Title: Stolen Kisses

Author: Kisu

Rating: PG

Pairings: SasuNaru, KakaIru, KakaIta, GaiIru now, instead of GaiKaka

A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I was overwhelmed by all of them, so there is a lot of KakaIru fans out there eh? Thank you for the compliments, here are some responses.

Isolde1: thanks for proofreading lol! I type up chappies without proofreading, feel free to correct me anytime.

Gisela: I try writing my characters with their personalities…whoo wat a toughie.

Dark Mimiru-chan: Iruka will make a great…mother..hehe! =D

The La/=/er: All the pairings just add to the suspense! Yay!

Ruismii and Iceheart19: Don't worry it won't be IruNaru, I don't really go for teacher/student pairings! =P

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me…only to Kishimoto-sama!

Chapter 2: Solace

It had been a few days since Kakashi and Iruka had their little dispute in front of the children. No doubt the academy teacher was still a bit peeved and Kakashi was indulging in his guilt because his Jounin pride prevented him from going in search of the Chuunin and apologizing. So Kakashi decided he would apologize if Iruka came to visit again. Most definitely he would apologize.

Or so Kakashi thought.

"Watch where you're going, Naruto!" A shrill voice cut through the clearing.

Team 7 had just finished a bunch of missions for the day. They were tired, grumpy, and dirty from weeding gardens, running errands, cleaning gutters, and chasing after lost pets.

Right now, everyone was set on his or her edge. Sakura especially since she was just separated from beside her beloved Sasuke-kun.

"Ah, Gomen-nasai, Sakura-chan." Naruto responded, quietly.

All three of them stopped and stared in shock at the blonde Genin. But Naruto hadn't noticed that they had stopped and continued walking back to the village. With a slight frown, the silver haired shinobi walked toward Naruto. Come to think of it, today—Naruto hadn't been acting as cheerful and loud as he should have.

Something was definitely up.

Kakashi stopped in front of Naruto and Naruto proceeded to walk straight into him. Kakashi hid his concern as he reached out to steady the boy and Naruto looked up slowly.

"Eh? Kakashi-sensei?" Naruto blinked. Kakashi frowned and Sakura hurried forever.

"Naruto." She called out as Naruto slowly turned toward her. Sakura touched his forehead and drew away sharply. "Naruto, you have a fever."

"Fever?" Naruto repeated slowly as if he was uncomprehending what the pink haired girl was saying.

"Okay then." Kakashi grinned. "Let's go to the hospital." Naruto blinked and wrenched his hand free of Kakashi's grip.

"No." Naruto declared, angrily. "I'm fine."

"Naruto…you are clearly not fine." Sakura sighed. "Here, I'll take you."

"I can take care of myself, Sakura." Naruto replied with hostility. Sasuke blinked and looked up in surprise at the blonde.

"Now Naruto, Sakura was simply being nice." Kakashi said. "But we are a team so we should always look out after another."

"Our missions are complete." Naruto replied with a frown. "I just need to get home, I'll be fine."

"But Naruto, you have a really high fever." Sakura protested.

"Maybe you should listen, Dobe." Sasuke interjected. A silence stretched on after the stoic boy's statement and Kakashi and Sakura held their breaths for Naruto to explode.

"I can take care of myself. You guys just worry about yourselves." Naruto said, quietly. "I've always been alone and I like it that way. So stop bothering me!" With that, Naruto spun around and ran off.

"Naruto!" Sakura yelled as the blonde Genin disappeared through the village's gates. "Kakashi-sensei, should we go after him?"

"Iie. It's already been taken care of." Kakashi smiled. Sakura turned around.

"Where did Sasuke go?" Sakura asked.

---

Sasuke frowned as he followed Naruto through the village. He could spot the orange figure from miles away and Naruto wasn't walking straight. That stupid idiot didn't know how high his fever was. Sasuke's frown deepened as he saw Naruto stopped next to a tree and was leaning on it rather heavily. Then, the Genin unzipped his jacket and wrapped it loosely around his waist. As he walked closer, he realized Naruto was staring at something or someone with a sad look. It had been the saddest expression he had ever seen on the loud-mouthed ninja so of course, Sasuke became concerned.

"Nar-." He called out but stopped when Naruto turned and rush away. Sasuke spotted a man walking up the street and he arched an eyebrow. "Iruka-sensei?" Naruto wasn't running away from Iruka was he? Iruka was his most favorite person in the world. Why in the hell would Naruto run away from him?

"Sasuke-kun?" Sasuke looked up and blinked when he realized that Iruka had stopped in front of him. Iruka smiled warmly at him and a concerned look crossed his face. "What are you doing here?" Sasuke shrugged and offered no response. "Did you just get back from your missions?"

"Yeah." Sasuke said.

"How is Naruto?" Iruka asked. Sasuke became suspicious, however his cool exterior didn't falter.

"Naruto is Naruto." Sasuke replied.

"That's good." Iruka said with some relief. "I haven't seen him in awhile…I hope it wasn't something I said…" He trailed off and a faraway look crossed his face. Sasuke chose this time to walk away.

"I'll tell him that you asked for him." Sasuke commented. Iruka scratched his head and grinned.

"Ah, thank you, Sasuke-kun." Then, the teacher watched fondly as the stoic boy walked away.

---

So maybe it was something that Iruka had said. Sasuke thought to himself. A soft blush graced his face and he snorted with annoyance. Since when did he start worrying about the Dobe? Maybe it was because of the things he said back there.

It made Naruto almost like himself.

Because he needed no one and he only depended on himself.

Sasuke stopped in front of a door and knocked. After a few moments, Naruto answered it. His face was flushed and he was a little out of breath.

"Teme…" Naruto growled, half-heartedly. "What are you doing here?"

"I was told to check up on you." Sasuke lied. Naruto's eyes widened and he proceeded to slam the door shut but unfortunately, Sasuke stuck his foot in the crack of the door.

"I don't need anyone to check up on me!" Naruto yelled as he cursed Sasuke for his persistence. He swore that if he had shut the door, the Uchiha would just lay off. "Go away!" Sasuke narrowed his eyes and pushed the door open. To his surprise, the door easily wrenched out of Naruto's grip and the blonde looked stunned. Then his blue eyes glazed over and he fell forward.

"Dobe!" He gaped as he caught him before he hit the ground. Sasuke slowly brought his hand up to touch Naruto's forehead and he sighed. "Kami, you're an idiot." He muttered as he closed the door and proceeded to drag the unconscious blonde to his bed.

When Naruto was settled in, Sasuke went to get a cold wet cloth for Naruto's forehead. All the while, cursing at the inanimate objects littered on the floor and trying to avoid them.

---

After seeing Sakura safely home, Kakashi walked down the street with no destination in mind. Still, his mind was riddled with confusion as he debated whether to look for a particular Chuunin or not. So preoccupied with his thoughts, he didn't see the man that was stalking up behind him.

"Kakashi."

That voice raised goosebumps on his skin as he slowly turned around in hope that his ears were deceiving him. Alas, he wasn't so fortunate.

"Gai." Kakashi responded in a tone that would have made a particular Uchiha boy proud.

"Did you and your team just come back from a day's worth of missions?" Gai asked. "Ah youth! It is the turning point in their lives!"

"It is?" Kakashi stated as he tried to hide the irritation in his voice.

"Of course!" Gai responded, happily. Kakashi stared at the man as if he was crazy, which he probably was.

"I'd love to stay and chat but I have other matters to attend to." Kakashi waved as he turned around, only to almost collide into yet another person. "Iruka-sensei?"

The Chuunin blinked and took a step back, surprised at his closeness.

"Iruka-sensei!" Gai chimed in as he walked up to him.

"Ah, Gai-sensei." Iruka laughed nervously. The taller man slung his arm around Iruka's shoulders and crushed him to his side.

"How are the students, Iruka?" Gai laughed. "Any good pickings this time around?"

"All of them have their own strengths." Iruka replied as he tried to wriggle out from underneath Gai's arm.

"Hoho! Is that so?" Gai smiled, tightening hi shold on the Chuunin.

"Gai, let him go." Kakashi ordered when he realized the discomfort the Chuunin was experiencing.

"Oh? Kakashi are you jealous?" Gai said, slyly. "Jealous that you can't hold onto Iruka like this?"

"No." Came the reply. "It just seems like he doesn't like it." Gai made a thoughtful face and then chose to ignore his rival.

"Say Iruka! Have you eaten yet?" Gai asked.

"Uh…" Iruka began.

"Good. Let's go to Ichiraku's!" Gai beamed, proceeding in dragging the hesitant Chuunin toward the ramen stand.

"Hey…wait a minute." Iruka blinked as he tried to free himself from Gai's grasp. "I didn't say…"

A hand clamped down on to Gai's shoulder and he looked up with surprise. "Yo." Kakashi smiled, scarily. "I don't think he wants to go with you."

"Eh?" Gai frowned. Kakashi took this moment of distraction to grab Iruka's wrist. Then, he pulled Iruka toward him in one smooth movement. Iruka hit Kakashi's chest with a small thud and Kakashi's arm pulled him closer to him, protectively. Unconsciously, a pink tinge spread over the Chuunin's cheeks from the close contact.

Iruka looked up at Kakashi, and swallowed as the Jounin took an intimidating stance. He raised his arm and pointed a gloved finger at Gai. "You're a nuisance." Kakashi proclaimed. A sudden breeze made Kakashi's silver hair sway lightly in the wind, giving him an even more dramatic look.

"Kakashi-." Gai began, his head lowered to the ground. Suddenly, his head shot up and his eyes were bright with tears. "How cool of you!" Iruka dislodged himself from underneath Kakashi's arm and looked at Gai in surprise. "Protecting those you love with such bravery! That is why your are worthy to be my rival!" Gai's body shook with passion as he stood with his fists up in the air signaling a victory pose.

Slowly, Kakashi turned his head around to face Gai and they stared at the blank expression on his face. "Huh?" Kakashi managed.

"Wai! How hip of you, Kakashi!" Gai yelled. "Our feud is not over! Wait for my Iruka-sensei!" He blew him a kiss and Iruka swore it took the shape if a heart. With a strangled cry, Iruka launched himself behind the most protective barrier, Kakashi's body. The Jounin raised his hand and brushed the air as if he was to dissipate the blow-kiss, looking none too amused. With another fearsome speech of disappointment and youth, the lively man dressed in green disappeared in a puff of smoke.

"How tiring." Iruka sighed as he stood up and left Kakashi's cover. He rubbed his wrist absently and Kakashi quickly caught a hold of it.

"Gomen gomen. Did I hurt you?" He asked. Iruka blinked and tore his wrist away from the Jounin's clutches.

"It's fine." Iruka replied, testily. Kakashi frowned and his lips thinned into a line. Of course, you wouldn't notice because of the mask covering half of his face.

"Iruka..look…uh the other day." Kakashi began, uncomfortably.

"Yes?" The Chuunin's calm gaze slightly unnerved him and he coughed nervously.

"What I meant to say is-." He continued. "I had a bad day and to blow up at you like that—uh yeah."

"Was that an excuse?" Iruka asked, quietly. "Or was it an apology?"

"A little of both?" Kakashi admitted. Iruka tilted his head and thoughtfully tapped his chin with his finger.

"Have you thought of an answer to my question?" Iruka said, finally.

"A little." Kakashi blinked with surprise.

"Well?" The Chuunin's eyebrow rose with interst.

"A Jounin teaches Genins and a Chuunin teaches Academy students." Kakashi said, quickly.

"Not all Jounins and Chuunins are instructors, Kakashi-sensei." Iruka sighed. "That wasn't the answer I was looking for." The younger man abruptly turned around and started to walk away.

"Wait!" Kakashi called out, frustrated that his apology didn't work. Or…it was at least an attempt at an apology. "Uh--."

"I don't like you, Kakashi-sensei." Iruka told him quietly as he stopped with his back facing toward the Jounin. "But since you are Naruto's team leader, I must respect you. After you give me the answer I want, I'll consider your apology." Then, Iruka continued to walk away leaving Kakashi, speechless at the last words that the Chuunin had left him with.

Kakashi closed his eye and he turned to walk away.

"Sou ka…" He murmured, softly.

---

A damp wet cloth dropped into a basin of water and hands reached in to wring the water out. Sasuke folded the cloth in half and placed it on top of Naruto's forehead. Then, he sat down on the edge of Naruto's mattress and watched the boy's flushed face. If this kept up, Naruto will have to be admitted to the hospital.

He watched as Naruto moved slightly and his eyelashes fluttered as they opened.

"Naruto." He said, seriously. "You have to go to the hospital." The boy's blue eyes widened and he gripped his hand, quickly.

"No." Naruto whispered. "No, hospitals."

"What are you afraid, Dobe?" Sasuke asked, hiding the concern from his voice. The boy's expression faltered and his eyes glazed over.

"Yeah." He replied.

"Liar." Sasuke responded. "You've been in the hospital before." Naruto shivered and turned to curl into a ball, the cloth on his head falling to the side of the bed. Sasuke picked up the cloth and rinsed it out again in the basin.

"You can go, Sasuke." Naruto told him, quietly. "I know you don't want to be here." Sasuke's eyes widened before he calmly sat back down on the edge of the bed.

"Who said that?" Came the soft reply. A pale hand reached out to run its fingers through Naruto's soft golden locks. Naruto turned quickly and shut his eyes as the world spun.

Sasuke took the chance to push Naruto back onto his back and replaced the cold cloth on his forehead. With his eyes closed, he felt the racing of his heartbeat and his body temp became higher. It's the fever. Naruto convinced himself as his heartbeat slowly calmed down.

"Sasuke." He whispered, as he felt the darkness bearing down onto his consciousness.

"Hm."

"Don't leave me."

"I won't."

---

TBC! Iruka is a little mean in this chapter! But I don't like fics where he is depicted as a "pansy" or so to speak…because I just don't see him in that way! So, I've decided on GaiIru, whooo it spices things up a little! Thanks for reading!