Ick! Haven't updated this in a while. Let's just say it's writer's block.

Sowie!

But, I promise to work on this now. With Faint out of the way, I can dedicate more time to this, and hopefully finish with a … good ending. Kinda' …

Oh well, sowie again!

EDIT: Here's the beta-read version, courtesy of V-chan! Yay! Thank you!

JU-ON 7

Kakashi looked around the semi-neat apartment in puzzlement. Iruka was in the apartment, because he could feel his chakra lightly beating, he just didn't know where. Looking around, he found the kitchen and bathroom empty. The bedroom looked the same just as he had left it that afternoon to do gate-duty, except that the laundry basket was missing.

Kakashi gingerly turned on his heels and headed for the laundry room next to the storeroom at the end of the hall. He pushed the door open and blinked when he found Iruka lying in the middle of a puddle of water that had come from the bed sheet hanging from the open washing machine. There was a heavy smell of detergent powder in the room, because a sachet lay open on the floor beside Iruka, which had managed to mix and bubble up with the water dripping from the protruding bed sheet.

Iruka wasn't moving.

Kakashi quickly hurried to his side and gathered the unconscious form in his arms, lightly slapping his cheek to wake him up. "Iruka! Oi! Oi, Iruka!"

Iruka blinked a bit and stared at him before his eyes widened and he pushed him off, staggering to his feet and leaning against the far wall, eyes staring wildly at the washing machine. Kakashi quirked an eyebrow at the behavior, eyes softening a bit. He felt slightly hurt by the reaction, much to his surprise.

"Oh god." Iruka whispered, running his fingers through his hair before burying his face in his hands. His shoulders trembled a bit, and Kakashi watched as Iruka wiped at his eyes, taking in a shaking breath. His eyes were slightly red and puffy.

"What happened to you?" Kakashi asked.

Iruka shook his head. "Nothing. I - Nothing. It's nothing." He said, sounding more like he was reassuring himself rather than Kakashi. Kakashi watched as Iruka approached the washing machine and took out the bed sheet, dumping it in the basket. Like nothing happened, Iruka picked up the basket and headed out for his balcony where he hung his laundry.

Kakashi followed him out, staring at his back while sitting on the couch, as he hanged his laundry. A crease appeared between his eyebrows as he watched Iruka bring up a hand to cover his mouth as he began to cough.

But he said nothing.

As usual.

XXX

Iruka tiredly carried the empty basket back to the laundry room, taking out the mop from the storeroom, and began the task of cleaning the tiled floors of the room. It was already ten PM....he must have been out for four hours. It was not the type of rest he wanted, but he did get some sleep and for once he didn't dream anything.

Whore.

Iruka finished mopping and gathered the empty sachets of detergent in his hand to throw away in the kitchen trash bin. Before he left, his eyes strayed towards the washing machine door. He felt his breath cut short as he saw a ghastly hand press against the round glass door of the washing machine. He took a quick step back and slammed the door shut.

Slut.

He began to breathe rapidly, tears leaking out of his eyes. He dumped the mop inside the storeroom and headed for his bedroom. He threw himself on the bed, clamping hands on his ears and shutting his eyes. Tears of frustration, self-loathing and fear leaked out of his eyes as he began to repeat a silent and barely audible mantra in his head.

"Go away! Please go away! Leave me! Go away! Leave me! I did nothing! I have done nothing! Leave me alone! Go away!"

He could hear distant laughing, and he pressed his hands against his ears tightly. Cold hands pulled him so that he was lying on his back.

"No! Go away! I have done nothing! Leave me alone! No! No! I won't do it! I won't! Leave me! Go away!" Iruka begged in a low weak voice, fighting the cold hands grabbing him and shaking him.

"Kill him! You must kill him! Break his little neck! Rip his eyes out! Break his bones! Kill him!"

"No!" Iruka shouted back fighting the hands holding him.

"Iruka!"

Iruka flinched at the cold shrilly voice ringing in his ears and continued whimpering under the vice-like grip.

"Iruka! Iruka! Iruka!"

"Iruka!"

Iruka opened his eyes, pupils dilating as he let out a loud blood-curdling scream.

Kakashi flinched at the scream. The only times he had heard screams like the one coming out of Iruka's mouth was when someone just found out that they lost a family member or a close friend. Or possibly someone dying in battle. Iruka was staring at him wildly, the scream dissolving into sobbing fits as he shamefully hid his face from him in his hands, lying on his side and crying softly. Kakashi stared at him for a while, contemplating whether to leave him or stay.

"I didn't mean it! I don't want to do it! I can't! I didn't mean it!" Iruka whispered desperately, voice broken and cracked and accompanied by little sniffles as he cried silently.

Kakashi pulled his shirt off and lay on the bed, wrapping an arm around Iruka. He didn't want Iruka to be alone just yet, just in case he tried something stupid. Iruka began to cough rather violently from all the crying and screaming. Kakashi rearranged their positions, and gently placed a kiss on Iruka's shoulder.

"Stop it." Iruka whispered.

"What?" Kakashi asked.

"Don't kiss me like that." Iruka said quietly, staring emptily at his window.

"Why not?" Kakashi asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Because they feel empty." Iruka said, huddling into a ball and ignoring the fact that Kakashi had his arm around him. "Because I'm just your whore."

Prostitute.

Kakashi winced slightly at how Iruka said it. So resigned and so quiet that it actually felt like he was just punched in the gut. He reached out to gently smooth down Iruka's hair. He didn't know what was wrong with Iruka or why he was acting so jumpy. It was disturbing.

And even he was starting to feel a bit uncomfortable.

XXX

Iruka continued staring out into the night, watching as the evening sky gradually turned into day. It was slightly drizzling outside, and he didn't sleep the whole night. He could feel Kakashi's warm chest against his back, his arm still around his waist. Iruka reminded himself bitterly that the only reason Kakashi was holding him was because he was hugging the pillow that Kakashi normally held at night. He was just a substitute for a pillow and nothing more.

No sweet stuff.

No cute cuddles.

No hugs.

Just empty words.

Empty kisses.

Iruka felt his eyes water as he thought of his position at the moment. He hated himself, hated his weakness and goodwill and kind-heartedness. He sat up slowly and padded for the bathroom to take a shower. He turned the hot tap on and allowed the water to cleanse his tired body. He leaned his head back, closing his eyes as some of the tight knots in his muscles relaxed under the hot spray. Iruka began to feel very tired and very old all of a sudden.

Rinsing the last remains of the soapsuds and shampoo, he dried himself and wrapped the towel around his waist before brushing his teeth. He opened the mirror cupboard on the top of his sink and took out some aspirins that he swallowed dry. He gave out a shaky sigh as he shut the mirror cupboard, his reflection turning to that of the man in his dreams. Iruka gasped out loud and quickly covered his face with his hands. Cool fingers reached out from the mirror's surface, lightly touching his arm. Iruka gave out a loud scream, eyes shut tight in panic, until he heard the door open and Kakashi burst in. His legs wobbled like jelly and he felt himself collapse on his knees. He was trembling and shaking, while Kakashi knelt beside him, a hand on his shoulder and back, as he tried to calm the panicky teacher.

Iruka managed to contain himself and pulled his hand down, staring up at the mirror. The image was gone. The nightmare that was somehow manifesting itself in his reality was gone.

Temporarily.

Almost in panic, Iruka got up from the bathroom floors and rushed for his closet. He threw his cabinet doors open and grabbed a clean uniform. He pulled them on, not even bother turning to Kakashi's calls.

"Iruka, can you stop for a minute?" Kakashi finally snapped, grabbing his wrist and holding it in a vice grip. "What's wrong with you?"

"Nothing." Iruka shook his head. "Nothing is wrong with me! Let go."

"No! You're lying!" Kakashi hissed.

"Like you care!" Iruka fired back, wrenching his hand free. " I've got work to do. Your sex can wait till later."

Without another word, Iruka left the apartment.

Kakashi remained standing in the middle of the room, dumbfounded.

TBC

Kakashi cares! Full stop! I'm not making him a badass because I love Kakashi too!