Summary of last chapter:

Sensing someone beside him, the Chunnin gazed up to find a cheerful man, lightly tanned with silver hair and with one eye covered.

He had never been the genius type he thought, never. He had always relied on luck to guide him through missions and exams. Luck had been his friend, but still with it on his side he had grown lonely over the years and although he'd like to think he was use to it, he wasn't. I'll never be man enough to admit it, ever, he thought.

As he observed the Jounin now he envied him. The happiness just radiated from his gestures as did the amber light that poured from him to the Ichiraku owner and then one to another customer, making them smile.

'Kakashi-san,' the brunette whispered unawares, I envy you, more than you'll ever know.

CHAPTER 2

Braving another smile I see, shame on you.

Kakashi-san the man had said, Kakashi-san. It echoed in his head over and over. Startled for a moment he stopped breathing trying to absorb what he had just heard.

The voice was full of emotion he had never heard before, was that pain he was listening too? Yes...his voice was riddled with pain that was threatening to spill out from the years of suppression as the Chunnin set his eyes upon him now. Amongst all that he could also sense loneliness and anger, feelings the Chunnin had hidden from the world so well, perhaps too well, since the Jounin did not notice...until now.

Locking on to the brunette beside him, his single eye searched his brown orbs for clues that would give him answers to the questions which were tugging him. Feeling his lips about to move and form a question he closed them shut at the last moment to form a charming smile. He smiled for all he was worth in order to cheer the Chunnin up and stop the questions from leaving his mind. Braving another smile I see, shame on you, he chided

Seeing the Jounin smile lifted his heavy heart, he was so clueless, didn't he know how the brunette felt about him. Not only did he secretly envy him, he despised him also and yet, the man was so naïve as to smile.

You took Naruto away from me, 'Kakashi-san, good evening,' all I am to him now is a father figure, 'a new fan of Ichiraku are you?' Iruka smiled politely although it was more forced than not, a bank where he goes to get money for Ramen. He hoped his feelings weren't noticeable, he hoped for all his life was worth that he wasn't an open book this time. He couldn't afford to be.

Nodding he greeted the man in the same fashion, only more casually, 'Iruka-Sensei, good evening. Yes my new and all time favourite dish is Ramen.'

Silence enveloped them again and so they welcomed it as their gaze bore into each other's own, the emotional intensity was rising, both seeing a flicker of something in the other's face before they (literally) saw the building blocks being placed back into the fortress around them, all emotions fading, never to be seen again that night.

'Nani? Why are you...' the blond asked tugging at the brunette's shirt, breaking their staring contest.

Breaking out of his thoughts Iruka turned to gaze at the small boy, pushing his fingers lightly against the boy's head protector, 'Ssshh Naruto, eat up or your Ramen will get cold.' Surprisingly the boy obeyed and though he stared at the two a little longer than usual, he returned to fill his stomach.

'Kakashi-san,' Iruka murmured without taking his eyes off the boy.

'Yes?' He replied, lifting his visible brow curiously, what was he going to say?

Another moment of silence passed as he watched the Sensei's back, 'you're Ramen is getting cold too...better eat up.'

Frowning at the remark, he grunted and picked up his chopsticks and ate in silence. He ate quickly as usual as, turning his back to them while he did so.

Sighing Iruka closed his eyes which were covered by his hands, using his fingers to pinch the area between his eyes he slumped against the counter and rested after a long hard day.

When both Jounin and Genin were finished Naruto sighed content, while Kakashi burped long and hard, later chuckling at the unfortunate Sensei who just awoke, shocked at such manners, he frowned. 'Next time Kakashi-san burp internally.'

0o...feisty! He thought feeling an itch of a smile come on; he could now see the Sensei at work, altering his tone of voice to sound harsher without being so. Then he realized how fortunate he was to witness a different side of Iruka, the man everyone loved. He sure did crack jokes, jokes where you couldn't tell whether he was seriously mocking or whether he was being humorous.

It looks like I'll never know the real you Umino Iruka...you have so many personalities, you remind me of the twelve faces of Eve, one personality for each day, each person and for each occasion.

It looks as though I'll have to get to know each one of you, not only that but I think I want to be your friend and you to be mine. I also think it'll take a long time because you're a difficult man to understand. One needs to be aggressively persistent to worm their way into your life or lives shall I say as well as your mind. Smiling he made a mental note that this was his next A rank mission.

Mission seemingly impossible: Worm your way into Iruka's life by getting him to like you, trust you only then will you become his friend.

From that day forth, the silver haired Jounin followed and watched Iruka days on end hiding in bushes and using illusionary techniques to hide himself when needed. During that time, he discovered that the Chunnin was surprisingly sharp in detecting things for each time he'd follow him, the man would stop and take a look around, narrowing his eyes as if he sensed something was wrong. Getting miffed once in a while he'd turn away and walked as if he didn't detect anything but then sped up until he was at his apartment, then slamming his door behind him.

Kakashi wasn't sure whether Iruka sensed him or not, but he did know that Iruka did sense someone, maybe he thought it was an enemy of Konoha, or maybe to thought it was a ghost of some sort. Who cares as long as it's not you right? Nodding he began to observe the Chunnin from the treetops.

The Chunnin was at the ninja academy and had just dismissed his afternoon class for the day; the children were free to go home. Watching he saw the brunette's shoulder's slump as he leaned against the doorway lightly pushing the last of the kids out, once the young boy left though, the man's patient and kind mask faltered, then fell. He was now burying his hands in his face as he closed the door behind him.

Leaning against the closed door, Umino Iruka shut his eyes tightly as he felt his eyes moisten. Allowing himself to drop to the floor he brought his legs in so that his knees rested against his chest. Bringing his arms around his knees he laid his forehead on his arms forming a cushion for his head as he wept, mind you no tears flowing. It was all in his mind.

I wonder what's going through his head, the Jounin pondered. Not had he once witnessed Iruka in this shape or state of mind. It was such as shock to see him like this now.

Meanwhile in the classroom, Iruka was talking to himself yet again, it gets so lonely in here, it's beginning to hurt his inner self pointed out, in here it said signaling to it's chest, it's hand resting upon it's heart. Won't you help me Umino?

How? He whispered.

Stay strong it replied. I need you to be strong and not feel this way...either that or seek some help...it's unhealthy for the both of us if you continue to feel this way...loneliness is tragical because it'll eat you from the inside out, slowly killing you as it drags you further into a deep, dark and bottomless bit of sorrow, pain and bitter torment.

What should I do?

Do what's in you're heart Umino and you'll never go wrong it replied.

That's something my parents would have said, the real Iruka chuckled with tears in his eyes. Breathing in deeply he raised his head and stood, thank you...

Thank you for what Umino?

Thank you for being there for me after their death and thank you for bringing me out of this sorrowful state.

You're welcome, now get on with life!

Get on with life! He cheered... right-o!