The Assassin and the Dolphin

Author: jabotus

Rating: T

Pairings: Kakashi x Iruka

Warnings: AU – yaoi (two guys in a relationship), OOC, OCs

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto or Dramamine©

A/N: Many, many thanks to everyone who took a few moments to review!! I really appreciate the encouragement to continue writing this! THANK YOU!! And so without further ado, here's the next chapter…

Chapter 20

Quite amused Kakashi watched Iruka as the merman took in everything with wide eyes. They stepped over the threshold and inside the plane. A flight attendant smiled and asked if they needed help finding their seats. Kakashi declined and followed the man in front of him past the first class section, through a curtained off area for flight attendants to the narrow aisle and cramped seats beyond. He could afford better, but it was easier to blend in back here.

Moving with the line, Kakashi was obligated to pause time and time again as someone ahead of him blocked the aisle to shove a carry-on into an overhead compartment. Iruka stayed close to his back, probably nervous in such a cramped area among so many humans. Reaching back, Kakashi took Iruka's hand and squeezed it in an attempt to reassure his dolphin…and himself that Iruka was really here with him. A few long minutes later, Kakashi reached their row.

"Do you want the window seat?"

"No."

"You can see the whole city once we're off the ground."

Iruka shook his head. With a shrug, Kakashi maneuvered through the narrow space to the window seat and Iruka took the middle seat.

"I can't believe I'm on a plane." Iruka glance out the window but didn't see anything different from what he'd seen in the terminal windows.

"Are you sure you don't want the window seat?" Kakashi asked then laughed softly when Iruka realized he was stretching over Kakashi to look outside.

The merman blushed and murmured a 'sorry' before settling back into his seat.

"Excuse me sir. Could you possible help me with this?" They both turned towards the woman standing in the aisle. She had thinning gray hair and wore glasses. Her face was wrinkled, but with friendly bright blue eyes.

Kakashi nudged Iruka since he was closer to the aisle. "Just put her bag up there," Kakashi instructed and pointed up.

Iruka turned back to the woman. "Yes ma'am." Iruka stood and hefted up the small, but heavy suitcase into one of the overhead bins, pushing it back as other people around them were doing.

"Thank you, honey."

"You're welcome ma'am." Iruka sat back down and the woman took the end seat of the row.

"Please call me Amanda."

"Iruka."

"I'm heading back home to Illinois. My son and his family live here in New Hampshire and I was here visiting them for Christmas. What about you?"

"Uhm…" Iruka glanced over at Kakashi. He knew he'd forgotten to tell Iruka something.

"Business I'm afraid," Kakashi spoke up.

"Oh? What do you do sir?"

"Design security systems. Iruka here just started with the company so I'm showing him the ropes."

The woman nodded thoughtfully. Iruka looked from her to Kakashi, surprised by the easy lie. Kakashi shrugged hoping he would go with it. At least by saying Iruka was new, he saved the merman from having to go into details should she ask. She didn't. Instead she pulled a photo book out of her purse and began showing them to Iruka. At first Iruka looked perplexed, but then gave his full attention to the proud grandmother bragging about her little ones.

Kakashi chuckled and leaned back against his seat, drowning them out. Glad for once it wasn't him. A few minutes later almost all the passengers were seated and a flight attendant started the safety demonstration. Kakashi had heard it all before, but he was entertained by watching Iruka listen with rapt attention and even pulling out the safety pamphlet to read over carefully.

Afterwards the seatbelt sign dinged and lit up. Amanda began chatting again after a flight attendant passed by, checking seatbelts, shutting overhead bins, and seeing to all loose items being stored properly.

Eventually the plane lurched forward. Kakashi caught Iruka glimpsing out the window again, clearly excited and frightened at the same time. It was really quite adorable. Kakashi leaned over and whispered in his ear.

"You can look over me. I don't mind." Iruka glanced at the passing scenery, but shook his head. Amanda was still prattling away, though Kakashi doubted Iruka was listening any more than he was.

The plane slowed and turned onto the runway where it idled for a few moments. Iruka jerked when the plane moved again. It wasn't much longer and the plane was picking up speed. Outside the road and grass was becoming a blur and with a few bounces as normal, the plane was air borne. However, Iruka was clutching the armrests on either side of him, his breathing slightly irregular. Concerned, Kakashi leaned closer to him.

"Iruka, are you all right?" Kakashi whispered.

Iruka turned disconcerted eyes to him and managed a nod. Again Kakashi was struck by Iruka's determination. The merman was obviously not all right and yet was trying to prove he wouldn't be a hindrance to him. Something more than admiration, stirred his heart.

With a slight grin, Kakashi pried Iruka's hand from the arm rest. He didn't mind the bone crushing grip on his hand. If it helped Iruka to relax, it was worth it. Lifting up their entwined hands, Kakashi kissed Iruka's pale knuckles. He winked and smiled again. Iruka blushed, and loosened his grip, not much, but enough for color to return to his knuckles.

Leaning back, Kakashi laughed softly. Iruka was completely unaware Amanda had caught the exchange. When the older woman had noticed her listener wasn't listening, she glanced over in time to see the kiss. Her mouth had dropped open in astonishment. The wink had been for her, but a blushing Iruka was a delightful side effect. Her mouth had opened and closed a few times as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, didn't.

Amanda reached down and pulled a craft magazine from her purse and tried to read. Over the next few minutes as the plane climbed, Kakashi caught her glimpsing over now and again at their clasped hands. Iruka remained oblivious and didn't seem too upset to discover Amanda was seemingly absorbed in her magazine.

After the plane steadied sometime later, the seatbelt light went off and a few people began moving about. Kakashi settled to looking out the window, Iruka's hand still in his.

"Kakashi?"

"Mmmh?" Kakashi glanced over at Iruka.

"I don't feel so good." Kakashi took in the merman's very pale face and pained expression. He felt he couldn't move fast enough.

"You should try some Dramamine© next time you fly." Amanda advised once the bag of vomit had been taken away. Luckily most of it had gone into the bag with only a few splashes on the chair in front of them and Iruka's shirt. "My daughter-in-law gets motion sickness and that's what she uses."

"I'll keep that in mind." Kakashi responded as he rubbed Iruka's back. The merman was leaning over as far as he could in the cramped seats with a second bag held to his mouth as he coughed and dry heaved into it.

A flight attendant, the brunette who had taken away the bag of vomit away, stopped in the aisle beside their row.

"How's your friend?" She handed a wet cloth to Kakashi who had to stretch over Iruka's back.

"He'll be fine. He's never flown before."

"Poor thing. If you need anything at all, please let me know." She held out something else. "Just in case." It was a new barf bag.

"Thank you."

Iruka moaned and said something indistinguishable.

"He thanks you as well."

The woman smiled and said 'you're welcome' before walking away. Scooting forward in his seat, Kakashi held the wet cloth against Iruka's forehead. Iruka turned his head to face him. There were tears in the corners of his eyes.

"I'm sorry," Iruka strained to say; his vocal cords raw from throwing up his breakfast.

"It happens to the best of us. Don't fret about it." Kakashi wasn't entirely convinced the tears were only from the dry-heaving.

"But I didn't want to…"

"Hey, I just said not to worry about it. Besides, I've seen worse messes when I was in college and I was the one who made them."

Iruka still looked miserable and he probably would until the plane landed. All Kakashi could do was try to make him as comfortable as possible. Kakashi continued to rub Iruka's back as he turned his face away to cough into the bag.

"Tell me something."

"Like what?"

"Anything. Tell me about your friend in New York."

"His name is Haku. He's 21 and a medical student. You'll like him."

"Is he…just a friend?" Kakashi smiled though Iruka couldn't see him as he was still hunched over the barf bag.

"Is that jealousy I hear?"

"Don't tease me while I'm dying."

"You're not dying and you have nothing to be jealous about. He's…I guess you could use the word friend, but nothing more. Besides he has a pet already – all muscle and no brain. Haku keeps him on a tight leash though so don't worry.

"I'm not worried. If you trust him, that's good enough for me, but what are you talking about? What does a pet have to do with anything?"

"I am talking about Zabuza. He's a person. I call him Haku's pet because he's been whipped, though I must suggest never saying it to his face. But it's true nonetheless."

"Whipped?"

"It's a figure of speech though it kind of makes you wonder…"

"I don't want to wonder. Talk about something else." Iruka interrupted.

"Ok. Are you into bondage?"

"Do you mean slavery? No, I'm not."

"That's not exactly what I meant, but we'll discuss it later in private." Kakashi again winked at Amanda who had been listening in on their conversation. She looked away quickly, a mixture of horror and curiosity on her face.

"How long have you known them?"

"I've known Zabuza for about eight years. I met him through Obito. And Haku I've known for about two years. We met…in an unpleasant situation, but that's over and done with. As you said about your brother, it's not my story to tell."

"Did you introduce them to one another?" Kakashi didn't miss the hopeful tone in his voice. Iruka was certainly turning out to be a hopeless romantic. Well, not entirely hopeless. Kakashi would just have to keep that in mind if he wanted to accomplish his goal of making Iruka falling irreversible in love with him.

"No, they had already met…sort of. It's a complicated story, but I'll just say Zabuza owes me big time for a favor I once did for him."

Iruka smiled at that and closed his eyes. His dry heaving seemed to have tapered off. Kakashi wiped his sweaty face off with the wet cloth.

"Do you want to try to drink something now?"

"I guess."

Sitting up, Kakashi pushed the call button. The same woman from earlier came over. She smiled warmly at him.

"Yes sir?"

"Could we get some bottled water please?"

"Sure thing." She turned back around and went back to the tiny kitchen in the middle of the plane.

"Hang in there Iruka. We'll be there soon."

"Look Iruka we're over Chicago now."

Iruka only groaned. He didn't want to look. He'd probable start dry heaving again.

A moment later the plane shook a little and a bright cheerful voice announced they would be descending in the next few minutes, and to please secure all loose items and buckle safety belts.

Iruka despised that cheerful voice. How could anyone be so jovial after that horrible flight?

"We're almost on the ground Iruka. It'll be over soon." Iruka turned his head sideways to look at Kakashi. He couldn't help but feel guilty at the nuisance he was proving to be. Kakashi had taken his nausea in stride and kept reassuring him it was fine but that only made him feel guiltier.

Kakashi slid on arm over his back and rubbed his back in small circles. Iruka sighed and relaxed until the plane dropped suddenly. His stomach dropped with it, but he had nothing left to project.

"You need to sit back now Iruka."

Iruka, with effort, sat back and closed his eyes. Kakashi's arm dropped along the armrest besides his and a moment later he felt the older male's fingers interlace with his. Then a warm breath brushed his cheek and ear.

"You've been a very brave dolphin this morning and brave dolphins are rewarded handsomely." Iruka snorted, recalling their earlier conversation.

"And just what do you consider to be a reward?" He must be feeling better if he could respond to Kakashi as he was.

"Mmm. I'll have to show you tonight," he whispered in his ear.

The plane lurched again, but Iruka could no longer tell if it was the plane's movements or Kakashi's warm breath against his skin that was making his stomach flip flop. When something warm and moist flicked his ear, Iruka was so startled he jerked away, bumping into Amanda. The plane touched ground, bouncing a few times before it raced along the ground so fast the momentum pushed him back against the seat.

Eyes open, Iruka gave the laughing Kakashi a chastising look before turning to apologize to Amanda.

"I'm sorry, Amanda." She was flustered, but nodded and mumbled something.

Kakashi leaned over him, "Please excuse my boyfriend. He's new to America."

The woman tried inching away, an impossibility with the seatbelt on. Iruka shoved Kakashi back over and gave him another disappearing look.

"What? I was just distracting you from the landing."

Iruka gave up and peered out the window. It looked fairly identical to the other airport.

"This is Chicago?"

"Not quite. We'll have to take a taxi to get where I need to go."

"Oh."

The plane came to a stop and before Iruka could blink, everyone was up and grabbing their overhead bags. Iruka stood and retrieved Amanda's. With a muttered 'thank you' she rushed as fast as a person possibly could when there was one line to get off the plane.

The other passengers also seemed to be in a hurry, but not quite like she had been.

Kakashi urged Iruka to get into the aisle as well with a slight push.

"You didn't have to make her so uncomfortable," Iruka turned to say when the line slowed.

"Don't worry about it. She'll have a new story she'll be telling for months to come."

Iruka went slightly red, recalling what Kakashi last said to her.

"What?"

"Why did you tell her I was your boyfriend?"

Kakashi grinned and there was a mischievous glint in his eyes Iruka was beginning to recognize. "Would you prefer I tell everyone you're my lover?"

Iruka's face flamed and his eyes darted around, but everyone was absorbed in their own conversations or thoughts. "No…boyfriend will be fine."

"I'll try to remember that then." Kakashi gestured for him to move forward as the line was shifting again. "Actually, I'm surprised you didn't move as fast as she did to get off."

Iruka didn't respond since the line was moving. A few flight attendants stood at the exit and Iruka recognized the one who had been so kind to him when he was emptying his stomach. When he finally reached her, she smiled brightly.

"I hope you're feeling better sir."

"Thank you Miss." She giggled and looked on the verge of saying something more when Kakashi interrupted.

"Don't stop. There are still people behind you." A hand touched the small of his back and urged him to go out the side exit. The girl in front of him paled under her make-up and took a step back.

'Kakashi must be doing his scary face,' Iruka thought even as he moved through the door. Iruka recalled it from when Kakashi had caught him following him back in New Hampshire. He couldn't blame the girl for backing off. Behind him, he heard Kakashi muttering about flight attendants flirting with sick passengers. Could Kakashi be jealous? That was absurd! Surely Kakashi didn't think he would respond to the flirting, which it wasn't – she was only being polite…wasn't she? Yet he still felt an almost possessive touch on the small of his back.

The corners of Iruka's mouth twitched into a small secret smile.

"What are you smiling about?" Kakashi had moved up to walk beside him now that they were off the plane and walking through a long inclined tunnel.

"You."

Kakashi gave him a curious glance before shaking his head. "Come on, we have a taxi to catch. Luckily we're traveling light."

"Light? By that you mean we have nothing except for the clothes we're wearing?"

"Yeah…we'll pick up some clothes while we're here."

Comprehending this fact, Iruka halted in the middle of the tunnel. Kakashi walked a few steps further before noticing. People behind him grumbled and bypassed him. Stepping back, Kakashi grabbed his arm and tugged him forward.

"Keep walking." Iruka shook himself from his thoughts and did as told. "Iruka, what's wrong?"

"We're in Chicago?"

"Yes…"

"Are we are going to take a plane to New York?" Iruka's stomach churned at the distressing notion.

Realization dawned on Kakashi's face and he hugged Iruka to his side. "Yes, it'll take too long to drive and I'm not about to abandon you in the mid-west. We'll pick up some sleeping pills or that Dramamine© the old woman suggested. Can you take human medicines?"

"I think so."

The tunnel gave way and they were inside another airport terminal. Kakashi took his hand, disregarding any strange looks the pair received and led Iruka through the airport. It was certainly easier getting out of an airport than in thought Iruka as they passed by the long line waiting to get through security.

Soon they were exiting the airport and outside they met a familiar scene, the sidewalk full of people and suitcases, the road of vehicles. Kakashi stepped to the curb and located a free taxi. Iruka couldn't help but wonder what it was Kakashi wanted here in Chicago.