Iruka groaned and rolled over, clapping a hand over his eyes. He would've liked nothing more than to sleep a few hours more … until he realized he was soaking wet and being rained on.
"Oh, shit."

That's right, Kakashi's air conditioner busted last night, and he opened the window because it was so stuffy … I helped him carry the thing to the repair shop, but twisted my ankle getting it out the door once it was fixed …

"What kind of ninja are you, anyway, to get hurt lugging a stupid AC over town?"

And had fallen asleep after he bandaged it up.


Iruka scrambled to shut the window quickly before it soaked any more of Kakashi's apartment. Once he slid it closed, he turned back to the couch, where he had been sleeping, and surveyed the damage.

Well, besides his leather furniture being wet, his copy of 'Icha Icha Paradise' is ruined … no loss there.

But he'd have to do something about his clothes. They were clinging to his body like a shy child in a large crowd clings to its mother, his tanned skin clearly visible through the wet fabric.

Iruka rolled off the couch, careful not to step on the Jounin's sleeping form as he limped down the hallway. He stifled a yawn and slid into Kakashi's room, making his way to the closet. Shifting through the racks of Jounin uniforms and a couple casual outfits, his hand alighted on a robe. He pulled it out, peeled off his own clothes, and slipped into it.

Mhmm … smells like Kakashi …

Just as he was tying the sash around his waist, someone knocked on the door. Iruka scuttled to the front of the apartment and pulled it open, but almost slammed it shut again when he realized who was outside, standing in the rain.

"Anko?"

"Is Kakashi available?" she said, glaring, voice surprisingly firm.
"He's still asleep," Iruka replied softly. He reached out a hand as if to place it on her shoulder. "But wait, let me ex—"

But before he could finish, she swatted him away. "I've been used once, and I will not be used again," she growled, and disappeared into the crowded streets once again.

"Wait, Anko!" He wanted to call her back and explain everything, to tell her that it wasn't what it looked like, that Kakashi probably loved her from the bottom of his heart … something that Iruka could never even hope to wish for. He stumbled towards the stairs in an attempt to catch her, but tripped over his bandaged foot and fell head over heels down the steps. He lay sprawled at their base, too tired and bruised to want to get up, raindrops splattering into his eyes and soaking the robe, until the front door pushed open and Kakashi stepped out, blinking the sleep away.

"Hey, Iruka, you all right?"

"Yeah," he called back up, closing his eyes.

"What, did you fall down the stairs or something?"

He opened them again and grinned. "Yeah."

"You need help back up?"

Iruka groaned and propped himself up onto his elbows. "No, I am a ninja, you know. I think I can trip and get up by myself just fine, don't you?"

"I don't know … did you think you could push an AC through the door and not twist your ankle last night?"

"Shut up." Iruka pushed himself up from the ground and grabbed onto the rail, wincing slightly as he put weight on his injured foot. He climbed up the stairs and stood with Kakashi at the top for a moment, letting the rain fall around him.

"You're soaked. Isn't that my robe? And why is my house soaked? And who was that at the door? And most importantly, what the hell happened to my book?!" He thrust an open 'Icha Icha Paradise' into Iruka's face; the ink was running and the pages stuck together.

Iruka grinned. "I'm soaked because I was out in the rain. Yes, this is your robe. Your house is soaked because you left the window open last night. And your book is ruined because the rain came through the window and soaked it." He paused.

"You still haven't answered my last question. But let's go inside, before you get even more wet." Kakashi steered Iruka through the door and into his apartment, leaving him to drip on the floor as he went to find something suitable for the young teacher to wear.

"It was … Anko."

"Oh? What did she want?" Kakashi called from his room. A loud crash and an "Oh, shit" followed, but he emerged unharmed, grinning.

"She didn't say. But … I think it's over."

"Women." The Jounin handed Iruka some clothes and a towel. "They never make up their minds. She'll be back within a week."

"Yeah," Iruka said softly, looking at the floor. He may not have liked Anko, but something in her eyes made him want to pity her and wonder when the first time she had been used was. She would probably beat me up for just thinking that.

"I have one more question for you, Mister Excellent Ninja."

"That's right, I am an excellent ninja. What is it this time?"

"Do you like blueberry pancakes?"

***

Anko ran. She ran and ran, not from Kakashi's apartment or Iruka's knowing eyes but the memories threatening to submerge her in the past. But she would not succumb that easily.

She had been ready to forgive Kakashi and apologize for what she then thought was overreacting, but perhaps she had been right. He only wanted her for her body. Why else would he have slept with Iruka after their fight?

But Iruka looked so sorry, and he was about to explain … maybe it isn't what you think …

But of course it was. Why else would Iruka be at Kakashi's apartment at eight in the morning, in a robe, while the Jounin was still asleep?

Anko had loved him. Even before the night at the hot springs, she had loved him. From a distance, sure, but it was love all the same. Was it so wrong to think that when you're kissed, feelings are returned? Was she so mistaken in her opinion of Kakashi? Could he really be that cruel? Did he really just want her for her body … or for her skills, like he did?

Anko halted for a moment to wipe the rain from her mauve eyes.

She was just a girl then. That's what she told herself -– that she was just a girl, that she didn't know any better. Somehow she hoped that made up for all her mistakes, all her wrong turns, wrong decisions. And yet she knew that, given those same choices today, it would be the same. There was something about him, something that made her disregard her common sense, ignore the nerves as they screamed at her to stop, that it was wrong, the same nerves that told her she didn't care that it was wrong because it felt so right. She was just a girl then. But even so, she would carry the burden of her mistakes forever -– for as long as he was alive.

She placed a hand over the curve of her neck instinctively and scowled. She would make sure that her past would not haunt her. She would end his life with her own hands, or die trying.
***

I believe I've finally realized that in order to write the plot part of this mostly romance fic, I needed to read the manga. It may be a while (compared to my other updates) before you see chapter five-- a week (or a few days less), I'd warrant. I also think that in any other case, I would mention that school started two days ago. But I will not make excuses. Definitive failure of Algebra or not, this fic will be updated on a regular basis.

Autophage-- Screams of Orochimaru, eh? I donno. Is that a good thing or bad thing, to have your attempts at foreshadowing be recognized by one of the first people to review? I can't help feeling that you've lost faith in me. I guess the direction I wanted to take this wasn't what you were expecting from the first chapter. I hope you can still enjoy reading this, even if it isn't the type that appeals to you. But never fear; I will prove myself worthy of your comments in the chapters to come! Anyway, thank you for your reviews and congratulations on spotting him before he actually showed up! XD

Slifer--Still, I always enjoy hearing it! And you know I couldn't have gotten this far without you. *rattles off a billion times where Stpenoh pulled me out of Writer's Block* Thank you for your comments after I published this, and your comments before!!

Lasaire—Of course you can! I'm honored! Just as long as you give credit, stuff like that. You know the deal. n____n Yeah, Anko's possibly one of my favorites if not my favorite female Naruto character. That whole scene with Orochimaru during the Second Exam … just hooked me. So much potential in there. Go Anko! *waves flag* Anyway, thank you so much! If you ever need anything, feel free to ask! ^__~