I do not own Naruto for if I did I would be rich and talented writer, but I do own all of the made up character of this story. Let's hope you're going to enjoy this chapter and please review! Now on with the story.
Against the Tide
Chapter 4 – Heart Wide Open
Classes that day were passing a bit to fast for Iruka's taste, in about fifteen minutes he would be on his way to Kin's apartment. For some odd reasons his stomach turned, he could handle a horde of unruly children and yet just the thought of meeting his soon to be wife turned out to be his worst nightmare. A lot of question passed trough his mind, 'Would she like children? Would she like him enough? Would she-' His train of thoughts was interrupted by a ball of paper that one of students threw at him. Iruka shrugged and looked at the clock ten minute to go. Then he did something very out of character and let the children leave for the day. The children of course didn't question their teacher and hurried out of the classroom in fear that he would change his mind.
"What am I going to do...?" He said to himself in despair.
"About what?" A voice said, Iruka knew who the owner of that voice was. He looked up and saw Kurenai leaning in the classroom doorway her arms crossed over her chest.
"Kurenai-sensei, is there something I can help you with?"
"Actually, I was about to ask you the same question..." She said looking at Iruka who was still sitting at his desk.
"It's nothing really..." He mumbled.
Kurenai observed Iruka from her spot, she smiled a little since Iruka seemed in a strange mood today, and it was a rare sight indeed to the normally composed teacher, "Come on little Dolphin you know you can tell me everything, so what's eating ya?"
Iruka just stared at Kurenai his jaw practically fell on the floor as his friend referred him with his childhood nickname. The Jounin couldn't help but giggle did Iruka truly believed she had forgotten about his cute nickname. In her opinion everything about Iruka was cute, if she didn't already had her eyes on a certain cancer man, the teacher would be her next best option.
"I'm getting married," He blurted out and gasped and put a hand over his mouth when he realized what he had just done, more like what he had just said mentally kicking himself for opening his big mouth.
Kurenai train of thoughts suddenly went off the track, Iruka married! When did that happen?
"...................."
"Pretty unbelievable heh?" Iruka laughed nervously.
"Who? How? When?" Questions poured out of a stunned Kurenai's mouth at incredible speed.
"Hokage-sama is making me marry a complete stranger, on the grounds that it will add to the village, not to mention that from what she told me the girl has a bloodline limit."
"You don't look too pleased about it....."
"It's not just that, I always believed that I would be able to find someone special to me you know, someone I could come home too and be able to leave all the stress and trouble at the door. Someone I wouldn't feel nervous around afraid that I would hurt her by doing something stupid, like I often did after my parents had died..." Iruka's voice died at the memory of his parents, even if it happened over ten years ago it was still too fresh in his mind to forget the pain of loosing his precious persons.
"Iruka, you're afraid that she would not like you, you're afraid to spend the rest of your life with a woman whom would just view this wedding as her duty..." Kurenai said softly understanding the teacher's fears perfectly.
"Yes."
"Oh Iruka you are the cutest person I've ever laid eyes on, if that girl doesn't like you then send her my way so I can knock some sense into her," Kurenai said and unexpectedly hugged the teacher and gave him a peck on the cheek, of course being himself Iruka's face turned a shade of red that would make any tomato green with jealousy.
"Kurenai... I... err... can... I ask you a favor?" Iruka said after he had regained the ability to breathe and talk properly.
"Sure..."
"What do girls like...?"
"You mean you don't know?" The Jounin gasped enjoying the fact that she was making the teacher squirm a bit.
"I'm... hardly an... expert you know... in the woman... department... but if it's too much...I could always... ask Kakashi..." Iruka was a bit hesitant now.
"HEAVEN NO!!!!!" Kurenai roared and Iruka gulped slowly backing away from her as she started ranting about a certain no good silver haired perverted teacher whose taste in books was seriously questionable.
"Bad idea right?"
"Very bad idea...."
"So, what do girls like?" he repeated.
"Well it depend I would be tempted to say that you can't go wrong with flowers. Most of us do like to receive them especially with small love notes attached to them, but in your case I think you should buy her flowers and introduce yourself to her first, then invite her to dinner... you'll never know her if you don't speak to her outside the formalities..." Kurenai explained.
"I see, I already wanted to meet her before hand but I'm not sure how to approach her..."
"Like I said use the direct approach if you feel nervous think of it this way, the whole situation must be pretty awkward for her as well, just speak with her and most of the time that is enough," Kurenai smiled a little.
"Thank you Kurenai-sensei," Iruka bowed.
"No problem and one last thing Iruka-kun..."
"Yes?"
"If you ever become an expert in women like Kakashi, I'll personally hunt you down and nail you to a tree, are we clear?"
"Crystal."
Really he didn't know why some of the women of this village could be very kind and sweet one moment and in the next turn into a being that send chills down the spine of the most hardened ninja of this village. No you simply did not cross a woman of Konoha.
"Good, glad to hear it, now if you'll excuse me I have a mission report to fill..." On that Kurenai disappeared in a puff of smoke leaving a very enlightened Iruka on his own.
(This chapter was edited by Kai Polis)
Thats it for chapter 4. Sorry it took so long to get it out but I was it by a writer block and im not exactly one to talk about romance so I had to improvise a bit. Thank you for all of those who had reviewed and I hope this time my spelling will be better wince. Oh and you find anything wrong with the spelling and such blame Kai Polis (thank you) and my spell checker . prepare to run away in case Kai read this.
Evil Kasumi: Heh thank you after playing Lunar the Eternal Blue for a week in a row I just couldn't help but associate Ronfar and Tsunade together sweatdrop any hope you liked this chapter to. Lady Luck be Kind!!!!
Kitsune: Thank you.
Anything: You know I always wondered why people think this fic is a Kakashi/Iruka fic. Anyway i'm glad I attracted a new reader!
Dave: Thank you.
Chessmasta: I won't!
shi-chan: This fic is mostly about Iruka a character I know and love, while I also like Kakashi he's not part of my main characters cast but he will make an appearance in a later chapter.
Princess-Tsunade: WOOOT! do the happy dance I'm glad you liked it . As for the wish hehehe i'm not telling yet but seems like everyone is curious about that one. Man why people think this was a Kakashi/Iruka fic is beyond me any here's another chapter hope you like it an continue to read and review my story. As for him being too giving it was in my understanding that Iruka love the village and the people inside and he is more willing to do anything to protect it, so when Tsunade told him that Kin's bloodline would be added to the village, his course of action was clear in his mind. Beside I can tell you that Tsunade choice's for a husband wasn't as random as you think. All of the people on the list were not part of any particulary bloodline. That all I will say for now the rest will be explained in later chapters. Bye for now and yeah still reading your story.