A/N: You know what? It's a holiday week. Today is the day between two birthdays, so I'm just going to shove them together. Mostly because my laptop is dealing with a virus and won't let me open Microsoft Word, also because I'm much too lazy to have to worry about a chapter tomorrow.

Our journey is almost over! We have two more birthdays this year. Can you believe it? We're almost done, people! And after FYE is over... I'm going to need a new hobby. Also, this chapter is 1000 words exactly!


Kakashi had pretty much returned back to normal after last week's strange depression. Now the couple had to worry about the next birthday party, which happened to be Izumo's, and was going to be held in their own apartment. This meant, of course, that the apartment had to be clean. And Iruka cleaned like crazy when he needed to. Kakashi was currently confined to the couch so he wouldn't get in the way, and so saw this as the perfect opportunity to play his favorite game, Make Iruka Blush. Rules of the game are as follows: wait until subject is completely focused on one task; read aloud a section of Icha Icha when subject is within sight and earshot; enjoy. And Kakashi was thoroughly enjoying himself.

"Smooth, confident hands trailed down his stomach, pausing only at the waistband of his trousers. 'We don't have to do this, Kaito. I'd understand if you said no.' Kaito was beyond resisting... he-"

"Kashi!" the chuunin exclaimed, feeling blood rush to his face.

The jounin let out a very undignified giggle.

Iruka straightened up, put his hands on his hips, and glared at the Copy-Nin. Why did he deal with this, really? He was trying to clean, to get everything perfect for Izumo's party! But no, Kakashi had to go and start reading things from his pornographic books. Kakashi met the glare with an innocent expression, only his eyes visible over the bright orange book. When Iruka sighed and turned away, the calm, deep voice of Kakashi continued with his reading. Iruka tried to tune it out, he really did. Why couldn't Gai pop in and disrupt it? The man would show up every other time, why not now?

"Gai's off with Lee on a birthday training session. It's the kid's birthday tomorrow," Kakashi said randomly, as though he could read the chuunin's mind. "He's not gonna show tonight."

"That's one less problem," the teacher grumbled, straightening the pictures on the wall before thinking better of it and taking them down. No need in risking broken glass. He disappeared for a moment to set the pictures in their bedroom, on the desk, along with Iruka's papers to grade. He'd have to remember to finish those before everyone showed up.

Someone knocked on the door. Iruka heard Kakashi toss his book on the coffee table and call out in a singsong voice, "Coming~!" The teacher frowned and hurried back to the living room. Who had showed up this early? Why? He wasn't done! He hadn't even gotten to the kitchen yet, and...!

"Hey, 'Ruka! We figured we'd help clean!" Anko and Kurenai, plus a very sullen-looking Asuma and Genma, were standing in the entryway. None of them looked twice at Kakashi's exposed face; they'd all seen it before. That was probably why the silver-haired shinobi hadn't pulled it up at the first flash of chakra. "And Raidou's on his way with the cake!" Anko added as an afterthought.

"I got the booze," Genma told him, holding up a paper bag. "I'll go put it in the fridge. Mind if I just sit down and stay out of the way?"

"Only if you keep Kashi distracted from reading his books out loud."

Genma grinned. "Gotcha. Thanks, Iruka." He ambled over to the armchair and sprawled across it, and his fellow men (minus Iruka) followed along so they could relax, too. Kurenai shook her head at the picture of pure laziness before her, and Anko took the bag Genma had 'forgotten' to take into the kitchen.

"We've got an hour before Kotetsu said he'd bring Izumo over!" Kakashi said loudly, enough for Iruka and the women to hear. There were a few muffled curses from Iruka, and the flurried activity of cleaning began anew.

Asuma chuckled, fiddling with an unlit cigarette. If he smoked in the apartment, Iruka would castrate him with a rusty kunai. The bearded jounin was pretty sure the chuunin had quite a few of them, to be throwing that threat around so often. "Hey, Kakashi. Think I can borrow the wife to clean up my place sometime?" he asked, raising a brow.

"Oh, sure... you'd have to give me half of your next paycheck, though. Good cleaners are hard to come by these days." At Asuma's shocked expression (half his next paycheck for a day of cleaning?), Kakashi shrugged. "I'm actually letting you off easy, man. You know how much damage 'Ru would cause if he knew you even suggested borrowing him for a day? Besides, I thought Kurenai was a clean freak. What's up with that?"

"Ah, well, see... I know better than to ask that woman to clean up after me. She's almost as scary as Iruka!"

"I doubt that, Asuma. I very much doubt that," Genma said wisely.

"What are you doubting, Gen?" Anko asked, appearing at the doorway.

"Many things. None of any importance. Men talk, leave now."

Kakashi and Asuma burst out laughing. Anko scowled for a moment, but walked off, muttering darkly under her breath. Too bad Iruka would freak out if she got their blood on the carpet... and walls... and ceiling... and furniture...