A/N: Right! And I'm back on this story. ^_^ Well, sorry for the lack of update for the last one week or so. I guess I was just too tired to actually write two different chapters in one day. =.= But well, here you go now!
Chapter 21: Breaking the News
Kakashi stood with his arms folded, as he watched the child play by the lake. He had still yet figured out how to broach the topic. He knew how exactly Iruka had reacted when the people whom he held dear had left him unexpectedly. And as much as he hates to admit it, he knew Hiruzen was right. Somewhere along the way, Iruka had grown to rely on him and view him as his closest kin.
Iruka pounced about in the lake, trying to catch a fish and drenching himself thoroughly in the process. Kakashi smiled. The innocence and obliviousness was something to be envied. It was something he never had. And he knew it was something he would want Iruka to keep on to.
He sighed as he ran a hand through his hair. No matter how he phrased the words in his mind, he knew, it just wasn't enough to get Iruka to understand.
He was so deep in thoughts that he did not realize that the brunette was climbing out of the water, holding something in his hand and walking towards him eagerly.
Iruka stopped in front of the older boy and watched him curiously. It just wasn't like Kakashi to not notice his movements. He frowned as he tried to secure his hold on the squirming fish in between his hands.
"Senpai?"
Kakashi snapped from his reverie and stared at the child. He raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"Look!" Iruka grinned and held up his hands to show the teen what he had caught.
The jounin smiled. "What are you going to do with it?"
"Cook it!"
"You know how to cook?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow. He remembered the last time the boy had tried cooking, he had made a mess of the kitchen. And it was that time when Kakashi was first given the task to take care of him.
Funny how things could change over a span of two weeks.
"Ah well….." Iruka blushed slightly. "I've seen mother doing it before. I just want to try."
Kakashi sighed as he pried open the boy's hand and picked up the fish in the mid-section. Iruka looked at him curiously. Kakashi shrugged. "You don't squash fishes in between your hands."
Iruka grinned and before the older teen could say anything else, the boy had started to pull him along.
"Let's go! I want to go back and try cooking it."
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Kakashi stood with his arms folded, leaning against the counter as Iruka knelt on the chair, trying to figure out the difference between sugar and salt. The boy frowned as he studied the two containers, before he finally made a decision and dips his finger into one of the containers and pulling it out quickly, he put his finger inside his mouth to taste it.
His face scrunched up immediately. Convinced that was the salt, he started to measure out the amount that he needs to use, before he added it into the mixture by the stove, which he had prepared earlier.
Kakashi sighed and walked over. "Are you just going to eat that fish tonight?"
Iruka turned around and looked at him bemusedly before he pondered over the teen's words and shook his head slowly.
The jounin moved to stand beside him. "Anything else that you need me to help?"
"You know how to cook?" Iruka stared at him.
Kakashi shrugged. "Enough to save lives."
Iruka beamed. "Cook some rice then." The boy jumped from the chair he was on and ran towards the fridge. "I still have some meat which I bought the other day and there are eggs and……"
"You actually went groceries shopping?" Kakashi raised an eyebrow.
Iruka gathered the ingredients in his arms and dumped it at the counter. He scratched his head sheepishly. "I was trying to learn how to cook." Then the boy looked away as he mumbled softly. "Then when you leave, at least I can survive on my own."
Kakashi froze a little at that statement. It sounded helpless and vulnerable. But, it also shows him that at least, Iruka was trying to be strong. It made him feel better.
He walked over and placed a hand on the brunette's head. "When I leave, you will have other caretakers to look after you."
Iruka averted his gaze from the jounin. "I don't want to go to the orphanage."
"It can't be helped, Iruka." Kakashi crouched down, until he was at eye level with the child. "No one would agree to a ten-year-old living by himself."
"But……" Tears welled up in the corner of the brown orbs. Kakashi sighed and straightened himself. Then he walked back to the counter and busied himself with beating the egg.
He paused for a moment before he spoke quietly. "I will be leaving soon, Iruka."
He felt the younger boy tensed behind him. Then Iruka muttered. "When?"
"One and a half weeks time." Kakashi said, trying to keep his calm. "And the Hokage said I should try to get you settled into the orphanage before I leave."
Iruka was silent. But Kakashi knew the boy was upset. He turned slightly to regard the child and wasn't surprise to see quiet tears rolling down the tanned cheeks. He set down the bowl in his hands and sighed.
"Iruka…."
The boy hurriedly brushed the tears away from his eyes. Then he gave the jounin a small smile. "I will be fine."
"I will see that you settle into the orphanage before I leave."
Iruka nodded quietly. Kakashi walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it comfortingly. "And if it makes you feel better, I can get Raidou and Genma to check on you whenever they can."
Iruka looked up at the older boy, as he spoke in a small voice. "Will you come and check on me too?"
Kakashi was a little startled by the request. How was he to answer that? He was going back to ANBU. He would be out of the village most of the time and he couldn't risk Iruka finding out about his identity. Even if he doesn't mind that Iruka knows about it, he knew that the child would freak out at the sight of an ANBU.
He frowned slightly and noted that the child was still waiting expectantly for his answer. He sighed.
"I will try to."
Iruka finally smiled. "Promise?"
Kakashi nodded. He was surprised when Iruka placed his own palm on one of his gloved ones.
"We form a pact this way." Iruka said as he pressed his palm down firmly on the jounin's. "My parents used to do that with me before they go on missions. This is their way of promising that they will be back. They didn't form a pact with me before they went on that battle……" The boy trailed off as his breath hitched.
Kakashi tightened his hand slightly around Iruka's, as he gave the younger boy the silent comfort that he needs. Then he stepped forward slightly and ruffled the brown hair.
"I will come back."
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Kakashi sat by the window sill, waiting until he was sure that Iruka was asleep. He walked over to the couch, where he had folded his flak jacket and put it on. Making sure that the traps he had set around the house were in place, he slipped out of the window and headed for the memorial stone.
The jounin sighed as he traced the familiar names carved in the marble. He stared up at the dark midnight sky.
"Sensei, tell me what I should do?"
The stone was silent. But deep down, Kakashi knew what Minato would have said. He had been living in denial for a long while. He knew people cared about him, but he just couldn't bring himself to care, or to even get himself attached to anyone. It just doesn't go along with his principles and philosophies. His duty is to kill and protect. A trained tool to serve the village. He knew the rule of the shinobi so well that he could recite it backwards. He knew he shouldn't have emotions.
But then, when had he allowed someone into his heart? A child no less. Iruka had turned his values and beliefs upside down. Much as he hated to admit it, he knew the boy had grown on him.
Kakashi pulled down his mask and rubbed his face tiredly. He had never expected things to take on such a turn when he accepted the mission from Hiruzen. He hadn't expected that someone could influence him more than Minato, Obito or any other person ever had.
He hadn't expected that when there comes the time when he had to return to ANBU, he would worry about how Iruka would get on.
The jounin sighed in exasperation. The next one and a half weeks, he knew, was going to be a tough one.
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