Title: Wishes Are Free

Author: Cheza-chan

Rating: PG-13 (for now)

Pairing: KakaIru, SasuNaru

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto—oh, I wish I did—but I own Kan'you, all the characters of the Hidden Wave Village. I own the Hidden Wave Village because I created it! I own the Hidden Wave Village's special jutsus, etc.

A/N: Oh, wow. I missed this update because of ff-net's dumb virus crap... (mutters) I actually thought this chapter was due on Thursday XD (snorts) But because I was leaving for North Carolina on Wednesday, I decided to go ahead and post it. I tried to anyway. Oh, well. This chapter, as well as the last chapter, is slightly devoid of shonen-ai. I'm sure the next chapter will have some... I'm putting in more SasuNaru. I returned from NC today... it was some Thanksgiving get-together and it was actually fun.

Oh! I also want to thank iie for her/his review/constructive criticsm. I really do write like that... I'm trying to get the problem fixed... it's like a disease! ®Even if there's a chapter for every day—then there'll be like 100 chapters—I promise to make things as clear as I possibly can; Scout's Honor! (was in the Girl Scouts for several good long years)


Chapter Ten - Two Become Constant Variables

Iruka sat in bed with his back to the headboard—late afternoon light streamed through the window—administering ranks to the missions then sorting them into said ranks. May had sent him home early to do so, and, much to his chagrin, the woman had also promoted him to Jounin. 'Technically…' he reminded himself. She said—because she loved him so much—the position was open to him if he chose to take it: she saw as much potential in him as she did in Naruto.

The brunet sighed softly, stretching his arm. Meetings that May attended, he would also; it was just like with the Sandaime. Iruka squeezed his eyes shut, tilting his head toward the ceiling. Dark orbs became visible once more at the shifted then replaced air of the house. He slinked from the bed and out of the room, sticking to the wall. A muttered curse and tired shuffling drove him downstairs.

The silver-haired Jounin stopped his searching after the blade landed inches from his inquisitive fingers. "Iruka," he laughed loudly, straightening up with a hand to the back of his head. With a mildly curious expression, the dolphin's left eyebrow arched questioningly. "I was just... Heh. I dropped my book." Kakashi waved around the Icha Icha novel he'd quickly snatched from his pocket, his eye curved in a sheepish smile.

Iruka shook his head and strolled past the man to retrieve his kunai.

"I heard about your promotion."

He stiffened in his rising. "I wasn't promoted. I just... The option is there."

"Take it."

Iruka turned slowly, facing the other, and backed himself against the table. "No," he stated firmly.

"Take the position," Kakashi repeated.

Slowly, tentatively, the brown-haired young man reached up, fingers hovering before the Copy Ninja's mask. "Why?" he murmured softly.

"Because..." was the other's answer. Kakashi raised his own hand as he allowed the dolphin's fingers to slip into the top of the soft black material.

"Would I be able to see the real 'Kakashi' if I did?" Iruka questioned.

"Maybe," the silver-haired shinobi replied.

Even with that said, darkness overtook the younger man's sight as he pulled on the mask between his fingers.

"I did say 'maybe'," the scarecrow drawled. He'd pulled the Chuunin's forehead protector over his eyes and was now leaning in.

Iruka started at the warm breath against his lips. "Kaka... shi..." They parted as the tip of the Jounin's tongue outlined them, the younger man tilting his head. A multitude of questions and feelings flooded through him, but he could only concentrate on one thing at the moment: Kakashi. Kakashi and his expert tongue caressing his after slipping by his lips.

Kakashi smirked to himself as he tasted the coffee Iruka had had earlier.

The dolphin squeezed the hand hindering his vision, a whimper of need leaving him as Kakashi nibbled and sucked his bottom lip. 'You want me to open up. You... want to get inside... my head.' Iruka jumped slightly and intercepted the hand sliding under and raising his blue, long-sleeved Chuunin shirt. Senses returning, he pulled away from the soft lips and gentle kiss reluctantly, waiting for the hand under his to leave so he could push up the protector and regain his sight.

The first thing he saw was Kakashi's visible eye curved in a hidden cat-that-ate-the-canary smile, hands tucked innocently away in his pockets. "I'm going to be your shadow," the scarecrow chuckled.

"More so than before?" Iruka muttered, lowering his gaze with a blush tainting his cheeks.

"More so." Kakashi gave a small wave and turned, walking out of the living room. The door opened and Iruka heard the man exchange quiet pleasantries with someone, but in Kentan's voice, which was slightly higher in tone than Kakashi's.

The brunet hurriedly fixed himself up and plastered a smile on his face as Tenko appeared, dragging Naruto's body and muscle mass behind her. He rushed over to help, taking his "son" and placing him on the couch.

The Jounin keened loudly as she stretched, arms settling back at her side. "I couldn't find his brother and I didn't want to bother you into coming for him," she stated with a pleasant smile.

"It would've been no trouble," Iruka replied, placing a hand to the unconscious blonde's head. "I know he'd going to be pleased when you take him in to receive a mission."

"He couldn't stop practicing," Tenko laughed, running her fingers through lengthy red hair. She tossed it back over her shoulder, contemplating if to cut it or not. "He's had a great impact on Haka and Shikyo. Shuku-san made a wise decision; the perfect choice of team members."

'Choice.' "She did." The Chuunin idly ran his fingers over Naruto's cheek, tracing the whisker-like marks with his thumb.

"I wish I had a father like you," the woman whispered, the sad smile reflecting in her eyes and voice. "I'll see you, Umino-san."

"Iruka."

"Iruka," Tenko chuckled, folding her hands behind her. She backed out then skipped from the house, deciding it was time for a change.

§§§

"Sa-ku-ra…chan?" Kakashi turned to stare at the girl staggering down the hall to her room, a content half-smile on her battered face, then back at the door, eyebrow raising. 'Who was…? There was someone in this room.' From earlier experience, he kept his distance from the doorknob, stepping aside to let Sakura by.

"Kakashi-sensei…"

"Hai?"

The girl hesitated, then shook her head, disappearing into her bedroom after giving the man a small smile. 'Woman are… curious creatures.' The scarecrow shrugged and decided it was high time he do some more patrolling. "Sakura." 'Why do I have to tell her I'm leaving?' "I'm stepping out for a while." Kakashi sweatdropped as no answer came and resisted the urge to pound a hand against the wall. 'You better have fallen asleep already, kid.' He disappeared.

Sakura slowly unfurled her fingers from around the forehead protector she'd found on the floor. "'Anything suspicious, I want it reported'. That's what Hokage-sama said." She placed it facedown on her dresser with an expressionless face and turned out the lights, getting into bed. The blank slate on the forehead protector shone faintly from the link seeping in through the crack in her curtains.


Another day, another practice. Tenko sat on her favorite branch in her favorite secret garden, and watched her students spar. So far, Shikyo and Haka were teamed against the blonde child, but Naruto was holding his own. The Jounin had restricted the use of any and all jutsus, saying they could use practice time in hand-to-hand combat. The redhead smiled and placed her head on a raised knee.

Naruto grinned as the girls' kunai clashed with his, their breath coming in hard pants. His own weapons fell and he grabbed their hands tightly as they stumbled forward. The boy groaned after a few moments of no movement and dropped to the ground.

"Again," Haka scoffed. She threw the blade at him and he stuck his tongue out at her after it lodged in the ground beside him.

Tenko shook her head. It was the third time during practice that Naruto's attack tactics wouldn't work because he couldn't bring himself to hurt a girl. 'That almost makes him a gentleman,' she told herself. Emerald eyes narrowed suddenly and her head swiveled to the side. Hizaku stood behind her. "Hai, hai?" Tenko giggled.

"I need to see Shikyo," the sandy-haired Jounin stated. "May does actually."

"I don't think that's fair." The young woman pouted. "You get to call her 'May'." He smiled and tousled her lengthy, wavy locks. "I would never interrupt your practice," Tenko sighed, standing.

"They don't seem to be doing anything."

"Oh, hush. Shikyo-chan!" she called down.

"Hai, Tenko-sensei?" The girl's smile stemmed from what her and her teammates had been discussing.

"Hizaku-sensei needs to see you."

Naruto looked also, eyes narrowing at the man. 'There's something fishy about this sensei. Why does he need Shikyo?'

Hizaku stared down at the boy with a raised eyebrow. 'Those eyes… they're just like that woman's.'

'I don't like him.' Naruto turned back to Haka, trying to ignore the man.

Shikyo dusted off her clothes as best as possible and walked to the tree where the Jounins stood.

"Ground or treetops?" he asked.

"I'll go by ground for now," she answered in a slightly raised voice so the man would hear. Hizaku nodded and started back by way of the treetops.

"Shikyo-chan!" Tenko yelled down. "Meet us at Kan'you!"

"Hai."

"Yatta!" the blonde exclaimed.

The young girl smiled and quickly ran after the other team leader. 'Why did he want me? Is it Sendo-kun?' Her golden eyes widened and she increased her speed, catching up with him on the rooftops. They ran across houses, opposite each other, until reaching the center of town, where they leapt down to land by the four-sided bench.

Hizaku sighed and slipped a scroll from his vest compartments, opening it. "Hizaku-sensei?" Shikyo mumbled. "What did you want to see me for?"

"May needs to talk with you. Tell her I'll be in shortly."

"H–hai…" She hurried into the Academy, wondering if she should check on her little brother.

"Hitsu-san." The voice stopped her.

"Hai…?" she squeaked.

May smiled at the girl's nervousness. She held out an arm, indicating for her to go down the hall. "This way, please." Shikyo bowed her head and followed the woman.

§§§

Naruto was on his sixth bowl of ramen-Haka had just finished her third basket of bread-when their team member joined them. Haka raised an eyebrow at the girl's red-rimmed eyes. The blonde slurped up his noodles then set down the bowl, exhaling deeply. "Hizaku-sensei did something to you, didn't he?" he muttered.

They could all see her sadness.

"Iie…" Shikyo smiled weakly, sniffling. She took a seat beside the concerned Tenko, hands folded in her lap.

The red-haired Jounin placed a hand to the girl's dark tresses. "Do you want a bowl of ramen?"

"No, thank you," Shikyo replied.

"Shikyo," Naruto murmured, squinting. "What happened?"

"Nothing," the girl laughed, waving her hands sheepishly. She wiped at her eyes, still smiling. Tenko decided to call an end to practice and find out exactly what went down.

After leaving Naruto and the others for the day, Shikyo headed back to the bench. She sat on the side facing the school and waited, watching as the children began filing out. Her golden eyes scanned the crowds for any sign of her brother; she saw students from his class, but not the Hitsu ball of energy. A mother soon picked up the last child, but the Genin remained, and with no Sendo beside her. Shikyo buried her face in her hands, body trembling as she began crying.

‡‡‡

Iruka offered her a warm smile as she entered the room, but the young girl could tell there was something hidden behind it. She stepped forward, hands folded behind her back. "Hizaku-sensei said…"

"Hai," May cut in with an apologetic smile. "We did need to see you. Iruka-kun brought it to my attention that Sendo-kun hasn't been in school for two days."

"That's not true!" That was the loudest her voice had ever been. "I've brought him to school and picked him up myself. Every day!" Shikyo faced the Chuunin. "He always talks about your class. He thinks your great! Shuku-sama… please… My little brother…"

May looked away from the anguished eyes, sighing. "I'm sorry. He hasn't been in."

The young girl covered her mouth, sobbing. She pulled away from Iruka's comforting hand and turned to run out. Bumping into the Jounin that had brought her in, she shot him a glare then ran down the hall.

‡‡‡

"Sendo-kun…" Shikyo wiped at her eyes. Carrying her little brother to school, bringing him home, training with him, and just the two of them sharing fun times couldn't have all been the work of it? There was a dull "thunk" and she gasped, looking down beside her on the bench. "Nani…?"

Reaching out, her fingers traced the edges of the blank metal plate on the forehead protector. She looked around for any signs of someone that could've dropped it, and, upon finding none, took it in her hand. Shikyo sniffled and slowly stood; wondering if the family already knew, she started home.


The Chuunin entered the house with even less energy than he had left with that morning. The look on Shikyo's face when her brother's disappearance had been brought into the light was still helping to widen the schism that had formed in his heart. He pulled the forehead protector free and let it dangle from his hand.

Iruka stalled as he passed by the den, remembering the other night and the deep kiss Kakashi had given him. He'd been so flustered the remainder of the night that a babysitting "mission" had been ranked "S". He sighed and decided a cup of coffee was in order.

Placing his things on the dining room table, the young dolphin headed into the kitchen, pushing the curtain for the window aside. He rinsed out the coffee pot, put fresh water in, and set it back on to boil. November's end was fast approaching and, though he hated admitting it, the child's disappearance was a good sign for himself and the other Konoha shinobi. It also proved that whoever's behind it doesn't want just Genins.

Iruka lowered his head, eyes closed; now he was feeling stressed and restless. Turning off the coffee, the brunet breezed through the dining room, grabbed his forehead protector from where he'd dropped it with the rest of his items, and left. He made his way back to the Academy, picked up a few items, and disappeared into the forest.

'What's he up to?' May watched from her office window, lips pursed in deep thought.


Kakashi happened across the Chuunin on one of his rounds. The thudding drove him to the clearing and he stood by and watched Iruka train. The young man had tightly wrapped his arms—from his elbows down—then did each finger individually. He counted to himself, keeping track of every punch and kick delivered to the worn tree bark. Scratched kunai littered the ground-forgotten-from his previous session.

The brunet was oblivious to the blood slowly tingeing the white cloth surrounding his hands, but Kakashi wasn't. If he hadn't been sensed already, he made his presence known. "Iruka-sensei," he called out.

Iruka stopped, knuckles pressed against the rough bark. He had lost track of how long ago his practice had started because each blow delivered had lessened the stress weighing down on him, but the Jounin's appearance reminded him, quickly, of the life he lived.

Pulling away, the Chuunin slowly began undoing his wraps, turning to acknowledge the silver-haired shinobi. He winced slightly and flexed his fingers to loosen them and lessen the pain. Kakashi took the younger man's hand carefully and bent his head low. He pulled down his mask and placed gentle kisses to the bruised flesh. "Kaeru?" he murmured, replacing the soft material.

"Hai," Iruka sighed.

"I'll even make you dinner."

He smiled. "Is that a promise?"

"Could be," Kakashi chuckled.

With the Chuunin's hand still in his, he slowly led the way through and out of the forest, enjoying the quiet, if not slightly tense, silence. He smiled under his mask as Iruka's fingers gingerly curled around his.

§§§

Both men sat around the dining room table, a plate of food and a cup of coffee before the brunet. Kakashi had been true to his word, as he always tried to be.

"Itadakimasu." As good as chopsticks were, they could never beat the simple fork. Iruka tasted the meal prepared for him and admitted it was good. 'Why doesn't Kakashi cook for Sakura if he's this much of an expert?'

"Because she needs to fend for herself."

"Don't do that."

The Jounin's eye curved and he tilted his head. "That just proves how easy it is to read your expressions." 'But yet you manage to hide something...'

After several moments of eating in silence, Iruka placed his fork down and picked up the nearby mug, hesitating on taking a sip. "There's been another kidnapping," he told the older man. "Hitsu Shikyo's little brother."

"Hitsu. That's an advanced bloodline, isn't it?"

"What does it matter?"

"It matters a lot," Kakashi said firmly. "You need to let go of your emotions because it does nothing but hinder your judgment. Focus on what's more important. Things like the Genins and children of advanced bloodlines being taken."

The Chuunin scowled. "Shikyo's feelings aren't important?"

"Not at this moment. If we find the culprit, we can get her brother back. The family you told me about, we can get their kids back also." Kakashi sighed as the dolphin's lips turned down further, then parted to take a sip of the coffee. He excused himself after a few moments of silence, stating he needed to keep an eye on his "daughter".

Iruka pushed the plate aside once the front door had closed and slowly finished his coffee, debating whether Kakashi was right. Shikyo already despised them all—himself, May, and Hizaku—so consoling her would lead nowhere. The only thing they could do was get Sendo back. "I hate when he's right."

In a very un-Iruka-like fashion, the Chuunin stood from the table, leaving everything where it was, and retired to his room after locking the door. Wherever they were, Sasuke and Naruto had keys. He fell onto his bed, a hand to his pounding head. Ignoring the pains, the brunet stretched out as comfortably as possible, burying his face in the pillow.


A/N: I wasn't sure about the chapter title... isn't it an oxymoron? Anyhoo... See, I made something happen! It's not just bridging chapters through and through. They really do have a purpose (smiles) Their purpose is gonna shine through more and more in later chapters, but, you know, there's gotta be fun also. So... please stay with me, and I really hope you enjoy my fic! (bows)