Almost done... one more chapter

X-x-X

The brunet blinked out of his glazed stupor and his eyes met Kakashi's, the older man looking just as sympathetic as he felt. Palling, Iruka looked down at his hands, saying as he noticed how snugly he and Kakashi were intertwined, "I've never told anyone that."

The brunet felt dazed and drained, after having let all that out, and gripped Kakashi's shirt as he said firmly as he stared up into the other man's eyes with persistence, "you can't tell anyone."

"Don't worry," Kakashi said softly as he pulled the younger man closer into a hug. "I won't if you don't want me to."

"I'm sorry…" Iruka bit his lip against the tears in his eyes, knowing that he barely deserved the warmth he was receiving. "I didn't want to tell you because I thought that you'd hate me for making the Base Nine because of him…I'm sorry."

The vampire felt understanding sweep over him. Iruka was formed the Nine because he wanted to get Naruto back. Kakashi closed his eyes and held Iruka even closer, saying, "Don't worry, I won't leave."

Letting himself get lost in the tenderness he felt being so close and safe in Kakashi's arms, Iruka closed his eyes and hummed at the promise, the older man tucking the brunet's head under his chin and running fingers through lose hair as the younger man drifted off.

X-X

"Hey, Iruka," a nose was scrunched in response. "Come on, we need to leave."

The teacher slowly opened his eyes after being poked into awareness. He rolled onto his back, yawning from the first great sleep he'd had in a while, and squinted up at the vampire who was kneeled over him. Kakashi gave a smirk at the cute sleepy look that was given from the werewolf who asked, "What's up?"

Kakashi pulled back and stood lithely, looking off towards where Raidō and Genma were reporting their half of the story to the ANBU-uniformed Asuma who nodded at every word and jotted down notes into a little notebook. As Kakashi watched them for a few moments, Iruka took the time to notice how the vampire above him was fully uniformed and couldn't help but smirk when he remembered how he had originally thought Kakashi would retire from military work. How wrong he had been.

As Asuma noticed Iruka's awareness, he called out to everyone in the area, including the other two ANBU who waited nearby, "the sun will rise in half an hour and that is hopefully how long it will take to get there, we leave in five minutes."

Wide-eyed when the urgency of the situation was brought to attention, Iruka bounced up and snatched his pack, hopping away to change as Kakashi politely went to confer with the Bear-masked ANBU in the meanwhile. Ready and dressed, the little werewolf met with the others and they set off towards the Sixth where they hoped to find an empty city.

XxX

Hayate navigated quickly through the mass of people who waited for their turn to pass through the opening in the cliff, water around his ankles sloshing around as he went. He cursed the bad weather and the short notice in which he had to accomplish everything. He frowned harder and almost swore at the amount of people still waiting to pass.

There were so many people.

"Everyone, please stay calm and take your turn! Please keep all small children close at all times and leave unnecessary belongings! This is an emergency! This is not a drill!" A shinobi near the front kept calling out those sentences, repeating them for everyone to hear and loud enough so that he could be heard over the sirens that were blasting loud and clear over all the intercoms, their noise reverberating off the walls and coming back ten times louder.

The people were all chattering amongst each other, wondering what was going on, some even called out in frustration at being woken up at such an ungodly hour to go out in the cold slush and rain.

Hayate finally hopped up onto a nearby balcony and called out for silence, the crowd frowned and glared up at him as most of the shivered and shook under the shockingly cold bullets of water that hailed down on them.

"Everyone! I know this sucks but your lives depend on getting out of the city and to safety! The city is no longer safe and I have orders from Wolf himself to clear out the city!"

"What?!" people shouted.

"What's going on?!"

"What's happening!?"

"Tell us!"

"Are we going to die?"

The Shinobi grimaced and shook his head as he called out, "No! You won't die but we're all in grave danger!"

Some were about to scream their confusion when Hayate cut them off with words that silenced them all, "the Council is coming!"

The silence from the crowd was chilling as all that could be hear was the sirens blaring and the rain smacking down. "The Council is coming to check things out and they will destroy us if they get the chance but we won't give it to them. That's why you all need to be calm and quiet so that we can get out of here as quickly as possible and get to Konoha. There will be Shinobi guiding you there so no one panic."

With a nod, he jumped down and headed back into the city to go and help whoever was in need of assistance.

He was halfway to the far end when he heard the explosion. He had just turned around saw the massive fire and smoke that emanated from a grand hole in the side of the cliff that sheltered the Sixth from the sea, the grand waves swarming in to plunge through the open gates and swamp the city, when he heard the screams of horror and pain of the people who had been trying to get through.

The wave of water from the sea smashed into him and he felt himself being swept away by the current until he hit something hard, pain shooting up his arm and side.

He pushed up and broke through the water as the wave subsided and retreated to the sea, leaving debris from all over the city around Hayate who lay prone on the stone ground for a minute, parts of houses, furniture and even a fish laying by him. Struggling to get up, he gasped at the pain in his arm and glanced at it to him no blood but he could already feel it bloating up around his shoulder.

With a dislocated shoulder, he pushed himself to his feet tenderly and was almost knocked over by the mass of people running away from the next wave, screaming louder than before a they ran to the other side of the city.

The second explosion knocked Hayate off his feet and he hit the ground hard, watching in disorientation as the other side of the city blew up in flames and smoke, the other side crumbling down too. The world shook around him as he watched the other side of the gate was destroyed by falling rocks and caught fire from the flames that fell.

Hayate slowly stood again, holding his arm as he felt the air in his throat catch. The whole world was chaos around him as he thought:

They're here.

X-X

They heard the screams first and Iruka almost lost his footing, catching himself quickly before he and the team gave another burst of speed and shot forward.

They were running along the ocean, in between the trees of the forest that ran alongside it, the grassy ground elevating as the ocean stayed flat. They saw groups of people led by other Shinobi heading in the opposite direction on the shore. The team broke out of the treeline and froze when they saw the smoke emanating from the hole in the cliff side that used to be the Sixth city.

"What do we do?" Puma asked from where she was standing, the blades in her hands shaking with her fright. Iruka bit his lip and said after a moment.

"We got in and get as many survivors out as possible before the bomb detonates."

"Bomb?" Puma snapped her head to make sure he wasn't joking only to find he wasn't watching her.

"Yes, once code Black is initiated, a ten-hour countdown will start. Once that's over, the whole city will explode to destroy all evidence that there was even a city there. It's the last-case code that no thought would veer be used but this is an emergency that can't be taken lightly."

The whole group fidgeted under the pressure they suddenly felt on their shoulders as Iruka said, "We have less than half an hour."

The team nodded and Bear said as he approached Wolf, "by the way, the blacksmith near Ichiraku Ramen asked me to give this to you when I went to pick up my new gear."

Iruka glanced up as Asuma chucked the katana that had been in his back pack at the younger man, the little ANBU catching it with ease. The brunet slipped it out of its sheath slightly to find the work he'd commissioned completed and he smiled to himself under his mask, calling, "let's move out!"

As the rest of the team moved out, Iruka caught a surprised Kakashi's arm before the older man could fly off too. "Wait, I want you to have this."

"W-what?" the katana was thrust into his hands as Kakashi protested, only to be cut off.

"This was supposed to be your promotion gift but I was a little late, sorry." The older man pulled out the blade that he remembered polishing many times when he was bored and saw the engraving on the blade near the hilt, feeling his heart swell as Iruka explained, "I can't exactly use a katana properly so I kept thinking that it was a waste to not use it. So, this is my way of saying: congrats."

The vampire wished there was time for thanks but the moment eluded him as another explosion rang out, closer to their group, and they bolted, running towards the city to protect those who were trapped or needed help.

X-X

The bowl in which the Sixth resided was no longer a bowl but more of a bay as the water from the sea slowly started to seep in, filling the streets that were left with water. It was up to their knees by the time Iruka and Kakashi got to the lip of the city where the rock-face of the bowl had been stripped away to reveal the dirt beneath it.

They struggled down the slope towards the boards that stuck out at awkward angle from the ground, boards that had once been the gate, and climbed over them so that they could follow in the rest of the teams' footsteps, running through the dense water and searching for survivors among the wreckage.

Iruka was panting hard by the time they had reached the other side of the city, flicking his head back and forth for any other survivors but only finding the bodies that he had pulled up from the surface of the thigh-high water. He glanced over at Kakashi for hope but found the other staring off at something.

He too looked up and saw who Kakashi was staring at. It was a person who was looking down on the city, watching from the highest point.

That person was Deidara.

And the blond was frowning, looking down at the city he had destroyed with a bow to his lips as he waited for….. There it was! Deidara grinned as the next explosion went off, savouring the bright light it emitted before it died. He was basking in that glow when he heard a soft voice call to him, "Deidara."

The Council assassin turned his head towards his team partner and frowned, "what, un?"

"The Council wants us to report back as soon as they've been exterminated." Sasori ran a hand through his hair with a shake of his head as he stepped up next to his partner. The blond turned back to his work, letting out a sigh.

"Oh, come on, Master. You're such a kill-joy, un." The blond dug around in the satchel at his hip for a new ball of clay. "Let me finish with my fun and then we can go."

The red-head rolled his eyes and was about to walk away when something caught his eye, calling to Deidara, "looks like we've got company."

X-X

"The blond one uses explosives so short-range would be best to handle him at." Iruka pushed harder up the slope and grimaced.

"And the red-head?"

They were almost near the top of the slope, climbing faster. "He uses strings, traps….those sort of things. He's not actually a field agent like Deidara and works more behind-the-scenes but is still very dangerous."

They hopped over the edge of the cliff and stood straight as the duo that was standing a little ways away turned to them, smiling.

"Howdy," the blond said with a grin as the red-head by his side simply watched and scanned their movements. The smile fell when he saw how the rest of the ANBU who were in the city appeared next to the Wolf-masked and Hound-masked ones.

"So, it is true, the rumors that we've heard." Deidara grinned and agreed with his teammate.

"Yeah, it looks like there might be a little pest problem to take care of." The smirk unnerved Iruka and made him uneasy and he knew that the smile was one of pride and confidence. It meant that they had something up their sleeve. A thing that was demonstrated when Deidara lifted his arm and said, "I think this calls for backup."

Moments later, a band of Council soldiers burst through the forest and ran at them just as the ANBU jumped into action and ran at them. Fighting ensued and blood was shed in sheets as the ANBU collided with the soldiers, creating a fray of fighting and battles.

Kakashi knocked over an enemy and quickly scanned the battlefield, finding the two assassins were walking away from the heat of the fight. With cat-like speed, he zipped through the wall of offenders and went after the two who were heading away from the forest and towards the other side of the city. dodging a few swiped, Iruka followed Kakashi's lead and was by his side in seconds, both of them going after the team that had started to run when they noticed they were being followed.

X-X

"Hmmm…" the blond hummed in wonder as he studied the pair that had followed them into the treeline on the other side of the city, watching them from his spot in the trees before glancing up to see Sasori had done the same.

On edge, the duo slowly crept in between the trees, on the balls of their feet as they studied their surroundings for movement. The air was tense and quiet, as if nature was holding their breath, waiting.

An explosion sounded out, loud and clear, where Iruka had been only moments before and the blond jumped to another tree once his location had been discovered, Kakashi moving in to follow. Iruka was about to do the same when he saw the string that lashed out and grasped his wrist. Quickly, the brunet flicked out a kunai and slashed it, jumping back as the red-head pounced from the trees in an attempt to gouge his eyes out. Iruka gritted his teeth and narrowed his eyes behind his mask.

This was going to be a long fight.

x-x

Deidara and Kakashi, on the other hand, were whirling about, a blur of limps and colors as they tried to hit each other. They bounced back for a break, both panting as they stared each other down.

"Hah," the blond whipped at his forehead as he studied Wolf with curious eyes. "It's odd….I feel as though I've fought you before."

The older man didn't fall for it and slid out the katana that he's tied to his belt, the blade glinting with an almost blue hue in the dull light of the morning. The gleam caught Deidara's attention and he studied it with an admiration. "Nice blade….."

Unsheathing his own, the younger man glanced down at it, smirking as he said, "it's a pity mine's not so nice….maybe, if I win this fight, I'll take yours."

They clashed, Kakashi's eyes flashing under his mask as their blades strained against each other, giving Deidara time to study its beautiful design. "Ah….that's a nice name, un…"

Raikiri," the name rolled off his tongue and Kakashi was just about to jump back when a bomb went off right in their faces. He jumped back, coughing up a storm as his mask shattered and dropped to the ground. Looking up, Deidara saw his face and smiled.

"Heh, I thought you felt familiar. Who would've guessed the great Hatake Kakashi would side with the enemy." In the back of his mind, Deidara knew what had to be done now that he knew who his opponent was. "You really were the best on our side. Its pity you decided to side with them."

With a bow, the blond bolted out of the treeline and ran towards the hole where the city used to be. Kakashi took a deep breath and followed, hurrying to catch up with the young man so that he could get within range, ignoring the poking feeling he got in his gut.

XxX

Iruka twirled, hopped and evaded until his legs were beginning to feel like jelly, the strings continuing to lash out even as his left leg cramped up, snatching it out from underneath him. The brunet dropped like a rock and slid a few feet, feeling the circulation in his foot cut in and out with every tug to the string. He tried to slash at the string when another snatched his arm and pulled him even further so that the redhead was standing over the younger man, smirking all the while.

"Aw, did the little doggy get caught?" he whispered sweetly as he flipped out a kunai and brought it up to the brunet's neck. He was just about to flick his wrist when something pulled at his heart and he glanced up.

Taking the opening, Iruka grabbed the redhead's wrist and sliced off the strings, his feet bringing him away from such a close range. His breath coming out in wheezes, he narrowed his eyes as the other man frowned. What was he…?

The assassin suddenly went wide-eyed. With a burst of speed, he bolt towards Iruka, making the werewolf put up a stance as he went straight past. Iruka watched the other man run away and frowned as well, turning back towards where Sasori had been. He slowly crept forward, moving until he could see through the treeline, and his eyes went wide as well.

Kakashi was standing at the lip, looking down. His head turned and their eyes met in a moment, as if Kakashi had sensed his eyes. Their eyes locked and Iruka watched in horror as the world behind Kakashi suddenly grew bright.

Then the whole area exploded in a whirl.

Iruka was left standing there in shock, the ball of fire almost touching his face, and suddenly he was thrown back. A wave of air hit him and he went flying along with the nearby trees. He bounced once….twice…a third time before he smashed into one of the sturdier trees and gripped onto it as he felt a second wave. He glanced up just in time for the light of a second explosion to flicker in his eyes.

The bomber had blown himself up, causing the timed bomb to be set off as well in the resulting blast.

Iruka blacked out.

He came to for a few moments to see a grey and black-speckled world.

When he finally awoke, his first thought was cold the sky looked.

With a blink, his body tensed into reality and he almost screamed as he shot up into a sitting position. He shivered and panted, his body going haywire at being so close to death again until he tucked his head between his knees and breathed in and out slowly. He was able to think again once his eyes stopped blurring and he looked around him.

He only saw smoke and what seemed like fog, the once-dark sky lighter than before.

There was one thing that was missing.

Iruka snapped his head around, frantically looking and searching.

No no no no no no oh please no.

The werewolf scrambled up and listened, straining to hear a sound, any sound.

A rustle of clothing and Iruka took off, bolting through the smoke towards the shifting and finding another ANBU.

Seeing the bear mask, Iruka swore and spun around in circles as Asuma saw him and asked if he was alright. Iruka shook his head and bolted off again, heading nowhere in search of-

He fell, rolling and tumbling until he fell with a splash into freezing cold water. It didn't take much thought to know what was going on and the werewolf stood in the deep water and looked around him at the destruction.

The Sixth city was gone.

In its place, there was a crater bigger than Konoha herself and Iruka stood and stared.

X-X-X

He had to keep looking. He had to be here somewhere. He was probably just lost. Maybe he needed Iruka's help. Yeah, that was it.

The brunet was marching around the crater, searching for the silver-haired man who was the only ANBU missing in the team. It had gotten lighter out but the cool air had stayed, permeating everyone's skin as they watched their captain look everywhere for Hound. They wanted to help, they honestly did but they got the story and knew in their hearts that the search was pointless.

"Captain!" Iruka zipped over to where Puma was standing and the group of ANBU watched as their leader headed in the direction that he was directed in.

Iruka jogged fast, his heart sinking with every step. His legs almost gave out on him when they reached the body.

Kakashi was lying there, pillowed by a mound of earth that his body had pushed back after being thrown so hard by the blast.

The brunet towered over the older man, the emotions inside of him full of turmoil and confusion. He shook his head, gritting his teeth before saying, "hey…."

He kicked the leg closest to him. "Hey!"

Another kick did nothing and the brunet snarled out, "Wake up!"

He dropped to his knees beside the body, gripped the older man's front and shook him, "damn it! Wake up, Kakashi! Please! Please….."

The plea earned no response and Iruka hiccupped, his eyes watering and flooding with the tears that stung them, running his hands over the pale throat in search for a pulse that didn't exist. "Don't do this….please….I can't….I…..Please…."

The sobs that wracked his body were too much for him to hold up against and he dropped his head to the unmoving chest, whispering, "You said…. t-that…. you'd always be….there…. you are s-such a liar….."

He broke out into hiccups and tried to calm his racing heart but couldn't, wincing at the pain pulsing throughout his chest as he said, "it hurts…..you're hurting me, Kashi….y-….you shouldn't hurt the people who love you…."

On his lips was where the older man's name stayed as Iruka wept, repeating it over and over again as the tears kept falling without end.

Bear turned away from the scene, his head bowed as he walked away, and Puma did the same, giving her captain one last pity-filled look before following her senior.

"Yes?" the whisper came out so softly, Iruka almost didn't hear it. He did, though, and he froze, not moving until a hand came to rest on his side. With a jolt, he snapped up and met smoldering, dark and dancing, red eyes. Covering his mouth, the werewolf grinned and laughed, Kakashi smiling and laughing as well.

Face turning dark, Iruka smack the older man's arm away and said, "you idiot! H-how long have you been awake?!"

Kakashi only laughed harder and gave Iruka a fond look that made him blush and look away. "As soon as you were by my side, Ruka."

"Idiot," the brunet glanced back and asked, "is you….are you hurt anywhere?"

The vampire seemed to study himself before holding out his thumb and saying, "hurts a little here. Kiss it better?"

With a scoff as a response, Iruka took his pale hand in his tan ones, Kakashi smiling even harder all the while. It was then that the smile faded from the older man's face and his eyes turned serious as they studied the younger man who fidgeted uncomfortably under the gaze.

"What?" the vampire smiled again as his eyes grew soft.

And then their lips were touching, seemingly out of the blue, time freezing with their hands knotted and Kakashi's other threaded in Iruka's hair. It was the longest but shortest moment of Iruka's life and Kakashi wondered if he actually was dead until their lungs burned and Iruka pulled away, their faces only the slightest distance from each other.

"I love you too, Ruka…" there was a moment where Iruka didn't know what to do, meeting the older man's eyes, and both broke out in soft chuckles, their lips converging again in more kisses that seemed to go.

It was their own little world until Kakashi pulled back, eyes wide.

"Kakashi?" touching his cheek, Iruka's concerned eyes met Kakashi own alarmed ones.

"I can't feel my legs."

X-X-X-X

One chapter left.

NEXT: The World Ends

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