A/N: And here you go. Here's the next chap. Sorry, I would have updated earlier, but well, there was a tech glitch. ^_^ And well, I would have done a two chapters update, but I guess I procrastinate a little in writing the next chapter. =.= Anyway, hope you enjoy this!

Chapter 25: Promise Made

The morning light filtered through the curtains and into the room. Kakashi groaned and shut his eye tight for a moment before he slowly opened it. He sat up in his bed, aware of all the aches in his joints and muscles. His strength was not yet quite back, which explains why he was feeling so tired and he was sure it would take at least two days rest before he fully recovers from the brunt of the chakra depletion.

A sound in the kitchen caught his attention. He frowned, knowing that not many people could disable the traps in his apartment. And as far as he was concerned, only Minato and Asuma knew how to disable the traps, because he had collapsed on them more than once when returning on bad missions.

And he knew, Asuma would never appear in his apartment, so early in the morning and without a reason.

He slipped out of bed and walked quietly towards his bedroom door, palming a kunai on his way out. He opened the door and walked soundlessly along the corridor, hiding behind a wall and looking out into the kitchen, where the sound was coming from.

He relaxed almost immediately when he saw the small figure pattering around his neatly kept kitchen. He sighed inaudibly as his foggy mind started to recall the previous night's happenings.

Placing the kunai on his bookshelf, he walked into the kitchen and watched in mild amusement as Iruka busied himself at the stove. His eye scanned the surroundings and a silver brow rose in curiosity when a big bag of groceries came into view. He leaned against the kitchen doorway and observed for a minute more before he spoke in a low voice.

"What are you doing?"

Iruka jumped and let out a little yelp. The plate which he was holding slipped from his hand from the shock.

Kakashi moved and grabbed the porcelain ware before it came in contact with the marble floor. He straightened himself and placed the plate beside the stove as he watched the boy who was plastered against the counter and looking at him in alarm.

"Your cooking is going to burn if you continue staring like this." Kakashi folded his arms as his eye travelled from the boy to the skillet over the fire on the stove.

Iruka snapped from his daze and blushed as he turned towards the pan and continued with his task of cooking. Kakashi noted with interest that the boy's movements were a little awkward, but otherwise, Iruka was pretty sure about what he was doing. He was certain that just a few days ago, Iruka hadn't even known the difference between sugar and salt.

"Are you sure you won't burn down my kitchen?"

Iruka turned to look at him indignantly. "I've learnt how to cook!"

Kakashi shrugged and retreated from the kitchen, heading to his bathroom and leaving Iruka to his own cooking.

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When the jounin came out from the bathroom, breakfast was already laid out on the dining table. Iruka was rummaging through the grocery bag and putting the things away. Kakashi walked over and surveyed the simple home-made meal on the table.

"Where did you learn to cook this?" Kakashi sat down in front of his bowl of noodles. A plate of bacon and eggs was placed beside the bowl.

Iruka stopped fumbling around and joined the older teen at the table as he clumsily poured a glass of milk for the jounin, spilling some on the table in the process.

"Kaori-san taught me when I was in the orphanage." Iruka muttered as he concentrated on filling the glass.

"And you picked it up?" Kakashi shoved some noodles into his mouth.

"Yes." Iruka scratched his head in embarrassment as he pushed the milk towards the other teen. "How does it taste? I don't think I cooked as well as Kaori-san did. But I tried my best."

"Not too bad. A little bland. But otherwise, it's edible." The jounin shoved another mouthful into his mouth.

Iruka grinned. "I will improve the next time."

Kakashi nodded. Then he pointed to Iruka's share. "Aren't you going to eat?"

"Yes." Iruka scratched his head awkwardly as he appeared a little deep in thoughts. Then he rummaged through his pocket and brought out a piece of paper. Reading through it quickly, he shoved it back into his shorts and smiled at the older teen. "Let me help you to change your bandages."

Kakashi quirked an eyebrow as he eyed the child warily. Does Iruka even know how to do that? "It doesn't matter. Take your breakfast first. We can do that later."

"Sure?" Iruka looked at him uncertainly before he pulled out the paper again. Then he muttered softly to himself as he studied the writings intently. "But the instructions said….."

Kakashi leaned over the table and plucked the paper from the child's hand. Iruka stared at him, surprised for a minute. When he recovered, the jounin was already leaning back in his seat and reading out the contents in the note.

"First, buy groceries. Next, prepare breakfast. Make sure to give him lots of milk to help him to gain back strength. Before breakfast, remember to redress his wounds……."

"Stop that! Give it back!" Iruka reached over to try to snatch the paper back. But Kakashi held it out of his reach.

"…… When drawing the bath, the water can't be too cold or too hot. In this weather, if the water is too cold, there's a possibility he will contract hypothermia. If the water is too hot, it may sting the wounds….."

"Stop it!"

The jounin stopped reading and gave a sideways glance to the boy who was blushing from embarrassment. "Who gave you this?"

Iruka muttered something as he scratched the scar across his face uneasily.

"What? I can't hear you." Kakashi stared at him passively.

"Raidou-senpai, Asuma-senpai and Genma-senpai." Iruka spoke a little louder.

Kakashi sighed and held the paper back to the child who immediately grabbed it and shoved it into his pocket. "And they gave this to you why?"

Iruka shrugged. "I… I didn't know how to take care of you….. So they said they could offer some advice….." The voice grew softer and trailed off.

"And they brought you out this morning to buy the groceries?"

Iruka nodded as he fidgeted uncomfortably. "Raidou-senpai brought me."

Kakashi stared at the child for a moment. Somehow, it warmed his heart to know someone cares so much. But he just did not understand what is it about him that had Iruka being so concerned and fussing over him like that. Having been alone for so long, this little gesture made him a little uneasy.

He turned back to his breakfast and started tucking in. From the corner of his eye, he could see Iruka stealing little tentative glances.

"What is it?"

"Are…… Are you angry?" Iruka asked softly.

The jounin set down his chopsticks and folded his arms on the table. "Should I be?"

"I don't know." Iruka stared at the table in front of him. "I….. I didn't mean to…. I…. I just wanted to…. To take care of you….. You have always been the one to take care of me…. I just want to return the favor." Nervous tears welled up in the brown eyes.

The jounin was a little startled at the confession. He hadn't expected anything in return when he took care of the boy. It was after all a mission. But Iruka had taken it as a kind gesture and wanted to do something for him in return.

It was kind of touching. He felt a little bad having scared the child with his nonchalance towards the whole situation. He was sure Iruka had put a lot of thought into it.

He folded his arms and leaned back in his chair. "Aren't you going to redress my wounds later? So, shouldn't you start eating now to ensure that we can start on it quickly?"

Iruka looked up at him. "But….."

"I'm not angry." Kakashi started to dig into his meal again. "But if you don't start eating, I will be."

Iruka grinned and wiped the unshed tears from his eyes. Then he started to eat his noodles.

Kakashi watched in mild amusement. Then something struck him and he frowned slightly. He glanced at the child, before he decided he does need to satisfy that bit of curiosity in him.

"Iruka."

The child looked up from his bowl of noodles.

"Why did you run away from the orphanage? Everyone was worried about you."

Iruka turned back to his bowl and stirred it aimlessly. "I'm sorry."

"Did anything happen there?"

The boy shrugged. "No."

Kakashi was silent as he waited expectantly for the child to continue. Iruka shifted nervously before he answered. "I don't like it there."

"I know that. But still, you can't just run away like this."

"Sorry." The boy looked away guiltily.

"Iruka, don't do that when you enter the orphanage next week. If anything happens, look for someone you can talk to." Kakashi sighed.

"Will you be around for me to talk to?" Iruka looked at him hopefully.

Kakashi paused in picking up the bacon. He contemplated for a moment and shrugged. "No. I don't think I will actually be around much. But Raidou and Genma will be."

"Oh…." Iruka prodded his food disinterestedly. Kakashi raised an eyebrow at the disappointed tone before he understood what the child was upset about.

He frowned as he chose his words carefully. "But, when I'm in the village, I promise to look you up."

Iruka looked at him, before a small smile form on his face. He nodded. "Promise." He held up his hand. Kakashi stared at it for a second before he raised his and pressed it against the smaller one, forming the pact which the child had so firmly believed in.

Iruka grinned happily as he drew back his hand. Then he started to dig into his meal. Kakashi watched him thoughtfully for a moment before he turned back to his own meal.

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