A/N: And here's the promised sequel, after having debated with myself over the several versions of starting the fic. And I eventually decide that I didn't want to dwell too long in Iruka's growing years and instead jumped straight into the time when he was officially made an academy teacher.
And yep, dedicated to all those who had been following Unintended Acquaintance and also to those who will be starting to read this story. ^_^ Enjoy!
Chapter 1: Close Attachments
"And here's a toast to Iruka…." Kotetsu grinned at his friend. "… Sensei!"
Everyone at the table cheered. Iruka blushed and smiled sheepishly at them. "Thanks."
"Well, Iruka, I never would have thought you would become a teacher so soon. You must have done well in the entry exams." Kurenai gave him a wink.
"Well, I didn't expect it too." Iruka's shoulders slumped in relief. "It was really a surprise. I didn't think I did that well."
"You are too modest, Iruka." Izumo grinned. "You have always been a smart kid. You give yourself too little credit. Remember, you were the first among us to become a genin?"
Iruka snorted. "Right. That was because I was the first in line to go for that exam. Must I remind you that we all passed that graduation exam on the same day?"
"But still you did well." Hayate nodded encouragingly. "Not many people would have passed the teachers' entry exams at the first try."
"Yeah, who could have thought of that?" Kagari chewed the straw from his drink as he smirked. "You are definitely improving by leaps and bounds. Perhaps the next time we meet, you could already have become a jounin."
"I wouldn't dare to think that." Iruka laughed. "That would really be a long way off. I don't even think I will ever meet the mark."
"Don't speculate, Iruka. It's too early to say such things." A voice came up from behind him. Everyone at the table turned to regard the speaker.
Genma walked up to them, fiddling with his senbon, with Raidou walking beside him. Kakashi and Asuma followed behind. One of them read his book, while the other puffed on his cigarette.
"You guys are late!" Kurenai frowned.
"Sorry. The meeting at Hokage-sama's office was delayed." Raidou smiled apologetically.
"Where's Aoba-senpai and Anko?" Izumo craned his neck to see if there are any others coming to join them.
"They are still in Hokage-sama's office, talking about the next mission. They will join us in a while." Raidou sighed and took a seat at the table, calling for the server to bring some drinks.
"Well, congratulations, sensei." Genma grinned as he slipped into the chair beside Raidou. "You did great."
"Thank you." Iruka blushed from the compliment as Kakashi sat down beside him. Asuma put out his cigarette and gave him an encouraging pat on the back before moving to sit beside the silver-haired jounin.
"So now, it's going to be another challenging road ahead." Asuma stretched and smiled at the younger man. "Ready for it?"
"I hope so." Iruka scratched his head sheepishly. "I've been yearning for this position, but now that I've gotten it, I don't even know if I will be able to do well enough. Being an assistant teacher is one thing. But being a full-fledge academy teacher is another whole new set of responsibilities."
"Don't worry about it." Kakashi single eye arched up happily. "You've made it through all these years. From a genin to a chunin, you've been doing fine all along. I don't think this new role will be able to put you down."
The jounin reached over a hand and ruffled the brown hair. "Right, Iruka-kun?"
Iruka blushed from the contact and swat lightly at Kakashi's hand. "Senpai, stop that! I'm not a kid anymore!"
Everyone at the table laughed.
"Well, your temperament still resembles one." Kakashi chuckled. "Or perhaps, it has gotten worse over the years?"
Raidou shook his head in amusement. "Well Iruka, I don't think Kakashi will ever stop treating you as the kid he first knew."
Kotetsu smirked. "And neither do the rest of you. All of you still look out for Iruka like he's the ten-years-old some years ago."
Iruka groused. "I'm twenty. I'm already an adult."
"Yes we know that, Iruka-kun." Genma teased. "But we just can't help it."
Iruka snorted. Kurenai shook her head in amusement. "Hey, that's enough now. We are here to celebrate for Iruka embarking on his new phase in life. Stop teasing him."
"See, we aren't the only ones." Genma chuckled and prodded Iruka in the arm. "Kurenai is still as protective as she was years ago."
Iruka groaned. The others laughed.
When the laughter eventually subsides, Genma shoved a glass of sake in front of Iruka and raised his own in a toast. "Here's to you, Iruka, for a good job done."
Iruka chuckled as he accepted the drink. Genma winked and downed the drink before turning to the others to engage in small talks. Iruka was taking a sip out of his own glass when someone nudged him in the shoulder. He turned and looked at the silver-haired jounin.
"Well, Iruka, your wish came true." Kakashi smiled.
"It was unexpected." Iruka grinned.
"Still, you had put in your best efforts and worked hard for it. You deserved it."
"Thank you, senpai." Iruka smiled warmly. "I should thank you though. If you hadn't encouraged me to go for it, I would still be hesitant about taking the entry exams."
"Maa… that was nothing." Kakashi took a swipe from his drink. "All of us know that you are capable enough to make it. You just need that push to get you moving."
Iruka laughed and took a gulp out of his own drink. He casted his gaze to the glass and ran his finger along the rim. "But still, thank you for everything, senpai."
Kakashi glanced at the younger man in amusement. "Now that sounds familiar. I remember after you passed your graduation exams, you said that and gave me a hug. And the second time you did that was after you've gained your chunin status. So, is there going to be a hug for me now?"
A blush crept onto the brunette's face. "Stop fooling around, senpai!"
Kakashi chuckled. Then, he looked at the chunin with a solemn look on his face. "Nonetheless, you've done a great job this time. You've made everyone proud."
Iruka felt his heart fluttering at the praise. The older man's praises had never failed to affect him positively. But lately, it does seem like that positivity had delved into something else.
He managed a smile as he felt his heartbeat quickening. "Thank you."
The two fell into a comfortable silence, drinking and listening to the little conversations and gossip sessions going around the table, until Anko and Aoba arrived and the kunoichi pulled Iruka away for their little celebration session.
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The conversation spiraled around normal shinobi matters. The last missions, the developments in the various ninja villages, Kakashi's impending withdrawal from ANBU, the promotion of Hayate from chunin to jounin, the upcoming jounin exam that Kurenai and Kagari are going to take and the new batch of genin that are coming up.
Kakashi listened on to the droning between Raidou, Asuma and Aoba, giving his monotonous responses every now and then. Over at the other side, the other shinobi were getting themselves wasted.
He watched Iruka. The chunin was trying to decline the never ending line of toasts that were being offered to him. A small smile formed on his face as he studied the younger man.
Iruka had grown over the years, from the ten year old clinging to him every second to the fine young shinobi now. The progressions he had made during his growing years had been more than impressive and Kakashi knew that the chunin deserved his achievements, having put in more efforts than anyone else.
The chunin, he knew, had always been able to affect him in more ways than anyone could ever. And that hasn't changed over the years. Though he kept his underlying emotions hidden, he knew that Iruka would always be able to stir all forms of feelings in him. He was well aware of the fact that he had always been protective of Iruka, consciously and subconsciously, since the day the Hokage had placed him under the jounin's care.
The jounin raised an eyebrow when he noted three other people out of their group, approached Iruka. One of them looked vaguely familiar, though Kakashi couldn't exactly remember when he had seen that man.
Iruka was turning and regarding the three new people with a smile as he gestured for them to take a seat. He saw Genma shrugging and whispering something to Iruka before he collected his drink and moved away from the group, joining the other jounin at the other table.
"I thought you were enjoying yourself over there." Asuma smirked when Genma sat down beside him.
"Not anymore." Genma snorted as he took a drink.
"I'm surprised. Iruka's actually on friendly terms with that kid." Raidou commented as he shifted his gaze to the group.
"Who?" Kakashi looked at him disinterestedly.
"Mizuki." The scarred jounin gave him a dry smile.
"Who's that?"
Raidou regarded Kakashi for a moment in silence. Then he chuckled. "You forgot who he is? I'm surprised. And to think you had stood up for Iruka against him when they were younger."
Kakashi blinked a few times before he turned slightly to watch the white-haired man who was joking with Iruka. He shrugged. "I guess there was such an incident."
"I thought Iruka had never been on good terms with him." Raidou mused.
"They got closer after both of them became genin and went on a few missions together. Well, guess they grew out of the teasing phase to focus on more serious matters." Another person joined them at the table.
"Izumo? Why aren't you with them?" Genma drawled.
"Never liked him." Izumo swirled his glass.
"Who are the other two?" Raidou asked.
"The girl's Tsubaki, Mizuki's girlfriend. The other is Iwashi, a chunin who had been on a few missions with Iruka. They are here to congratulate him on getting through the entry exams."
Kakashi was silent as he listened on to Izumo groused about Mizuki and how he feels that Iruka shouldn't get too close to him on a personal level. He had to admit he agreed with the long-haired chunin on that. Mizuki just doesn't give off good vibes.
His eye narrowed as he turned to find Mizuki leaning close to Iruka and whispering into his ear. Someone tapped him on the shoulder and he turned to find Asuma looking at him strangely.
"What's wrong? You look like you are going to kill someone."
"Nothing." Kakashi grunted and took a swipe from his glass.
=-=-=-=
Iruka smiled politely, listening as Mizuki talked about the last entry exams and how he could have made it if it hadn't been for the practical exam for everything went wrong. He turned slightly to glance at the other table to find the group of jounin deep in conversation. Izumo was sitting with them, chatting idly with Genma, who seemed amused over certain things.
His eyes laid on Kakashi and a small smile tugged on his face. It was good seeing the silver-haired jounin socializing like this. It was a great change from the teen he had known years back who would miss out on every gathering if he could help it.
Even at a young age, he had known what Kakashi had been like. The cold, withdrawn personality just wasn't what Iruka had been used to and he had been worried about how it is affecting the jounin negatively. But he had been flattered and thankful when Kakashi had first stepped in to take care of him. Even though it had been a mission, the jounin had gone beyond the parameters to help him grow and mature.
Kakashi had been his strength, for years. When his parents died, the jounin had been there to offer the silent comfort. When he made genin, Kakashi was there to give him his well-deserved praise. When he was promoted to chunin, the older man celebrated it for him. And when he made his first kill, Kakashi was there to soothe him and help him through the darkest nights.
Though somewhere along the way, Iruka knew, that the admiration he had for the other man had turned into something more.
He looked away. That was something he could never hope for. Kakashi had been kind enough to hang around him. He couldn't push it. He knew he had to be satisfied with what he had now and not to throw it away in a moment of folly.
He turned back to Mizuki, listening to the grousing and Tsubaki's and Iwashi's occasional contribution to the conversation. He downed the cup of sake, trying to force the thoughts out of his mind, telling himself like he had done so over the last few months – that this is only a passing phase and he will get over with it soon.
Though, a voice in his mind told him, that this was unlikely so.
=-=-=-=
"Hey Iruka, are you alright?" Mizuki looked at his friend in amusement when the tanned chunin stumbled as he stood from his seat.
"Yeah." Iruka shook his head, trying to clear it. Mizuki laughed as the other chunin tripped over a chair and almost fell. He wrapped his arms around his friend.
"Hey, let me get you home."
Iruka shook his head and managed a smile. "It's fine."
"You are not fine. Come on." Mizuki urged as he steadied Iruka and attempted to lead him out of the pub.
Kurenai approached the group of jounin at the other table and sighed. "We need to go off soon. We are dealing with a bunch of drunkards over there."
"Well, we do have two here as well." Raidou shook his head in amusement as he looked at Genma and Izumo who had gotten themselves into a drinking game some time through the celebration.
"We need to get them home." The dark-haired lady frowned. "We have Kagari, Anko, Kotetsu and Iruka over there. How are we going to split them between us?"
Aoba sighed and stepped away from his seat. "Get Hayate to send Kagari back. You will send Anko." The dark haired jounin turned slightly to the other table before turning to his friend. "Kakashi, mind sending Iruka back?"
The silver-haired jounin turned slightly to assess the chunin's state. He frowned slightly, noticing the close contact between Iruka and Mizuki and wondered vaguely if the white-haired chunin was deliberately taking advantage of the situation. He turned back to Aoba and nodded. "Leave it to me."
Aoba turned to the other two jounin. "Raidou, we will leave you to send Genma then. Asuma and I will take care of Izumo and Kotetsu."
Once that had been settled, the jounin at the table moved to shift their tipsy friends away from the pub.
Kakashi pushed back his chair and stalked over to where Mizuki was still trying to get Iruka to cooperate. He pried the chunin off the white-haired man unceremoniously and stalled any forms of protests with a glare.
"Thank you for your help. I will get him home."
Mizuki's eyes narrowed. "That was nothing. I could have managed fine on my own."
"That's not necessary."
Kakashi did not wait for a response as he slung the chunin's arm over his shoulders and guided him gently out of the pub.
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