Chapter 11
The city was fixing the damages but no one's spirits were dampened, they had survived and won against the Kyuubi and his men. There was even going to be a festival to celebrate.
"I hope Kakashi wakes up in time for the festival, he played a large part in Kyuubi's defeat," Gaara said to Lee. The pair had finished their duties and were having a romantic breakfast picnic in the park.
"I hope he doesn't. He won't be happy when he realises Iruka-sensei left, I can't believe how selfish he was," Lee hook his head. Gaara said nothing, he didn't believe what they were told about Iruka-sensei's departure.
"Leaving while Prince Kakashi is out cold is one thing but destroying the portal? I don't understand why he did it," Lee frowned. He had asked Gai-sensei about it but the larger green man was just and stumped.
"I believe…." Gaara started and Lee gave his uke his undivided attention.
"That Iruka-sensei was manipulated into destroying the mirror. Higher forces are conspiring against him, The Guardians and Kages want to keep them apart," Gaara announced.
"But why? They're so good together," Lee scratched his head.
"If I knew that I wouldn't be sat here thinking about it," Gaara said numbly.
Mashimizu had officially given himself the day off, his first day off since Hoshi was born. He didn't care about the consequences, he was heartbroken over his nephew's flit. He lay in bed with Kaname and Hoshi was snuggled up between them both. Hoshi didn't understand what was happening but he knew his father was unhappy, he tugged at Mashimizu's pyjama top and the professor looked down at him.
"Love you daddy," he said sweetly. Mashimizu smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Love you too," He kissed the top of his dark haired head and Kaname sat up, he lifted the boy over him and set him on the floor.
"Mommy?" Hoshi asked and Kaname sighed.
"Daddy is having a bad day but do you know what would cheer him up?" Kaname said, Hoshi shook his head and Kaname smiled.
"A picture drawn by his favourite little boy because you are the best artist ever and your pictures always cheer your daddy up," Kaname's babyish voice said. Hoshi saluted and ran off to find his colouring pencils. Kaname lay back down beside Mashimizu and cuddled into his side, a subtle sign that he was there for him.
"It just doesn't make sense Kana. He smashed the mirror behind him so I couldn't follow and he stole Shino's memory potion. I thought he was happy to know I was alive, happy to know we found our clan's killer and dealt with him….. I didn't even get to say goodbye, did I mean so little to him?" Mashimizu vented.
"I think you meant too much to him Mashi," Kaname said softly. Mashimizu raised an eyebrow and wrapped an arm around Kaname's smaller frame.
"Explain," Mashimizu barked and Kaname rolled his eyes at the tone.
"He knew it would be too painful to say goodbye, you wouldn't have let him go and you know it. He took the potion with him because he loves you so much, he cares so much that remembering all the great times in the past month would break him," Kaname suggested. Mashimizu wasn't sure he believed his husband's words but he tried to, he wanted to believe Iruka cared. But he couldn't help thinking Iruka still resented him for leaving him to grow up all alone. While he had a beautiful family on one side of the mirror, Iruka had to deal with a horrible tragedy by himself.
"You may be hurting Mashi but you have to remember that one other person is hurting as much if not more then you," Kaname reminded him. The professor nodded and stared up at the ceiling.
"He's going to…. I hope he never wakes up, I think the shock would kill him anyway. I know if you suddenly…." Mashimizu was cut off by a forceful kiss.
"Don't ever say that or even think that! You and Hoshi are my world and I would never willingly leave you," Kaname said firmly.
"Iruka is just the same as you…. But he still left," Mashimizu frowned and buried his face into a pillow.
Iruka awoke to the smell of bacon, his first instinct was to go back to sleep. His bedroom was nowhere near the castle's kitchens so he thought Kakashi must be playing a prank on him. He opened his eyes and saw what room he was in.
'So it wasn't a dream, I'm back home but why do I feel so disappointed. I stopped Kyuubi from coming through the mirror and killing people…. I wonder if Kakashi has woke up yet? I wonder what he remembers? He'll probably be that same lazy, arrogant pervert that undressed me while I was knocked out…. He'll probably find himself a new Omocha,' Iruka wondered. He pushed himself out of bed and walked along the hall, the broken pieces of the mirror had been cleaned up and the regal frame had been removed from the wall.
'It's like it was never there,' Iruka touched the bare wall and he felt an inexplicable urge to cry.
'No I won't give in. I don't need to take that stupid potion, I can live with these memories,' Iruka thought seriously. He looked into the kitchen and saw the blonde elder fussing over the stove.
"Ohayo Tsunade-hime," Iruka smiled. The woman turned the stove off and span around to face Iruka.
"Ohayo Iruka-san," She greeted.
"Thank you for getting rid of the mirror's frame. I wouldn't know where to start removing a part of a portal," Iruka scratched his scar. Tsunade froze and her mouth dropped open.
"You-You didn't take the potion!" She accused and Iruka shrugged.
"I am able to survive without having to resort to that. It'll be a piece of cake, so fill me in on what's been happening? Do I get to go to work this morning?" Iruka asked excitedly, he'd missed his students.
"Not today, in a few days I promise. Today just go exploring and reacquaint yourself with this universe's rules and images," She threw him a fake smile and he nodded and left to get changed. She poked the bacon with a fork and watched it sizzle and spark.
'The Kages won't be happy with this,' She thought sadly.
Sakumo had managed to drag Obito away from Kakashi's side to get breakfast, Itachi, Kisame, Sasuke, Naruto and Minato sat around the table and quietly conversed. Obito kept looking at Sasuke with a child-like grin and Itachi rolled his eye at how obvious his uncle was being. Sasuke could feel he was being watched and it put him off his food, not that he had much of an appetite to start with. Every morsel of food on the table made him want to retch.
"Sasuke?" Naruto chimed.
"Hn?" Sasuke hummed.
"You okay? You haven't ate anything?" Naruto worried. Sasuke inwardly scowled, the blonde had been observing him again.
"…. I'm not that hungry," Sasuke countered.
"But Sasuke you must eat or you won't have enough energy," Obito gave an upside down U smile. Itachi bit the inside of his cheek to stop himself laughing as Sasuke's eye twitched.
"My energy levels are fine thank you," Sasuke gritted out.
"But how will your body heal itself when you aren't getting the right nutrients?" Obito persisted, Sakumo didn't understand what Obito was getting at but he had a feeling he would by the end of breakfast.
"He's right, A warrior must have a strong body and mind. Breakfast is very important to produce balance," Minato said, Naruto kept slapping his hand away when he reached to itch the bandage on his head.
"I'm fine, this isn't about my injury," Sasuke said finally but Naruto never did take a hint.
"Then what's it about? Why are you being so moody teme?" Naruto said angrily.
"No reason dobe," Sasuke glared.
"Pfft you always have a reason for everything,"
"As opposed to having no reason for anything like you,"
"Shut up teme,"
"Make me dobe,"
"Boys calm down, when Sasuke feels ready to talk about it then he will talk," Obito stirred.
"Talk about what? Why do I feel like there is some big secret that I'm not being let in on," Naruto raged.
"Me too," Minato said scratching his bandage.
"Me three," Sakumo said.
"Me four," Kisame said looking at Itachi for an answer. Itachi just gave him a shut-up-and-watch-shark-boy-things-are-getting-interesting look.
"What? Is it an uke thing or an Uchiha thing? I thought you loved me? You're not meant to keep secrets!" Naruto pestered and Sasuke felt his patience wearing thin.
"I'm not keeping secrets!" Sasuke snarled.
"A secret then. I'm not stupid!" Naruto argued. Sakumo was about to interrupt when he felt Obito touch him, the oldest Uchiha shook his head.
"Really? Could have fooled me," Sasuke sneered.
"I'm only worried about you, god knows why you selfish brat!" Naruto's temper flared. He was concerned about Sasuke but all the Uchiha did was avoid the question.
"I'm the brat? Looked in the mirror recently?" Sasuke said cooly.
"Is this about Uncle Kyuubi?"
"Don't mention that bastard's name,"
"Language Sasuke," Itachi scolded.
"You don't usually swear! This is about him," Naruto accused.
"No it isn't!"
"Then who?"
"You!" Sasuke yelled.
"Me?"
"Yes you!"
"What about me?"
"You…. You….. Baka!"
"Shut up teme! Tell me what I supposedly did,"
"'Supposedly'?"
"Yikes you'll wish you hadn't said that Naruto," Obito giggled.
"'Supposedly'!"
"Yeah! What the hell have I done?"
"You got me **pregnant **you bastard!"
"….. W-W-W-what?"
"Do I have to spell it out? I am P-re-g-nant!" Sasuke breathed heavily. He expected shouting or hugging or whatever new fathers did but none came. Naruto just sat there with a dumbstruck look, his brows were furrowed and his lips were twisted in a scowl.
'He doesn't want it!' Sasuke's mind screamed. Sasuke took the napkin off his lap and threw it onto the table, he stood up with his hair covering his eyes.
"I've lost my appetite, excuse me," He said numbly. He left the room quietly and Itachi jumped to his feet and walked around to the young blonde, he punched him across the room.
"HEY?" Minato yelled but Kisame warned him to stay quiet. Naruto, finally out of his trance looked up at Itachi with slight fear.
"Do you have any brain cells or has eating all that ramen killed the last one off? He tells you he is pregnant and you just stare at him, did you even realise how insulting your expression was?" Itachi lectured.
"I… but… I didn't know, it's a shock!"
"He thinks you don't want it! Is that clear enough for you?" Itachi glared.
"But I do…"
"He was going to get rid of it before you found out. He didn't want a baby but he knew what a great dad you would be so he eventually warmed to the idea…. You have no idea what you've done," Itachi sounded disgusted with the blonde. Naruto shook his head and got to his feet.
"I'll fix it!" Naruto said loudly.
"You better because if Sasuke or my nephew is hurt physically or mentally I will track you down and you don't want to know what I will do. We've already had this chat a few years ago," Itachi's sharingan shone brightly and Naruto gulped. He remembered the chat very well and the explicit detail Itachi went into about what he would do to him if Sasuke was unhappy. Naruto raced from the room in the hopes of catching his lover.
Itachi sat back down at the table and Kisame rubbed his back soothingly, it was very rare for Itachi to lose his temper and even more so in public. Minato looked shellshocked and Sakumo had an identical expression. Kisame just looked tired and Obito smiled happily down at his food.
"I love having breakfast with family, don't you?" He sang. He received a horde of unamused glares in return.
Sasuke leaned against the railing of one of the second floor balconies.
'I should have known this would end in tears, I just didn't think they would be mine,' Sasuke wiped away the rebellious liquid and breathed in a gulp of fresh air.
"Sasuke!" Naruto's voice yelled and Sasuke looked around but found no one.
"Sa~suke!" Naruto yelled again and the onyx eyes widened.
'He wouldn't,' He thought and he peered over the balcony. Naruto stood beneath it like a cheesy version of romeo and juliet.
"Sasuke! I know you can hear me! Come down and talk to me!" Naruto chanted.
'Just ignore him Sasuke and he'll lose interest and go away,' Sasuke thought but deep down he knew the blonde wouldn't give up on this particular subject.
"Fine! If you won't come down and talk to me like adults… SASUKE I'M SORRY I GOT YOU PREGNANT AND THAT YOU'RE ANGRY AT ME!" Naruto's voice echoed through the entire castle. Sasuke could hear some servants gossiping behind him and his temper snapped. Sasuke vaulted over the edge and landed on the grass in a crouch, Naruto jumped back with a fearful look.
"Sasuke, you shouldn't jump off buildings with you being…" Naruto rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, all his courage was gone.
"What gives you the right to shout my business?" Sasuke hissed and Naruto cleared his throat.
"It's my business too," Naruto said weakly. Sasuke started to feel guilty but he couldn't let go of his anger yet, it was his best defence in the situation.
"Is it? Because 'Supposedly' it isn't yours!" Sasuke yelled.
"….. Yeah….. Sorry," Naruto pouted.
"You don't need to tell me, your face said everything," Sasuke said stiffly.
"No Sasuke I was just shocked….. We were always so careful," Naruto said.
"Not careful enough it seems," Sasuke bit back.
"That's not always a bad thing," Naruto smiled, he reached out a hand and Sasuke watched him cautiously.
"I want this baby Sasuke…. I want this baby with you. I know we're young and probably not thinking about this practically…" Naruto said quickly.
"Speak for yourself," Sasuke smirked.
"But… I love you," Naruto took both of Sasuke's hands in his own.
"And I would be the happiest man that ever existed in the history of… forever if you would have our son," Naruto grinned. Sasuke rolled his eyes at the sappy yet clumsy words that Naruto spouted.
"You're a idiotic, childish, loud, headstrong, thoughtless, irresponsible dobe," Naruto winced.
"But!" Naruto's head shot up with his bright blue eyes shining with hope.
"I love you too and even if I'm not… comfortable with this baby yet… I have 8 months to get my head around it," Sasuke said.** (1)**
Naruto grabbed Sasuke around the waist and lifted the smaller man up with a loud laugh, his eyes watering with happy tears.
"Thankyou!Thankyou!Thankyou!" Naruto cheered, not caring who heard him. Sasuke tried to scramble out of the blonde's hold before anyone could see them.
"Dobe let go of me! You're crushing my stomach," Sasuke complained. Naruto dropped him and pulled back with a exaggerated gasp. Sasuke looked at his lover and a smirk spread over his face.
'Oh this will be fun,'
Konoha's town center was bustling with people, old ladies conversed with the shop owners and kids were chased out of shops before they could do any damage. Iruka walked casually down the street carrying two bags of food, he hadn't been at home for a month so what little food that was there before had gone off.
It was a strange feeling to walk among women again, he unconsciously looked closer at every woman he passed, checking if it really was an effeminate uke like Haku.
'Stop thinking like that, it's not allowed here,' Iruka thought.
He passed the ramen stand and inhaled deeply, it smelt delicious but it didn't have the same zing as Teuchi's ramen. Usually he would have stopped by for a bowl but the memories were still fresh in his mind.
'I wonder what Naruto would make of this ramen?… No I'm not going to let the past stop me doing things I like' Iruka thought fondly. He walked over to the bar and set the bags down on the floor, he sat on the stool and smiled at the moustached man.
"Iruka-sensei it's been a long time. I heard you had the flu are you feeling better now?" Marco asked.
"Yeah… flu…. I'm feeling a lot better now," Iruka lied.
"That's good to hear, one ramen coming up," Marco said. He turned away and started to prepare the dish, a pair of old women emerged from a nearby store speaking loudly.
"Miriam, did you hear about Shikomu Oshieru?" The taller one said, he long grey hair was scraped back into a tight bun and she had a maroon shawl draped over her shoulders.
"That teacher at the academy?" The stout Miriam said. Her short hair was curled into perfect ringlets and she wore a catlike expression, gossip was like food to the elderly.
'Oshieru-sensei? What could have happened?' Iruka thought.
"Yes him. He and the butcher's son were found in an_ indecent_ situation in the meat locker," The tall woman said in a hushed tone.
"Yumi? But he just got married and he's messing around with a teacher? How disgusting Hilda," Miriam retched and Hilda nodded eagerly.
"It's enough to make one weep. God put women on this earth for a reason, if men were meant to be with men then women wouldn't have been made," Hilda said snootily.
"And they're so stupid. Back in our day the…. _Gays_ were smart enough to keep it a secret…. So what's happened? Has he been executed yet?" Miriam gossiped.
"No there are some issues with the witness' story so he's just been locked up for now," Hilda said.
The women walked past casually and Marco put the bowl in front of Iruka. Iruka hands were trembling and his eyes looked haunted.
"Iruka-sensei? Are you okay?" Marco asked.
"Y-yeah Marco-san…. No… um I don't think I've got over my flu yet," Iruka rasped. His throat was dry and felt like someone had gone at it with sandpaper.
"You should head home Iruka-sensei, you don't want to get any worse," Marco said. Iruka pushed the ramen away with a guilty look.
"Sorry Marco-san. I'll head home right now," Iruka stood up and picked up both bags.
"Don't dally Iruka-sensei, see ya soon," Marco waved. Iruka turned away from the stand and strolled down the road towards his house.
'Poor Oshieru, he doesn't deserve….' Iruka's thoughts ground to halt when something caught his eye. Through the large crowd of people Iruka saw a silver mane of hair, Iruka felt his heartbeat speed up and he moved quickly. Pushing through the crowd and muttering half-hearted apologies to the people, the silver kept moving further and further away from Iruka.
'No please…. Kakashi!' Iruka screamed in his head. With every growing second he felt the urgency growing, he had only seen Kakashi yesterday but he needed to see him. Kakashi turned down a quiet residential street, Iruka followed after him quickly.
His eyes widened.
The street was empty, not a single living creature stirred. No birds, no people and most importantly no Kakashi. Disappointment filled Iruka's body, tears gathered in his sepia eyes.
"Of course! I'm just imagining things," Iruka laughed hysterically. One of the salty drops escaped their confines and ran down the tanned cheek.
'Calm down. It was stupid, how on earth could Kakashi be here? I…. Broke the mirror,' Iruka thought. Iruka shifted both bags into one hand and wiped away the tear. He ambled down the street with his head in the clouds.
He turned down Hokage street with a heavy heart, he thought it would be easier to adjust back to his normal life but he was having trouble. He passed under a new streetlight that must have been put up while he was in Other Konoha, it reminded him of the marble pillars in the castle.
"**Gonna give me a pole dance Omocha-sensei?"**
"**In your dreams Prince Kakashi,"**
"**Promise?" **
"**Urg! Go suck a lemon you pervert prince,"**
Iruka smiled at the memory, the prince was a perverted child. A handsome and occasionally thoughtful perverted child.
"Iruka-sensei!" A small voice chimed and Iruka looked down. A small girl with red pigtails and a boy with messy brown hair beamed up at him.
"Konohamaru and Moegi, what are you doing down here?" Iruka said suspiciously. The two children before him were ⅔ of the most troublesome children in his class.
"Are you coming back to school soon Iruka-sensei?" Moegi asked sweetly, Iruka was her favourite teacher and the supply teacher they were stuck with was so boring.
"The day after tomorrow Moegi-chan but you haven't answered my question yet," Iruka raised his eyebrow.
"We're playing hide and seek but Udon is like a ninja, we can't find him anywhere," Konohamaru burst.
"**Iruka-sensei! Hide me!" Naruto wailed. Iruka looked up from his seat in the library, pushed his glasses up his nose and set the book down on his lap. Luckily he had managed to borrow a set of Mashimizu's glasses or he wouldn't have been able to indulge in reading.**
"**What did you do to Sasuke?" Iruka said knowingly. Before the blonde could answer him, they heard heavy footsteps thundering along the hallway outside.**
"**DOBE!" Sasuke roared. Both men paled and Naruto dove behind the large armchair Iruka was sitting in. The doors opened and slammed against the rich blue walls. Furious sable eyes scanned the room a few times until he realised he wasn't alone. **
"**Iruka-sensei," Sasuke greeted coldly and Iruka smiled sunnily. **
"**Sasuke-san can I help you?" Iruka tilted his head to the side curiously. **
"**No… If you see Naruto…" Sasuke smiled sadistically "Tell him I'll be at home,". In a flash Sasuke was gone and Naruto surfaced from behind the furniture.**
"**Phew, describing him as delicious in front of Itachi probably wasn't the best idea but he's been so touchy lately," Naruto huffed. Iruka picked up his book and turned the page indifferently.**
"**One of these days I'll just pick up the chair and move it. Stop aggravating him Naruto he obviously has something ," Iruka lectured.**
"**Ok. Ok. Thanks again Iruka-sensei," Naruto grinned. **
"Iruka-sensei? Iruka-sensei? Maybe he's not feeling well again," Moegi tugged at Iruka's sleeve and the teacher returned to reality.
"Huh? Oh sorry, I'm a little tired. I'll see you both at school next week and no skipping Konohamaru," Iruka scolded.
"But what about Udon!" Konohamaru pouted.
"Have you checked under his bed?" Iruka sighed. The kids blinked and looked at each other with blank looks.
"Did you?"
"No, did you?"
"No… Thanks Iruka-sensei!"
Iruka watched them race off at top speed towards Udon's house. Iruka reached his house and pulled his key out, he unlocked the door and slipped inside.
"Tadaima," Iruka called but he received no answer and it shocked him. He was so used to the castle being filled with noise and life and laughter. He dropped both bags to the floor and reached out for the red fabric on the peg.
"Uncle's scarf. I must have forgotten to put it on," Iruka murmured. The soft scarlet material glided over his fingers and Iruka brought the clothing to his nose, it still smelled like his uncle's calming scent.
"**So Iruka-kun do you still have my scarf?"**
"**I wear it every time I go out,"**
"**Really? That's….."**
"**Oh uncle don't cry, people are staring at us,"**
"**Sorry but that's so cute Iruka-kun. I'm going to give Hoshi a scarf,"**
"**Hoshi-chan would rather get some colouring pencils instead of accessories,"**
"**What if I can invent tiny scarves for the top of his pencils?"**
"…**. I forgot how eccentric you are," **
Iruka slid down the wall and kicked both of his shoes off, he pulled his hair free from his tie and threw it across the small cloak room.
"I wonder if he's angry at me for not saying goodbye?" Iruka asked the scarf.
"No, he'll understand that I had to stop Kyuubi from hurting anyone else…. I hope," Iruka conversed. He blinked a few times and stood up with the bags in hand.
"Now I'm talking to myself, it's strange because usually I have baka prince behind me. He wouldn't leave me in peace so it didn't seem weird…." Iruka continued. He walked into the kitchen and unpacked the bags quickly, he just wanted to relax and read a book to forget about poor Oshieru and this world's homophobic ways.
_**Knock Knock**_
Iruka rushed to the door secretly hoping Kakashi was here and that he'd just missed seeing him. He threw the door open and the busty elder stood there with a sad look, Iruka's feelings had obviously reflected on his face.
"Tsunade-hime. Shall I make us some tea? Please go through to the main room, I'll serve," Iruka said politely, it was de ja vu to the night before he left. The pair sat down at the living room table with steaming cups of tea in front of them.
"As much as I enjoy your company Tsunade-hime…. Is there a reason for your visit?" Iruka smiled.
"You make a wonderful cup of tea Iruka-san," the woman replied. Iruka was suspicious but said nothing.
"Feel free to add sake to it if that's what you wish Tsunade-hime," Iruka said knowingly. But she pushed the tea aside and pulled out a familiar blue bundle. She opened the shawl up, a stack of orange backed cards were piled neatly in the middle.
"Shall we read your cards Iruka-san?" Tsunade said seriously, her voice had a sharp edge to it.
"Why not?" Iruka smiled. He slowly extended his hand and placed it atop the deck, Tsunade felt confused brown eyes on her.
"What do I do?" Iruka blushed and the woman laughed heartily.
"Pick them up, shuffle them and pick 6 cards out. Then line them up in two lines," Tsunade said clearly. Iruka gulped and started to shuffle the cards, Tsunade watched him like a cat would watch a canary. Iruka finally chose 6 cards and lined them up appropriately.
"I'm only doing a simple spread. The first two cards are the past cards, the next two are the present and that last ones…." She trailed off and waited for Iruka to fill in the blanks.
"The future," Iruka whispered.
"Correct, let's take a look," She turned the first two over and studied them carefully. The first card was a strange looking wheel or compass that was surrounded by fluffy white clouds.
"That's the wheel of fortune but it's in the reverse position so it's normal traits are reversed," Tsunade explained.
"What are their meanings now?"
"It's from the Major Arcana but I won't bother explaining that part to you. The Wheel of Fortune in reverse: Failure, Bad luck , interference from outside influences, bad fate, unexpected events. I think we can guess what that's referring to," Tsunade placed her hand on Iruka's and squeezed comfortingly.
"But that's in the past section, the other card is…." Tsunade stopped and watched Iruka's attention shift to the next card. It was a picture of a throne where a dark figure held a shining goblet.
"Ahh you got a person, these are about specific people in your life and Oh! It's in reverse too how very strange," Tsunade noted. Iruka glared at the card, it exuded a dark aura.
"The King of Cups in reverse: A powerful man who is crafty, a double crosser and violent. Likes scandal," Tsunade recalled.
"Kyuubi," Iruka said with no hesitation. The card had to be about the monster.
"Hm I think so too. Now onto the present," Tsunade clapped her hands happily as Iruka turned the 3rd card over. It had a dark background with 4 swords pointing to each other, lighting swirled around them and Iruka snorted.
'Just liked Chidori,' He thought fondly.
"The Four of Swords but it's upright this time," Tsunade bit her lip as she tried to remember the exact summary.
"It doesn't look friendly," Iruka said dryly.
"You'd be surprised with Tarot cards, some of the nicest ones display evil intent and some of the darkest ones display happiness. The Four of Swords: Rest after strife, a retreat and a change back to the 'active life'. The cards are being quite straight forward today, if only they were always so easy to read," Tsunade said to the cards and Iruka could have sworn he saw them quiver.
The next orange card was turned over and Iruka frowned, it was another card of cups and Iruka disliked them. It was a lighter card with 5 cups lined up along a riverbank.
"Don't hate the cups they represent love, happiness, beauty and fertility and also their opposites. The five…. Of cups…." Tsunade stopped and started straightening up the cards in an attempt to distract the teacher. She sipped loudly at her tea while Iruka glared.
"Be honest with me. There is no point in lying about something, there is no guarantee that these have or will happen. It's just some fun," Iruka smiled.
"Five of Cups in upright: Sorrow, regret and loss of a loved one," She gritted out. Iruka tensed and tried to force himself to relax for Tsunade's sake.
"Well yeah… I do miss everyone at the castle, they were all special to me," Iruka grinned.
'Some more then others,' His subconscious jibed.
"You're regret won't last forever Iruka but if it ever starts getting in the way. If you start thinking more about the other place then here…. You know what you have to do," She said.
"I know. If I ever find myself struggling I'll take the potion," Iruka vowed. She suddenly brightened up and smiled widely at the younger man.
"Next two cards please~," She sang. Iruka turned them over and looked them over, silently judging their appearances. The left one was another cup card but it was light and sweet, it showed a family staring up at a rainbow of 10 cups.
"That's a wonderful card Iruka-san! One of the best in my opinion, especially for a future card," Tsunade cheered. She silently thanked the gods for their decisions.
"Ten of Cups in Upright: True friendships, a happy family life and lasting happiness," She said dreamily. Iruka picked up his tea and took a gulp, he held the cup high to hide his smile.
'That sounds wonderful if it's true,' He thought happily. His eyes were drawn to the other card and it dampened his spirits. It was the silhouette of three people, one stood in the middle with some kind of tome while the others shadows were easier to make out. A slender woman in a wedding dress and veil and a man in formal dress.
"The lovers," Iruka whispered.
"I didn't know you knew about Tarot?" Tsunade gasped and Iruka shook his head slowly.
"I don't it's just…." Iruka grimaced at the picture "Obvious,".
"The lovers in upright: Love, honour, trust, harmony, optimism, a meaningful relationship, a new beginning of romance," She said proudly.
'New love…. But….. Do I want it?' Iruka thought seriously. He knew he should be jumping for joy at the idea of a happily ever after but all he could think about was an unmasked Kakashi smiling at him.
'Why? Why am I thinking of him?'
**I love you Iruka**
'It's because he said that. I wish he hadn't said that, I wish he's just left me to think he was just playing because if he meant it…. I don't know,' Iruka scratched his scar. The Prince's confession had turned Iruka's mind upside down and brought those un-nameable feelings back with a vengeance. He would never know if Kakashi meant them or if the prince just wanted some dramatic last words.
The cards were put back on the pile and the cards wrapped in the blue shawl.
"Well that went well and your tea was as delicious as always Iruka-san," Tsunade praised.
"Yeah, I don't know what I was scared of before. I wonder what the cards would have said a month ago," Iruka smiled but Tsunade's face was stony.
"There is no point thinking about 'What ifs' you can't change the past so there is no point letting it interrupt your future," She said and Iruka knew she was talking about more then the cards.
"Hai," Iruka said.
"I'll let myself out, tomorrow let's go shopping for sake! It's a great way to spend your last day off before going back to those brats!" She grinned. Iruka laughed and nodded politely.
"Okay bring Jiraiya-san too, it'll stop him peeking at those poor girls in the bathhouse," Iruka added, he could hear Tsunade's rumbling laugh as she left the house.
"Kakashi, Kakashi wake up," A garbled voice said. The prince could feel his heart beating painfully and his head felt like it had been smashed into a million pieces.
"Kakashi please!" That warped voice resembled his mother's usually happy tones. This new information encouraged him to force his eyes open and Obito gasped in shock. People were crowded around the bed, Sakumo and Obito stood to his left while a doctor and provocative nurse attended to him on his right. Usually Kakashi would have been happy at having such attention lavished on him, especially by such a cute uke but something nagged at the back of his broken skull.
"Kakashi are you feeling okay? Do you remember us?" Obito pleaded. Kakashi looked at his mother and chuckled, he knocked against the raven's head with a childish tone.
"Of course I remember you. I could hardly forget," Kakashi yawned. All the playfulness was lost when tears streamed down Obito's goggle-less cheeks.
"Mother?" Kakashi soothed.
"The doctor said you could have had memory loss but you're okay… oh thank god," Obito whispered the last bit to himself. Kakashi looked up at his father for confirmation and Sakumo nodded.
"Can't leave you alone for 5 minutes without you breaking your skull and I thought you had a thick head," Sakumo teased.
"Hey! I was busy pro…." Kakashi stopped and the kings shared a worried look.
"Where is he?" Kakashi demanded.
"Where's who Kakashi?" The kings said together.
"Iruka? Where is he? I just….. Kyuubi… Kyuubi didn't kill him did he?" Kakashi panicked, the heart monitor's beeping sped up drastically and the doctor had to inject something to calm him down.
"Kyuubi is dead but Iruka-sensei is alive," Obito said vaguely. Kakashi slumped back against his pillows with a roguish grin.
"Can I see him?" Kakashi said, his blue eye shone with love and relief.
"N-no," Obito squeaked and Kakashi froze.
"No? Why not?" Kakashi asked. The doctor cleared his throat and he and the nurse escaped the room quickly.
"Iruka-sensei is alive Kakashi but…. He's gone," Sakumo said.
"Gone?" Kakashi's face creased in confusion, he didn't understand.
"Through the mirror," Obito finished.
"But… just get the professor to bring him back," Kakashi's voice grew louder.
"We can't. Iruka-sensei smashed the mirror,"
"…."
"He went back to his world and smashed the mirror. The portal to his world is gone,"
"…"
"No one knows why he left, Hiruzen-sama was the only one with him and he said Iruka-sensei just felt like he couldn't stay here. He'd finished his bet and he wanted to go home," Obito played with his hair nervously.
"….."
"Kakashi?"
The prince just stared helplessly at the wall, his eyes broken and lost. He didn't care who saw his pain, he didn't care if someone walked into the room and saw him without his mask.
All he knew was Iruka had left him willingly.
The next night
Lee and Shikamaru walked along the regal hallway, they both wore elegant kimonos and Lee cared a tray of warm food.
"Do you think he'll attend?" Lee asked and Shikamaru shook his head.
"If you were him would you?" Shikamaru posed and Lee laughed.
"No, I would do the exact same thing," Lee admitted. They reached the Prince's bedchambers and Shikamaru knocked clearly, there was no reaction but both men knew the prince was inside. Shikamaru opened the door and they Lee walked in, he set the tray down on a bedside table and turned to address Kakashi. The prince had isolated himself to his room for the last 2 days and had minimal contact with people.
The silver haired man was dressed in violet pyjamas that only made his skin look paler, he was perched on the window sill with his arm resting on his bent knee while the other arm and leg hung limply at his side.
"Prince Kakashi are you coming to the festival to celebrate Kyuubi's death?" Lee asked cheerfully.
"…"
"Okay, your kimono is in the wardrobe if you change your mind," Lee said sympathetically. The teenagers left the room and the silent prince alone, Kakashi watched his subjects gather on the streets and flock towards the town center. Fireworks burst in the sky, showering twinkling sparkles everywhere, people oohed and ahhed over them but Kakashi didn't utter a word.
'Iruka would have liked this,' Kakashi brooded. He could imagine the cute brunette dressed up in a kimono like the one Kakashi had dressed him in. He could see the scarred face light up with joy and amazement, the mouth open in awe and the eyes filled with happiness. Kakashi blinked and realised he was alone again.
Well almost alone. A shadow appeared beside him and he turned his head curiously, it was one of the few people he did want to talk to. The old man looked up at the fireworks with a small smile.
"Hiruzen-sama," Kakashi's voice was flat but still showed a sprinkle of respect.
"Prince Kakashi, how is your head?" Hiruzen inquired.
"Fine,"
"How is your heart?"
"What heart?"
"You're being a bit dramatic,"
"Did he talk about me?"
"Iruka-sensei? He was always talking about you Prince Kakashi," Hiruzen deliberately mistook the point. A sharingan eye turned on him menacingly.
"That's not what I meant,"
"I know. He said he hoped you would recover soon, that he felt guilty that you got hurt protecting him," Hiruzen said.
"Anything else?" Kakashi asked.
"He heard your deathbed confession,"
"Oh and?"
"He said he thought it was wrong. Said he couldn't love someone of the same gender and that he was sorry," Hiruzen lied.
"…. I see,"
"You mustn't blame the man, he's from a world where things aren't done that way. I doubt his mind could ever be changed," Hiruzen continued.
"I could never blame him," Kakashi's sorrowful voice said.
"He said he wanted you to find a wonderful uke, have a big family and rule the kingdom like the great king he knows you could be," Hiruzen said smoothly. The only sound heard was the sounds of fireworks crashing and banging and when they finally stopped the sounds of cheering echoed down the streets. There would be a small interval before the big fireworks started.
"I'm abdicating,"
"WHAT? No you aren't,"
"I am,"
"Why?"
"I won't rule without him by my side,"
"There are plenty of other fish in the sea,"
"But I want a dolphin not a fish," **(2)**
"Prince Kakashi you're being unreasonable. He'll never love you,"
"And he wants me to marry some uke and have a dozen brats and be a great king. He wants me to leave him alone and forget about him but as a wise Omocha once told me ' You can't always get what you want'," Kakashi growled.
Hiruzen sighed in defeat, Kakashi was tough and the Kages would have a hard time trying to control his path. The old man walked towards the door and opened it, he cast a look back at the prince who had returned to looking out the window.
"How do you know he isn't like all the others you have thrown aside? How do you know you'll stick with him if you ever get him? How do you know you won't change your mind once you've got what you want?" Hiruzen questioned. Kakashi looked at the old man in shock before his face dissolved into a soft loving smile.
"I know because I've never felt this way about anyone in my entire life," Kakashi confessed. Hiruzen nodded, content with his answer and he left the prince in peace.
"Tadaima," A dull voice called unenthusiastically into the Umino house. Iruka slipped off his shoes and unwound the scarf from his neck, he hung it up and literally dragged his school bag down the hall.
He had thought his little 'angels' would take his attention away from Other Konoha but it failed miserably. Every word or action or voice or mannerism made his mind wander back to the last month. His class was getting away with things they normally wouldn't because of their distracted teacher. Even his fellow teachers had picked up on the unusual feeling that surrounded Iruka but he deflected their suspicions by saying it was a side effect of the flu. It shocked Iruka how good at lying he was getting.
Now in the safety of his home he would try to return back to normal. Wake up, get ready, go to school, come home to an empty house, read a book, have dinner, mark work and sleep. It was a pattern that he wasn't looking forward to getting back into.
'I hope they caught Kyuubi and punished him….. I wonder if Kakashi has woken up yet or if he ever will…. NO I can't think like that…. What was the last thing I said to him? I don't even remember?'
"**I'm really glad I met you,".**
Iruka's head snapped up with a soft smile, he was happy with what he had said. So many people had chosen meaningless words for the last things they say to a person but Iruka found these words were apt.
"After all it is the truth and yet it's a lie," Iruka muttered. He was happy to have met Kakashi but less happy to discover he had a small crush on the man. He was happy to have all the fun memories of them and he was less happy to have those memories haunting him, teasing him. Making him wonder what could have been.
'It's just a crush, you can't help having a small attraction to someone who you spent lots of time with…. He didn't mean it, he was delusional from that knock to the head,' Iruka laughed mentally.
Suddenly the potion didn't seem like a bad idea…..
'I didn't just think that. I refuse to take such a big step, I can live with these memories the good and the bad,' Iruka thought with a determined smile. The taste of salt reached his lips and he noticed he was crying.
"Why am I….. I ….. Can live with it. I can live knowing I won't see them all again. I can live knowing he doesn't have a clue who I am…. I can live knowing he's probably fallen for another uke…. Who doesn't throw beanbags at him or call him a pervert…. I can…." Iruka dissolved into heart wrenching sobs and he clung to himself tightly.
No matter how hard he tried he couldn't stop thinking about the other world, he spent more time thinking about Other Konoha then the world he was in and it scared him.
"I don't have a right to be sad. I destroyed the mirror, I sealed my fate," Iruka stood up and walked into the hallway, his feet moved on their own as they pulled him towards the empty wall.
He place his left palm against the wall and fisted the other in his shirt over his heart. His long hair fell in his face but he didn't bother to move it.
"Uncle I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry but….." Iruka breathed deeply.
"I can't do this. These memories are tearing me apart…. I don't want to forget but I don't want to remember," Iruka cried.
"I don't want to forget your wacky ways or Naruto's heart warming smile or Kakashi's…." Iruka stopped and laughed.
"I don't want to forget anything about Kakashi even his flaws," Iruka confessed.
"I can't live my life if I hold onto these things. It'll drive me mad," Iruka pulled his hand away and looked at the wall with a melancholy smile.
He walked away quickly and didn't look back, he knew he would change his mind if he did. He walked into the living room and over to a cabinet, on the shelf stood the glass bottle with the gooey purple liquid. He brought it over to the table and sat it down. He watched the bottle for a few minutes as he gathered his courage.
"It was the greatest month of my life," Iruka told his living room.
"**It was the most memorable month of my life," Kakashi told his bedroom.**
"But all good things come to an end eventually," Iruka scratched his scar.
"**Why did it have to end?" Kakashi ran a hand through his hair. **
"I'm sorry that it had to end this way," Iruka wiped away some fresh tears as he reached for the bottle.
"**I'm sorry that I can't obey your wishes," Kakashi continued, his warm breath fogged up the window and he drew a heart in it. **
"I wish you could see it from my point of view," Iruka uncorked the vial of blood and swirled the contents around.
"**I wish you could see it from my point of view," Kakashi smeared the picture and looked out at the various men lighting the big fireworks.**
"I have to live," Iruka lifted the glass to his lips.
"**I can't live without you," Kakashi could hear the people outside counting down.**
"I'll miss you Kakashi," The hand holding the bottle trembled.
"**I'll find you Iruka," The first firework went off and illuminated the sky with colour.**
"But I have to let you go," Tears fell slowly.
"**And I won't let you go this time," Kakashi smiled slowly. **
"Because…."
"**Because…."**
"I love you,"
"**I love you,"**
"I think I always have," Iruka opened his mouth wide.
"**And I always will," Kakashi placed his hand over his heart. **
"Forget about me my love," He tilted the bottle up.
"**Wait for me my love," Kakashi's heart clenched painfully.**