Iruka bit his lip, deep in thought.

The party Kotestu and Izumo was holding was in three more days, which means three more days of telling Kakashi how he felt. He wasn't going to lie, Iruka was bit nervous.

Despite knowing the truth about Kakashi and his feelings being requited, the lingering fear of being rejected still threaten him over his head. He didn't want to lose his friendship with Kakashi, but he didn't want to keep his feelings bottled up any longer. With a sigh, Iruka moved through his house by memory, not feeling focusing on anything at that moment.

Iruka, stop making yourself sick.Inner Iruka said, looking at his host. Everything will be fine, you'll see. Once this all said and done, Kakashi will be all yours.

Iruka sighed.

I want to believe. I truly do.

Then believe...

When a knock on the door discontinued his thoughts, Iruka open the door to see Mizuki standing there with a gift. Iruka dispanned.

"What do you want now, Mizuki?" Iruka really wanted to punch the poor bastard in his face. He really did. Mizuki just smiled though, holding his gift to Iruka.

"This is for you. It's a new tea pot set. Remember when Kakashi broke your old one? Well, I just thought you needed another one." He said with a smile that, to Iruka, said 'No, I am not trying to win you by pointing fingers at Kakashi. Why on earth would you think that?'. Iruka wasn't buying it though.

"Thanks Mizuki, but I already got a new tea pot set." He said. In fact, it had been Kakashi who gave him a new, better looking one in the first place. Mizuki looked just a bit faltered, but this didn't stop him from trying, no matter how badly Iruka wanted him to stop.

"Oh. Well, maybe keep this one? Just in case that clusmy idiot breaks that one too." He said, and Iruka was now irked beyond belief.

"I said no, Mizuki. I know what you're trying to do and it's failing epicly. I don't care how many times you've asked me, my answer will always be no." He hissed and was about to shut the door, when Mizuki stopped it with his foot. Iruka tried, he really did, but Mizuki was pissed and open the door all the way, letting himself in as Iruka stepped back.

"I've tried," The white haired male said, glaring at him. "I've tried to get you to pay attention to me. But no. You want that idiot that's been fucking with you. The same idiot that broke your heart, twice, might I add, and never once proclaimed that he loves guys as much as women. I can give you everything your heart disire, Iruka, and what does that idiot have?"

"For one thing, he hasn't bullied me into liking him." Iruka snarled, feeling nervous as Mizuki cornered him.

"That's because I want you." Mizuki said breathlessly, leaning into Iruka's ear. Iruka bit his lip to keep from whimpering. Noticing this, Mizuki smirked. "And you want me. I know you do. Say it, Iruka; Say that you want me..."

"I..." Iruka started to say, and Mizuki eyes lit up with glee.

"Yes?"

"I want..."

"Yes, yes, go on."

"I want Kakashi." And with said, Iruka kicked Mizuki in the groin, making the white haired man double over as Iruka rushed out the door and ran straight to Kakashi's house. He banged on the door as hard as he can, and didn't until stop until a painful yelp was heard and realized he had accidentally hit Kakashi on the nose. He blushed.

"Is there any particular reason you were banging on my door and then decided to hit me?" The silver haired teen asked, groaning in pain. Iruka bit his inner cheek to keep from laughing.

"Sorry. Mizuki is starting to creep me out." At this, Kakashi forgot all about whailing to Iruka about his poor, abuse, nose and narrowed his eye.

"Tell me." He gritted out, before pulling Iruka into his house and shut- excuse me - slammed, the door behind them. Iruka felt pleased that the overprotective spark was still there, and then told Kakashi about the whole meeting with Mizuki. Kakashi eye narrowed.

"I'm gonna kill him." He said, folding his arms and glaring at a glass vase. Iruka wanted so badly to kiss him, but refrained himself from doing so.

"Don't do that. Sure, I dislike him, but he isn't worth going jail for." Kakashi turned his head to Iruka and the brown haired teen felt his heart beat triple at the not only angry, but also protective love glaze that Kakashi held in his eye. Maybe Kakashi was an ass as far as everyone was concern, and maybe a moron, but there was nothing about Kakashi that didn't stop Iruka from loving him.

"But he's..." Kakashi started to pout. Iruka smiled.

"He's what?"

"He's a asshole, that's what. I don't like him with you, Ru. You know that." The silver haired teen muttered, desperately wanting to claim Iruka's lip, to tell him everything he wanted to say, but stopped himself from doing so.

"Yeah, I know, you tell me that every day, but Kashi, know this..." Kakashi looked at his best friend, the one who he'd fallen in love with, and Iruka felt as though he couldn't breathe. "He means nothing to me. He will always be that prick that bullied me and Kotestu. He's not even worth being called a friend." At this, Kakashi felt glad that Mizuki was nothing more, but dirt.

Still doesn't mean Kakashi didn't see him as competition for Iruka though.

"Alright, now, will you be a dear and escort me back to my apartment? I fear that if I return there, Mizuki will rape me in the middle of the night." Iruka said, and though, his tone held a playful note, it did nothing to stop Kakashi from growling like angered German Shepherd. If that slimeball lays one FINGER on Ru, he will end up missing. Kakashi thought as the two headed out the door. Once the two made back to Iruka's apartment, Mizuki was no longer there, but the door was shut and Iruka didn't have his key.

"Shit! I didn't think it was possible be locked outside my apartment." Iruka chuckled nervously. "And I don't think the landlord will be please to see me right now since it's Monday. Kashi, do you mind me staying over?" Kakashi blinked and grin.

"Maa, Nope, I don't mind. Lets go." Kakashi held out an arm and Iruka grabbed as the two walked down the streets, arm in arm.