Okay, I was listening to Aerosmith's 'Do it like a lady' when I wrote this chapter! Nya! Head banging while typing ain't good for you. Oh umm, as for Iruka's outfit, I'd like you all to imagine something close to Youji's mission outfit. It's pretty close to that.
I dedicate this chapter to b4k4girl! Not only do I love this person, but she also did the nicest thing in beta-reading this chapter for me! So yay! Also, when I got this chapter by e-mail, I had the most baffling look on my face when I read her comments on this chapter – and you guys will get my meaning as you read on – so therefore, this chapter goes to her! Wai!
Enjoy!
FAINT 8True to his word, Iruka took the blessed seven days to allow his body to recuperate from all the stress and fatigue. He used the time to eat healthily, exercise and train longer and harder and by the end of the entire week, he looked and felt good. His skin had some sort of glow and his body felt lighter and much fitter. He was thankful that he made that promise to Genma. He hardly knew the person, save for the fact that he was older than himself, was a skilled Jounin, chewed on a needle for some reason and was burnt by an entire pitcher full of coffee! Judging from the fact that he took care of him while he was ill showed honor and respect and somewhere under all that I'm-cool-and-composed attitude was a caring person. And he seemed to like to swear openly!
Iruka ran the comb through his hair and pulled it up into its usual sprouted ponytail. He tied his forehead protector on, grabbed his lesson plan book, keys and wallet and jogged towards the academy. He had heard that Genma and Asuma were the ones filling in for him. It wasn't unusual for Asuma to take his classes during his absence, but he was very surprised that Genma bothered at all. The man seemed to have a natural hatred of teaching kids and taking substitutes. He made that extremely clear!
Iruka entered the classroom and found the kids cowering away from a certain Jounin who was standing in front of them, arms crossed across his chest and giving them his darkest look. Iruka hid behind the doorframe and watched with interest.
"What do you mean you twits didn't do your homework? If Iruka made you stand in the corner of the class because you didn't do it then, well, that's a bit too mild don't you think? You four in the last row, you five in the corner and you six in front, out in the field! NOW!" Genma snapped and the kids he pointed at lined up by the doorway. Iruka masked himself using a simple genjutsu and watched as Genma walked behind the kids and towards the field. As he passed by Iruka, he stared at the spot that was supposed to be a wall, smirked and continued on towards the field. Iruka followed them outside and watched from the barbed-wire fence as the kids plastered annoyed scowls on their little faces. "Right, run around the field four hundred times. If you stop in the middle, you'll start from lap one all over again!"
"Why are you so mean to us?" One of the boys snapped. Genma gave him a raised eyebrow. "Iruka-sensei is way better than you!"
"Well, Iruka-sensei is too nice for you annoying twits! So I'm going to toughen things up a bit. Don't think that just because Iruka-sensei returns soon that you'll be off the hook! I'll be keeping an eye on you brats!" Genma said, and then proceeded to nibble at his needle.
"Why? It's not like you're his mom or dad or something!" One of the kids said hotly. "And you're not his boyfriend!"
Genma gave him an 'Oh! Is that so?' look. "Well, then maybe I WILL become his boyfriend so I can make you brats run around the entire village instead of just this field!" The kids gave him wide-eyed looks. "Now get moving!" He snapped and the kids began to run, not daring to stop. Iruka felt his cheeks heat up and took a step back to head for the classroom when he suddenly bumped into Genma himself. Iruka looked at the field and noticed the shadow clone Genma left behind. "Hello, sensei!"
Iruka swallowed and nodded. "Good morning, Shiranui-san."
"You look good today!" Genma said, giving him a smirk as Iruka looked away, feeling extremely embarrassed and shy at the same time. "Do you feel better?"
"Yes, thank you." Iruka said and stepped back, feeling the rough wall behind him. Genma took a step forward, brows creasing. "Well, I - I must say, that was an effective way of g-giving them a lesson."
"Yeah, they're pretty annoying." Genma said, shrugging. "Don't teach class today. Start tomorrow. If you have some reports to do, then just do that or something. I'll take care of these brats for a while."
"R-Right. I - I - g - good to see you. I better g - get going." Iruka stammered and quickly made his way into the academy building and into the staff room.
He found the room empty and a pile of reports ready and waiting for him to give his attention to. He leaned against the door and pressed his palm on his chest.
Why was he so flustered when around Genma anyway?
Maybe because he saw you naked.
Iruka flushed red at his own thoughts and unconsciously wrapped his arms around himself and proceeded to tackle the reports.
XXX
Once the class was dismissed, Raido approached Genma with a grin on his face. "Yo! You have a mission! The Hokage wants to see you. Have you seen Iruka?"
"Mission? And what about Iruka?" Genma asked, shoving some papers into an envelope and placing it in one of the shelves of the classroom. Raido gave out a giggle. Genma looked at him with a suspicious eye. "What?" Genma hissed dangerously.
"Oh, I'd rather not say it. I think the Hokage would do a better job." Raido shrugged. "Anyway, she's waiting for you in her office. I'm off to find Iruka."
Genma rolled his eyes as Raido disappeared with a poof then lazily made his way towards the Hokage's office. Upon reaching the doors, he nodded in greeting at the two ANBU guards and knocked. Tsunade gave him a 'come in' from within and he entered to find Iruka already standing before the Hokage, hands twiddling together in agitation and unease.
"Ah! Genma!" Tsunade said, a twinkle in her eye. She had an awfully wide smile on her face and seemed to be very excited and giddy about something. "He'll be your partner in this mission. I think the two of you will do just fine. Besides, it is to my understanding that Sandaime trusted you with A-ranked missions, am I correct?" Iruka gave a polite nod. "Good! Well, here's everything you'll need to prepare for. I suggest you get started. I will brief Genma about his half of the job."
"Yes, Hokage-sama. Good day." Iruka disappeared in a swirl, leaving Genma with Tsunade.
Genma did not dare say anything. He waited for Tsunade to speak. She had a grin on her face. "Well? Aren't you going to ask about anything?"
Genma shook his head. "I don't want to know."
"But you have to!" Tsunade said, and tossed him a scroll. "Those are the things you'll need to gather. Oh and I suggest you find suitable clothing for the occasion. It's not really a very tough mission, more of a C-rank actually. So, there won't be a lot of activity. Just a lot of stealing." Genma opened the scroll and scanned the contents. "But I still suggest you be careful because there will be some jounins there as well. From other villages, know what I mean?"
"A GAY BAR?" Genma asked, blanching at the scroll and staring at Tsunade as if she'd lost her mind completely. "A GAY BAR?"
"What's wrong with a gay bar?" Tsunade asked. "It's a mission." She studied her nails. "And we're getting paid quite a lot from a new customer. He seems to be in need of the cash that bar is making and their legal documents. Probably for blackmail. But well, the money is good. We like the money, don't we?"
"You're asking me to go to a GAY BAR!" Genma snapped, gripping the scroll.
Tsunade seemed to be very amused by his reaction. "Yes, and with Iruka too. Now isn't that lovely?"
"You're getting a kick out of this, aren't you?" Genma hissed, glaring at her, forgetting that she was the Hokage.
"Look, Genma." Tsunade said, sighing. "Take this as a chance. I can tell you now that you're not the only one after Iruka's ass."
"I AM NOT AFTER HIS ASS!" An explosion of snickers echoed from outside the door. Genma scowled at the twin swinging wooden doors, hoping that the ANBU guards would freeze and die.
"Why not? It's pretty cute!" Tsunade said in a singsong voice.
"Fine, it's cute! But that's not the point!" Genma said, completely losing his cool. More snickers sounded from behind the door. "Can you excuse me for one second?" Tsunade raised both eyebrows and watched with stifled giggles as Genma made his way to the door, pulled it open and stared at the masked ANBU guards. "What is your problem? Yeah, he has a cute ass! Nice and tanned! You're just jealous because YOU CAN'THAVE IT! It's mine! Now shut it and beat it before I bitchslap you so hard that you'll see more stars than the Hubble telescope! And stop eavesdropping, you shitheads!" Genma walked back in, slammed the doors closed and stood before Tsunade, as if he had said nothing.
Tsunade looked down, bit her lip and tried very hard not to laugh. "So, judging from that, I assume you accept?" Genma sighed resignedly. "Good! When you get back, let's have a nice round of poker eh?"
Genma nodded and offered her a forced smile. "Yeah, sure."
Tsunade nodded and waved at him happily. "Good luck." She then sniggered. "You'll need it."
XXX
When Tsunade said that he'll need it, she was very, very, very right. Genma stood in front of Iruka, eyes threatening to pop out of their sockets. It was an undercover mission and Genma was given instructions to dress fairly moderate, which meant a pair of dark slacks, boots and a loose white cotton shirt with a long leather coat and a loose tie to top it all off. Iruka however -
Genma swallowed. "Are you sure you can move? It looks too...tight." Genma could feel the heat rising up to his neck and face.
"It is." Iruka said, and tugged at the collar. He was wearing a pair of low-slung leather pants that rode his narrow hips and a tank top that showed his entire stomach and exposed his shoulders and arms. If he made a slight movement like raising his arms, the top would ride up higher and expose more skin. He had a pair of boots on and a coat in his arms, and leather straps wrapped around one arm, giving him an all the more exotic look. His hair was left down, tumbling around his shoulders, and, to finish it all off, a tight black collar around his neck. It was just a plain band but around his neck, Genma couldn't help but stare. "Please don't look at me that way. I'm very uncomfortable as it is."
"Sorry. It's just that-" Genma looked away.
"Yes, I know. I look really silly." Iruka gave a chuckle. "Hokage-sama was the one who chose the outfit, not me."
Genma gritted his teeth. Tsunade really was getting a kick out of this. "Well, let's get going then. Are you cold?"
"The outfit is very exposing, so YES, I AM!." Iruka pulled on his leather coat and zipped it closed. "Let's go!"
XXX
The bar was filled with men dressed in loose, exposing clothes, mixtures of leather and vinyl. The smell of vodka and wine tinted the air, along with sweat and the beat of loud dance music. Iruka and Genma walked in, the lady by the door offering to take their coats to hang them. Genma was very aware of the several looks thrown at Iruka as he pulled his coat off and gave the lady a smile, who blushed prettily. Genma threw the men who stared at Iruka's butt with drooling-looks his most evil glare as they made their way to the bar counter. Genma ordered light drinks and watched the dancers on the floor moving and sliding against each other.
"Busy night, isn't it?" Iruka said to the burly man managing the bar.
"Yeah, it is." The man said, wiping a glass with a white cloth and stacking it on the shelf before picking up another one. "Haven't seen you two around here before. You a couple or something?"
"Friends." Iruka said. "My name is Ishida. This is Gon." He gestured to Genma who merely nodded in greeting.
"Ah! I see." The barman said, grinning to reveal a golden tooth. "So what brings you two here on this lovely evening? Most of the men here come to either escape tiresome marriages or just for a little thrill!"
"We go around. From bar to bar. Just to kill stress." Genma answered while shaking his glass, the ice within clinking together.
"Really now?" The barman said. Clapping sounds erupted and the three turned to look at the dance floor as a man in a combination outfit of formal and leather clothes bowed and the music blared again. Genma and Iruka blinked at the sight and barman sighed, before chuckling. "That's the owner's son, Kaede Hajime. One hell of a playboy. He comes at this time to make sure all payment is stored in the vault. He's VERY popular with the boys around here."
Iruka and Genma looked at each other. Iruka turned his back to his drink when someone slid in to the bar stool beside him, a hand giving the skin around his hips a nice grope and sliding touch. "Oh!" Iruka said, jumping a bit then finding a handsome young man beside him, the one who was just seconds ago bowing to his audience.
"Hello there." He said, voice deep and teasing. "Haven't seen you around here before. Newbie?"
Genma bit his lip to stop the hiss and scowl from coming. The man's hands were now sliding down to Iruka's ass. Genma felt his lips twitch in annoyance. How dare he? The man was attractive, Genma admitted. He had long light brown hair with long and charming bangs. His eyes were a bright shade of green and he had a creamy smooth complexion. A prettyboy and a playboy. And he still had his hands on Iruka's butt!
"Yes. It's a very nice club." Iruka commented offering the man a smile.
"Want to dance?" Kaede asked.
"Sure."
XXX
Genma felt extremely hot. He was pretty sure that he was fine a few minutes ago before Iruka started dancing. He was pretty sure that the temperature was pretty cool before Iruka started dancing. He was pretty sure that 'Little Willy' wasn't so twitchy before Iruka started dancing. That Iruka! He was one HELL of a dancer!
Iruka swayed his hips slowly against his partner, arms in the air as his torso moved in sync from side to side with the raving music. Kaede, the owner's son, was all over him. They looked like they were glued together and Genma was really, really having problems with 'Little Willy' now. Iruka was now sliding his hands up and down Kaede's waist, who was looking like as if he was on cloud nine. Who wouldn't? Iruka looked hot in leather and the scar across the bridge of his nose made him look even sexier. His top rode higher and higher, exposing more of the smooth tanned skin. Iruka was beginning to perspire from all the heat and movement and damn! Genma really had a major problem with 'Little Willy'.
Only when Iruka threw him a look and pulled out a keycard from Kaede's pocket did Genma finally snap out of it. Iruka whispered something into Kaede's ear that made the man grin widely and take his hand in his. They passed by Genma and Iruka slipped him the keycard.
Mission start!
TBC
