A/N: Nope. I guess I can't make a conclusion just yet. Kakashi and Iruka are a little too nice to just give them a quick conclusion. But well, another two more chapters and that's it. *beams* Thanks for all your reviews!

Chapter 14: Preparations

Kakashi walked down the streets, smiling a little too happily, though no one could really read his mood, since he is wearing his mask.

He had a lot of arrangements to make. This is the day that he had been waiting for. This day will determine if he will be happy or empty for the rest of his life. And since it was Friday, he had to hurry, as a lot of place would be crowded. He turned the corner and headed down to one of the French restaurant to make a reservation.

"Jounin-sama, what time would you like your reservation to be?" The girl at the counter smiled at him.

"7 30pm."

"Under the name of?"

"Hatake Kakashi."

"Any special requests?"

Kakashi stared at the ceiling for a moment before something clicked and he nodded. The girl passed him a piece of paper.

"You can write down your requests here. We will try our best to fulfill it."

Kakashi nodded. "It would be best if you can actually do it." He scribbled quickly on the piece of paper and handed it back to the girl.

The girl read through the requests and smiled. "This shouldn't be too hard."

"That's good." Kakashi returned the smile.

"We will see you this evening then, jounin-sama."

Kakashi turned and strode out of the restaurant. He had something else he needs to do.

"Why do we have to do it?" Naruto growled.

"Because it's an order." Kakashi smiled.

"An order from you!" Naruto pointed a pudgy finger at his teacher.

"It's still an order. And I'm your teacher. So all the more you should obey." Kakashi swept the finger out of his face.

"Really, Kakashi. Whatever you want to do, just get your genin to do it. Why do you have to drag mine and Kurenai's in as well?" Asuma grumbled as he leaned against a tree and took a puff out of his cigarette.

"Now, Asuma, friends are for helping one another." Kakashi grinned. Asuma sighed. He had a good idea what was going on.

"Kakashi, it's just a date with Iru –" A hand slapped over Asuma's mouth, effectively cutting him off. Kurenai whispered harshly into his ears.

"You don't have to announce it to the whole world, you know?" Kakashi was beside Kurenai in a second.

"Thanks for that. I don't really want to handle a bunch of genin if they found out about this. At least not today."

Kurenai gave the silver-haired jounin a grin. "Anytime."

Asuma sighed resignedly and pried Kurenai's hand from his mouth.

"Fine. So what time do we have to be there?"

"We will pass by the area at 9pm."

Asuma nodded tiredly. "9pm that is." He called to the genin. "Every single one of you, meet me and Kurenai here at 7pm this evening. We will need some time for preparations."

At that, groans and complaints were heard.

"Troublesome."

"Now my father will complain that I'm not helping out at the flower shop again."

"Kakashi-sensei, how do you compensate a girl who has to give up on her mask treatment for the evening just to help you out?"

"Na…… Naruto-kun…. I…. I'm go…going out with him."

"Will we get to go for barbeque before meeting?"

"Can I not be present? I'm going to teach Akamaru some new tricks."

"……"

"Kakashi-sensei, I don't care! You owe me ramen for this!"

"Hn. Idiots."

Amidst the chatter, Kakashi merely smiled before he turned to the two other jounin. "Thank you!" With that, he disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Iruka stared at the mirror for the nth time that evening. For some unknown reasons, he was nervous. He folded his arms and then unfolds it before striding out to his living room and took to pacing around the small area.

It's just another dinner. He shouldn't be feeling so edgy about it. He had gone on so many dinners with the jounin before, even to the extent of having it at each other's houses. Surely, he should be at ease over a dinner out.

But somehow, he just felt that evening would be different. And Kakashi sending him a message asking him to dress up formally didn't help matters either. It just left him wondering just what would be happening that night.

And then, he realized that he wasn't in the least bit irritated with the jounin's secrecy, which he was sure that he would have been if it had been a few months back, when he barely even knew Kakashi. The thought that the older man is taking such extents to keep his motives a secret was enough to send Iruka's heart leaping in anticipation.

Iruka turned when he heard the faint knock on his apartment door. He glanced up at the clock and raised an eyebrow.

6 30pm. Just who could it be? Surely it can't be Kakashi, since he was expecting at least another half an hour of waiting for the jounin. Oh wait. Knowing the other man, he probably would have to wait longer than that.

Iruka walked over and simply hoped that there weren't any emergency issues which will require him to attend to it immediately. It would spoil the date that he was so, undeniably looking forward to. He paused for a moment before he pulled the door open and then, he blinked at the person in front of him.

"You are early." A smirk.

"Shut up." Kakashi snorted. "So, have you gotten what I asked you to?"

"Of course." Anko dug into her jacket. "Now tell me, what are you planning to ask him tonight?" There was a mischievous glint in her eyes which Kakashi was sure that he doesn't like it.

"None of your business." Kakashi muttered as he held out his hand. "Now hurry up, or I'm going to be late."

"For the first time, I'm hearing that you are worried about being late. What happened to our cool and calm copy nin?" Anko grinned and placed a box in the open palm. "I'm impressed that a chunin can get you so ruffled up."

Kakashi rolled his eye and opened the box to check the item before stuffing the box into his jacket pocket. "Thanks, Anko. That was such a nice encouragement." He said dryly.

Anko shrugged and the playful smirk was back on her face. "Keep me updated. All the best for tonight!"

"Genma? What are you doing here?" Iruka blinked in surprise.

The tokubetsu jounin shrugged and pulled out a document from his flak jacket. "Tsunade-sama asks me to deliver this to you." The older man studied his friend for a moment before he grinned. "You are dressed up. Going somewhere?"

"Uh….. Yeah." Iruka mumbled and pulled the document out of the jounin's hand. "Is there anything else?"

"Where are you going?" Genma raised an eyebrow. "On a date with Kakashi?"

"Shut up." Iruka blushed.

Genma chuckled. "And I thought I heard it wrong when I met Asuma and Kurenai earlier. So he's finally making the move. And I was wondering how long we would have to wait."

Iruka frowned. "Just what are you talking about? It's just a dinner."

"Ah…… Dense as ever, Iruka." Genma smirked. "I would have thought you would have discovered by now. Since everyone around you have been so blatantly aware of what's going on. But, seems to me you are still as oblivious." Genma clapped a hand on the chunin's shoulder before turning away.

"Have a nice evening, Iruka!"

Before the chunin could even respond or ask just what the other man had meant, Genma was gone.

Kakashi cleared his throat and adjusted the collar of his shirt. He tugged at the black jacket, getting a little irritated at the stiffness of the material. Then he reached up a hand and soothed his unruly hair. When he was satisfied that everything was in place, he stared at the door in front of him.

For once, Hatake Kakashi was early. In his long line of history for his tardiness, this is the first time that he actually arrived ahead of the appointed time.

He took in a deep breath and collected his own calm, before he raised his hand and knocked on the door. A moment later, the door opened slowly and a head popped out.

"Yo." Kakashi grinned.

Iruka blinked, before he opened the door all the way. "Kakashi-sensei, you are early."

"Uh, yeah." Kakashi scratched the side of his head. "Um…… Good to go?"

Iruka smiled. "Sure."