. "Please leave us."

Genma gazed at Sasuke, who stood on the spot, frozen and with his eyes wide open. Then, he nodded and walked away, chuckling loudly and not hiding his enormously good mood.

:+:

Iruka stood near the door for five minutes already, his hands crossed on his chest and his head tilted to the side. He watched the silver-haired jounin, a very annoyed expression on his scarred face.

Kakashi suspected the teacher had stopped talking to him. But he couldn't understand why. What had he done?

Slowly, Kakashi closed his orange-covered book and stood up. He came closer to Iruka and stopped right in front of him, mimicking the displeased pose as best he could.

"Aren't you going to wear your pullover today?" he asked, finally tired of the intense stare off.

Iruka said nothing, only blinked and squinted at his warm pullover, left completely forgotten on the arm-chair near the radiator. His cheeks gained a pink color in an instant. He was too distracted and angry, so he totally forgot about it.

After the teacher was done with pulling the pullover on, he came back to the door and gripped the handle with intention to open it and leave for the voting session. But a pale hand caught his elbow and made him freeze.

"Wait a second, what about your hair?" Kakashi's hand stroke Iruka's brown mane, left loose because of the teacher's frustration, "Want me to help you fix it?"

He made an effort to gather the strands into the ponytail, but Iruka darted and jumped to the side, enormously irritated by his attention. What he really wanted was to be left alone. Still, there was the mission he had to complete and a conference he had to attend. He was so messed up and confused he wasn't sure he would do anything properly. Actually, he couldn't even think straight right now.

Quickly moving on their own routine accord, his fingers arranged the hair into a ponytail. Iruka raised his head high and left the room without another look at his attendant.

Kakashi chuckled loud enough to be completely sure the teacher heard it and followed him. As they went down the stairs he watched Iruka from the corner of his eye. Iruka knew he was being watched, but didn't show it, or at least, tried hard not to. That was until they came to the right level and the jounin's fingers reached for his face to remove several naughty hair-strands, which fell from the ponytail because it was made in haste, and put them behind Iruka's ear.

"Are you going to speak to me ever again? I really don't understand what I did to deserve this!" Kakashi hissed, watching the other men and women enter the main door of the voting hall.

Iruka sighed and looked at him for the first time since they left the room. His eyes wore a very uncommon hurt expression.

Suddenly there was a loud sound, indicating the session's start. Iruka turned away and almost ran to the hall's door. Kakashi had no choice but follow him again. One more time he swore inwardly to take vengeance on Hokage as soon as he reached their village. That is, if he ever manages it with that stubborn, unstable freak of a teacher!

At the entrance the familiar reception girl caught Iruka's sleeve.

"We have a special arrangement for this voting session," she announced calmly. The words were addressed to Iruka, but she stared at Kakashi, "The seats for representatives in the main section are limited. Do you need your attendant near you today?"

Iruka didn't look at her either; he looked forward into the hall, but noticed nothing.

"No," he mumbled quietly, lowering his head and gently pulling his sleeve out of her grip, "I don't need my attendant."

The girl nodded and let his arm go.

"Wonderful!" she smiled somewhat evilly, "Take a seat at number 18 in the first row."

Kakashi winced at her expression, in spite of not being sure his interpretation was correct. And he didn't really care; he just stared at Iruka's back.

"Iruka, wait! For sure you need me," He got mad. It couldn't be true. That teacher couldn't be that silly!

Iruka ignored all his cries and moved to the first row of reserved seats for voters only.

"Fine," muttered Kakashi, "Fine, you asked for it!"

He went up the stairs and joined his friends in one of the upper rows. From his place he could perfectly see Iruka's nape with that perky ponytail on its top. For the thousandth time Kakashi was grateful for his mask, because at the moment he was shamelessly sulking and couldn't help it.

:+:

In two and a half hours they made a break. Kakashi was dozing off, very comfortable in his seat. The monotone mumbling of the assessors were so lulling, he couldn't even read his favorite book. And as far as he was told he wasn't needed, he had a proper chance to relax, right? He seriously thought so.

Something attracted his attention and he squinted at the strange figure climbing up the stairs, its movements stiff and slow. Kakashi's sleepy state disappeared when he recognized Iruka. The teacher reached his row and barked something unintelligible, pointing in Kakashi's direction and making all other row's occupants jump up hurriedly to give him way.

Still very slowly Iruka hobbled to Kakashi and without any hesitation sat in his lap. Trembling, he pressed to his attendant, entwined his arms around his shoulders, and buried his nose into the curve of his neck.

"F-f-ckng c-c-cold!" Iruka's teeth chattered. During these two and a half hours of continuous freezing he made more than a hundred promises not to make Kakashi angry ever again.

Kakashi cursed. He forgot to look after the teacher's state because of pure irritation. It was very unprofessional and so human! He placed his hands at Iruka's hips and started to use his chakra and work on restoring the man's blood flow. Iruka fidgeted on his knees and relaxed, enjoying the warmth. He sniffed weakly and tightened his embrace around Kakashi.

"Thank you," he whispered into his attendant's neck, "I'm sorry I'm so stupid. I should demand on having you by me."

"It's okay, just don't do it again," Kakashi muttered kindly.

Iruka shuddered.

"We have another 27 questions to discuss and vote," he whined, "I won't manage it, I already made several mindless decisions today. I'll die in that damn first row!"

"You will be alright, I promise," hummed Kakashi.

"You promise?" Iruka murmured unbelievingly.

Someone coughed nearby.

"Hey you, snugglers. Just so you know, the session is about to continue."

Iruka recognized the annoying man's voice, the one they met during this conference too oft for his taste. But he didn't move, continuing to hide his face in silver-haired jounin's neck.

"What the hell is he doing here?" he hissed angrily.

Kakashi rolled his eyes. Now, when Iruka was warm again, he was slowly transforming into his usual bitchy self.

"That's simple. He's a participant of this bloody conference as well as we are."

"Yes, bloody," the spoken man confirmed, definitely pleased.

Iruka didn't understand what he felt so happy about.

"I mean, why does he sit near you?" he wondered, even angrier than before.

Kakashi laughed.

"What if it's me who sits near him?" It was actually true. He knew almost every human in the hall; still he preferred to sit next to the ones he knew really well.

The loud squeak of microphone muffled Kakashi's last words.

"Participants, please take your places, we start the second part of our voting session."

Iruka stood up and narrowed his eye at the two men. After a short, intense staring session, his eyes focused on Kakashi's masked face.

"If I die today, tell Naruto he can have my personal season ticket for ramen," With these words he turned away and once more everyone who sat in the row hurriedly jumped up to let him pass.

"I promised you'd be alright, didn't I?" muttered Kakashi to the teacher's back.

:+:

"Do you love him that much?"

Kakashi raised his head with a huge effort and squinted at the man sitting next to him. He said nothing; he had no strength left to answer stupid questions.

"I don't know; it looks like you really do. Is it because he's so overprotective?" wondered the man.

That question made Kakashi laugh. It was worth answering.

"Like a mother-hen," he croaked and lowered his head; his exhaustion was enormous. He should think first before using so much chakra. But then again, he promised Iruka he'd keep him warm, didn't he? He always kept his promises, when it concerned his comrades.

"I'd say rather like a father-cock," the man commented, watching Iruka instructing several enthusiastic ninja, who stayed in the hall to get just another lesson. Except for them, the hall was empty now.

Kakashi choked on his laugh and fell on the desk in front of him, convulsing. It was too much for his overused body.

"Anyway," continued the man, his voice amused, "How is he in bed?"

Kakashi was silent for almost a minute, his half-lidded eye fixed on the enthusiastically gesturing teacher downstairs, too.

"Cold," he whispered. And it was the absolute truth, "Cold, at first. Yet, once he warms up, he can take initiative and become gratuitously investigative."

The man nodded.

"I see. You like that too."

"I guess," Kakashi murmured and closed his tired eyes. Even after he closed them, four Irukas stood before his inner sight, all of them showing the same examples of basic hand signs. Kakashi cursed. Too little chakra left. And seeing four Irukas was unhealthy even for his perverted mind.

With that happy thought, Kakashi passed out.

He was floating in obliviousness, light as feather, when the same annoying voice returned him to reality.

"Hey, Hatake! You hear me? Your girlfriend is done torturing kids and running here."

Kakashi was so tired; all he wanted was to sink into a nice long sleep. But, indeed, he heard Iruka's quick steps nearing. And soon enough, the teacher called him.

"Ha-, Ha-…" Iruka started twice, but each time, he firmly stopped himself from using the honorific. They were not alone, Kakashi's acquaintance sat frivolously near him on the desk.

Finally, Iruka composed his thoughts.

"Kakashi, what about dinner? I'm starving!"

The silver-haired jounin didn't move, continuing to half-lay on the desk, as if he was unconscious. Iruka frowned and fixed his narrowed eyes at the only man near his attendant.

"What did you do to him?" he asked menacingly.

"Better ask yourself what you did to him," the man spat, his voice disgusted. "He fenced his chakra manipulations, but I noticed they were focused on you. As I expected, you are a monster."

Iruka's eyes widened.

"I didn't imagine he'd use it all!" he came closer to the jounin and touched his silver mane. "Kakashi?"

"Wha…?" Kakashi moaned weakly. "Leave me alone!"

"I'll leave you alone, once I bring you to bed!"

"Maa, in that case, I don't want to be left alone."

"You are such a pervert!" Iruka muttered, helping the jounin to stand up. He placed Kakashi's hand on his shoulders and entwined his own hand around his waist. "Let's go."

The annoying man watched Iruka's manipulations with strange attention.

"Do you need some help?" he asked politely.

Iruka felt guilty and, somehow, was enormously angry at the man, though only because he was a witness of Kakashi's sacrifice. So he froze.

Very slowly, Iruka turned to the man and showed him his henged face with eyes red and fangs long.

Iruka grinned and the man's face began to turn white.

"No, thanks," said the teacher, doing his best to sound coherent because the fangs were a real hinder.

Kakashi, who was literally hanging on Iruka's shoulders, opened his eyes when he heard the strange sound as if something heavy fell down.

"What was that?" he wondered, turning his face to look at Iruka. He was in time to see the teacher drop the henge. Iruka's eyes were full of tears.

"I almost bit my lower lip through! These teeth are such a pain," Iruka moaned, sucking at his bleeding lip. "And, by the way, your so-called 'friend' fainted."

Kakashi closed his eye tiredly.

"Again, stop bulling my friends. You should help him."

Shaking his head, Iruka tugged Kakashi's limp body out of the hall.

"He'll be alright; he's already coming back to his senses. And I have a feeling he won't be happy to see me again," hissed Iruka. "You'd better pity me, my lip hurts terribly and it's because of you!"

Iruka stopped in front of the staircase and sighed heavily. He felt dizzy just from imagining carrying his attendant all the floors up to their room.

"I'd kiss your lip better, but now I have neither the strength, nor the wish to move," whispered Kakashi.

"I appreciate your solicitude," Iruka sighed again and started his long and heavy way up the stairs. They progressed slowly, but Kakashi repeatedly slipped down, so Iruka had to catch his hand and return it to his shoulder every couple of steps. "Listen, Kakashi, can you please hold onto me and not fall?"

"Oh yeah? For you to have another reason to shout at me? This morning you said your body is just for your precious person."

"You are damn talkative for a man who used up almost all of his chakra," muttered Iruka angrily. They passed another couple of stairwells, before he continued, "I don't have a precious person either, so hold fast already!"

Kakashi hummed and tightened his grip around Iruka's shoulders.

"You are quite a mystery, you know?"

Iruka grit his teeth and walked forward. He felt like the silliest mystery in the whole world.