A/N: Right. Somehow, I guess I managed to get this out. I couldn't resist teasing young Iruka a little, thus, the chapter. But well, this chapter isn't without purpose anyway. ^_^ Hope you will enjoy it!

Chapter 20: Conversations

"Iruka-kun."

The boy stopped in his packing and turned at the call of his name, coming face to face with a dark haired girl.

"Tsubaki, what is it?" Iruka stared at her curiously.

"I……. Um……. Wonder if you have heard anything about why Mizuki-kun isn't in school today."

Iruka stare at her in puzzlement. He and Mizuki had never been on best terms. Why would Tsubaki think that he would know anything? He shook his head slowly. "No."

"Oh….." Tsubaki turned away in disappointment. "That's alright then."

Kotetsu shot a glance at the two before offering an answer. "I overheard my mum talking to another shinobi last night. Seems like his parents were badly injured in the attack yesterday. Perhaps that's why he didn't turn up."

Tsubaki gasped. Iruka looked at Kotetsu worriedly.

"Are they alright then?"

Kotetsu shrugged. "I don't know. That was all I heard."

"Thank you, Kotetsu-kun." Tsubaki bowed politely. "I will go over and take a look at him then."

"Send my regards to him." Iruka said as he watched the girl packed her things. Tsubaki grabbed her bag and gave Iruka a quick nod and a smile before she retreated from the room.

"Iruka, shall we go and play some sports?" Kotetsu grinned at the boy. Iruka shook his head.

"Not today." He smiled. "Kakashi-senpai is coming to bring me for lunch."

Izumo laughed. Kotetsu eyed him teasingly.

"You know Iruka, lately, all we hear you talking about is Kakashi-senpai. Every single sentence which you speak of contains his name. Are you in love with him?"

Iruka gaped at his friend's words and turned red. "Wha…… What are you talking about?" He sputtered. "I……. He…… I just respect him."

"Oh?" Izumo grinned. "Respect can mean a lot of things. I often hear my dad says that a couple in love will respect each other too."

"It's not like that!" Iruka glared at them.

"Say Iruka, will you consider marrying him?" Kotetsu burst out laughing.

Iruka stomped his foot in anger. "No! I'm not a girl. And Kakashi-senpai is not either."

Izumo shook his head as laughter bubbled from his throat. "That doesn't mean you can't get together."

"Of course we can't!" Iruka crossed his arms, annoyed. "My parents used to say that I have to marry a girl when I grow up."

Kotetsu snorted, apparently not having his fill yet at teasing the blushing boy. "Ah…… But my parents tell me that you can't control who you love." He poked Iruka in the forehead. "Which means, you can't help it if you fall in love with a guy."

"I…. I…" Iruka stammered, trying to find a way to reason with his friends.

"Can't deny it, Iruka!" Kotetsu rubbed his hands gleefully. Izumo laughed and pat him on the back good-naturedly.

"I don't like him!" Iruka protested heatedly, as his face heated up.

Izumo cut in before Kotetsu could say something more. "We are just kidding, Iruka."

"Yes, but we are stating facts too. Keep talking about your Kakashi-senpai and people will really start to think that something is going on between the two of you." Kotetsu grinned.

Iruka huffed and glared at the two of them. Izumo shook his head amusedly.

"Stop teasing him, Kotetsu. I think Iruka barely knows Kakashi-senpai to fall in love." He chuckled. "Come on now. Let's pack up and leave. Everyone is already gone."

The other two glanced around the empty classroom and quickly started to keep their things.

As Iruka shoved his books into his bag, he began to ponder about the conversation with his friend. He blushed again and immediately turned to focus on clearing his stuff.

Slinging their bags over their shoulders, the three walked towards the classroom door, with Iruka trailing at the back. Iruka hesitated for a minute before he called out softly.

"Guys."

Izumo turned slightly to look at him. Kotetsu threw him a glance over his shoulder.

"Um……" Iruka scratched the scar across his nose nervously. "I…… Uh…… I wanted to know…… How do two guys fall in love?"

Two pairs of eyes widened and stared at him.

A protest of 'I'm just asking' echoed down the quiet corridor of the academy before fits of hysteria laughter could be heard.

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Kakashi stared at the boy as he hurried out of the academy, his face red and his two friends snickering behind him. He leapt off the tree and landed in front of Iruka, startling the child and causing him to stumble backwards.

A gloved hand reached out to steady Iruka before he falls on his back.

"Kakashi-senpai!" Iruka scratched his scar as he shot a nervous glance at his two friends behind him.

"What's up?" The jounin raised an eyebrow. Iruka shook his head hurriedly.

Kakashi shrugged. "Let's go for lunch then." He paused and then sighed softly. "I have something that I need to talk to you about too, Iruka."

The tanned child turned to look at his senior when he heard the sullen tone. He nodded uncertainly and trailed after the older boy when Kakashi walked out of the gates.

"Enjoy yourself, Iruka!" Kotetsu called. Izumo laughed.

Iruka snorted and hurried after Kakashi.

The two fell into silent steps beside each other.

"What would you like to eat?" Kakashi turned to look at the child.

"Ramen." Iruka beamed.

Kakashi shrugged. "Let's go then."

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The jounin placed the orders and gave a sideways glance to the child beside him who was looking at him in mild curiosity.

"What?"

Iruka shook his head and blushed, turning his attention to the chopsticks holder in front of him.

"Iruka….." The jounin started. Iruka turned to look at him.

Kakashi sighed and ran a hand through his hair. This was harder than he had thought. He frowned and decided to start off with a light topic.

"How was your day?"

Iruka smiled happily. "It was good. We had target practice today and my accuracy rate was ninety-eight percent."

"Oh…. Uh…. That's good enough, I guess." Kakashi muttered.

"Yep. I have never done so well before." Iruka scratched his head sheepishly.

"Keep on practicing. You will be able to have full accuracy soon."

Iruka nodded. "That's what sensei tells me too. I'm going to try harder. I want to make my parents proud." Then he blushed and said in a small voice. "I want to make you proud of me too."

Kakashi blinked in surprise. All his life, no one had ever made him the focus of their lives and do something well just to make him proud. All his life, he had been alone, without anyone's achievements to worry about. And all his life, he had never wanted to be the role model of anyone because he was someone who had failed people so many times over. He didn't think he would ever fit that role.

But now, here was a kid he hardly knows, wanting to show him the achievements and striving to do his best, just to have Kakashi acknowledge him. Here was someone, who sees him important enough to be set as a role model to follow.

Kakashi felt a twinge of warmth in his heart. He reached over and ruffled Iruka's hair, finding it harder to break the news to him. Perhaps his friends had been right. He was getting softer. Just what on earth had the last two weeks done to him?

He pulled back and sighed deeply, trying to regain his composure and putting his years of skills at locking away his emotions to good use.

"Iruka, I have something to tell you……" Kakashi shot a glance at the boy.

But he was interrupted when their orders arrived. The ramen owner set the piping hot bowls in front of them.

Neither of them made a move to eat. Finally Kakashi shrugged and look at the child.

"Go ahead and eat."

"Don't you have something to tell me?" Iruka looked at him curiously. "My mum always says it's rude to do something else when people are talking. So, you can continue with what you want to say and when you are done, we can eat."

Kakashi almost rolled his eyes. But he just shook his head and picked up a pair of chopsticks. "It's nothing important. We will eat first and talk later."

Iruka nodded happily and broke his chopsticks. Then he gave the older teen a grin before happily digging into his meal.

Kakashi looked at his bowl and started picking out the meat toppings in it. He gathered up the slices and put it into the younger boy's ramen.

Iruka looked up and gave him a wide smile.

"Go ahead." Kakashi turned back to his own bowl and started eating thoughtfully.

This news breaking task just seems to get harder.

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